Christ and Satan

þæt wearð underne eorðbuendum, þæt meotod hæfde miht and strengðo ða he gefestnade foldan sceatas. Seolfa he gesette sunnan and monan, stanas and eorðan, stream ut on sæ, wæter and wolcn, ðurh his wundra miht. Deopne ymblyt clene ymbhaldeð meotod on mihtum, and alne middangeard. He selfa mæg sæ geondwlitan, grundas in geofene, godes agen bearn, and he ariman mæg rægnas scuran, dropena gehwelcne. Daga enderim seolua he gesette þurh his soðan miht. Swa se wyrhta þurh his wuldres gast

serede and sette on six dagum eorðan dæles, up on heofonum, and heanne holm. Hwa is þæt ðe cunne orðonc clene nymðe ece god? Dreamas he gedelde, duguðe and geþeode, Adam ærest, and þæt æðele cyn, engla ordfruman, þæt þe eft forwarð. ðuhte him on mode þæt hit mihte swa, þæt hie weron seolfe swegles brytan, wuldres waldend. Him ðær wirse gelamp, ða heo in helle ham staðeledon, an æfter oðrum, in þæt atole scref, þær heo brynewelme bidan sceolden saran sorge, nales swegles leoht

habban in heofnum heahgetimbrad, ac gedufan sceolun in ðone deopan wælm niðær under nessas in ðone neowlan grund, gredige and gifre. God ana wat hu he þæt scyldige werud forscrifen hefde! Cleopað ðonne se alda ut of helle, wriceð wordcwedas weregan reorde, eisegan stefne: "Hwær com engla ðrym, þe we on heofnum habban sceoldan? þis is ðeostræ ham, ðearle gebunden fæstum fyrclommum; flor is on welme attre onæled. Nis nu ende feor þæt we sceolun ætsomne susel þrowian, wean and wergu, nalles wuldres blæd

habban in heofnum, hehselda wyn. Hwæt, we for dryhtene iu dreamas hefdon, song on swegle selrum tidum, þær nu ymb ðone æcan æðele stondað, heleð ymb hehseld, herigað drihten wordum and wercum, and ic in wite sceal bidan in bendum, and me bættran ham for oferhygdum æfre ne wene." ða him andsweradan atole gastas, swarte and synfulle, susle begnornende: "þu us gelærdæst ðurh lyge ðinne þæt we helende heran ne scealdon. ðuhte þe anum þæt ðu ahtest alles gewald, heofnes and eorþan, wære halig god,

scypend seolfa. Nu earttu sceaðana sum, in fyrlocan feste gebunden. Wendes ðu ðurh wuldor ðæt þu woruld ahtest, alra onwald, and we englas mid ðec. Atol is þin onseon! Habbað we alle swa for ðinum leasungum lyðre gefered. Segdest us to soðe þæt ðin sunu wære meotod moncynnes; hafustu nu mare susel!" Swa firenfulle facnum wordum heora aldorðægn on reordadon, on cearum cwidum. Crist heo afirde, dreamum bedelde. Hæfdan dryhtnes liht for oferhygdum ufan forleton, hæfdon hym to hyhte helle floras,

beornende bealo. Blace hworfon scinnan forscepene, sceaðan hwearfedon, earme æglecan, geond þæt atole scref, for ðam anmedlan þe hie ær drugon. Eft reordade oðre siðe feonda aldor. Wæs þa forht agen, seoððan he ðes wites worn gefelde. He spearcade, ðonne he spreocan ongan fyre and atre; ne bið swelc fæger dream ðonne he in witum wordum indraf: "Ic wæs iu in heofnum halig ængel, dryhtene deore; hefde me dream mid gode, micelne for meotode, and ðeos menego swa some. þa ic in mode minum hogade

þæt ic wolde towerpan wuldres leoman, bearn helendes, agan me burga gewald eall to æhte, and ðeos earme heap þe ic hebbe to helle ham geledde. Wene þæt tacen sutol þa ic aseald wes on wærgðu, niðer under nessas in ðone neowlan grund. Nu ic eow hebbe to hæftum ham gefærde alle of earde. Nis her eadiges tir, wloncra winsele, ne worulde dream, ne ængla ðreat, ne we upheofon agan moten. Is ðes atola ham fyre onæled. Ic eom fah wið god. æce æt helle duru dracan eardigað, hate on reðre; heo us helpan ne magon.

Is ðæs walica ham wites afylled; 100 nagan we ðæs heolstres þæt we us gehydan mægon in ðissum neowlan genipe. Hær is nedran swæg, wyrmas gewunade. Is ðis wites clom feste gebunden. Feond seondon reðe, dimme and deorce. Ne her dæg lyhteð 105 for scedes sciman, sceppendes leoht. Iu ahte ic gewald ealles wuldres, ær ic moste in ðeossum atolan æðele gebidan hwæt me drihten god deman wille, fagum on flora. Nu ic feran com 110

deofla menego to ðissum dimman ham. Ac ic sceal on flyge and on flyhte ðragum earda neosan, and eower ma, þe ðes oferhydes ord onstaldon. Ne ðurfon we ðes wenan, þæt us wuldorcyning 115 æfre wille eard alefan, æðel to æhte, swa he ær dyde, ecne onwald; ah him alles gewald, wuldres and wita, waldendes sunu. Forðon ic sceal hean and earm hweorfan ðy widor, 120 wadan wræclastas, wuldre benemed, duguðum bedeled, nænigne dream agan

uppe mid ænglum, þes ðe ic ær gecwæð þæt ic wære seolfa swægles brytta, wihta wealdend. Ac hit me wyrse gelomp!" 125 Swa se werega gast wordum sæde his earfoðo ealle ætsomne, fah in fyrnum, (fyrleoma stod geond þæt atole scræf attre geblonden): "Ic eom limwæstmum þæt ic gelutian ne mæg 130 on þyssum sidan sele, synnum forwundod. Hwæt, her hat and ceald hwilum mencgað; hwilum ic gehere hellescealcas, gnornende cynn, grundas mænan,

niðer under næssum; hwilum nacode men 135 winnað ymb wyrmas. Is þes windiga sele eall inneweard atole gefylled. Ne mot ic hihtlicran hames brucan, burga ne bolda, ne on þa beorhtan gescæft ne mot ic æfre ma eagum starian. 140 Is me nu wyrsa þæt ic wuldres leoht uppe mid englum æfre cuðe, song on swegle, þær sunu meotodes habbað eadige bearn ealle ymbfangen seolfa mid sange. Ne ic þam sawlum ne mot 145

ænigum sceððan, butan þam anum þe he agan nyle; þa ic mot to hæftum ham geferian, bringan to bolde in þone biteran grund. Ealle we syndon ungelice 150 þonne þe we iu in heofonum hæfdon ærror wlite and weorðmynt. Ful oft wuldres sweg brohton to bearme bearn hælendes, þær we ymb hine utan ealle hofan, leomu ymb leofne, lofsonga word, 155 drihtne sædon. Nu ic eom dædum fah, gewundod mid wommum; sceal nu þysne wites clom

beoran beornende in bæce minum, hat on helle, hyhtwillan leas." þa gyt feola cwiðde firna herde, 160 atol æglæca, ut of helle, witum werig. Word spearcum fleah attre gelicost, þonne he ut þorhdraf: "Eala drihtenes þrym! Eala duguða helm! Eala meotodes miht! Eala middaneard! 165 Eala dæg leohta! Eala dream godes! Eala engla þreat! Eala upheofen! Eala þæt ic eam ealles leas ecan dreames, þæt ic mid handum ne mæg heofon geræcan,

ne mid eagum ne mot up locian, 170 ne huru mid earum ne sceal æfre geheran þære byrhtestan beman stefne! ðæs ic wolde of selde sunu meotodes, drihten adrifan, and agan me þæs dreames gewald, wuldres and wynne, me þær wyrse gelamp 175 þonne ic to hihte agan moste. Nu ic eom asceaden fram þære sciran driht, alæded fram leohte in þone laðan ham. Ne mæg ic þæt gehicgan hu ic in ðæm becwom, in þis neowle genip, niðsynnum fah, 180

aworpen of worulde. Wat ic nu þa þæt bið alles leas ecan dreamas se ðe heofencyninge heran ne þenceð, meotode cweman. Ic þæt morðer sceal, wean and witu and wrace dreogan, 185 goda bedæled, iudædum fah, þæs ðe ic geþohte adrifan drihten of selde, weoroda waldend; sceal nu wreclastas settan sorhgcearig, siðas wide." Hwearf þa to helle þa he gehened wæs, 190 godes andsaca; dydon his gingran swa, gifre and grædige, þa hig god bedraf

in þæt hate hof þam is hel nama. Forþan sceal gehycgan hæleða æghwylc þæt he ne abælige bearn waldendes. 195 Læte him to bysne hu þa blacan feond for oferhygdum ealle forwurdon. Neoman us to wynne weoroda drihten, uppe ecne gefean, engla waldend. He þæt gecydde þæt he mægencræft hæfde, 200 mihta miccle, þa he þa mænego adraf, hæftas of ðæm hean selde. Gemunan we þone halgan drihten, ecne in wuldre mid alra gescefta ealdre; ceosan us eard in wuldre mid ealra cyninga cyninge,

se is Crist genemned; 205 beoran on breostum bliðe geþohtas, sibbe and snytero; gemunan soð and riht, þonne we to hehselde hnigan þencað, and þone anwaldan ara biddan. þonne behofað se ðe her wunað 210 weorulde wynnum þæt him wlite scine þonne he oðer lif eft geseceð, fægere land þonne þeos folde seo; is þær wlitig and wynsum, wæstmas scinað, beorhte ofer burgum. þær is brade lond, 215

hyhtlicra ham in heofonrice, Criste gecwemra. Uta cerran þider þær he sylfa sit, sigora waldend, drihten hælend, in ðæm deoran ham, and ymb þæt hehsetl hwite standað 220 engla feðan and eadigra, halige heofenþreatas herigað drihten wordum and weorcum. Heora wlite scineð geond ealra worulda woruld mid wuldorcyninge. ða get ic furðor gefregen feond ondetan; 225 wæs him eall ful strang wom and witu; hæfdon wuldorcyning for oferhigdum anforlæten;

cwædon eft hraðe oðre worde: "Nu is gesene þæt we syngodon uppe on earde. Sceolon nu æfre þæs 230 dreogan domlease gewinn drihtnes mihtum. Hwæt, we in wuldres wlite wunian moston þær we halgan gode heran woldon, and him sang ymb seld secgan sceoldon þusendmælum. þa we þær wæron, 235 wunodon on wynnum, geherdon wuldres sweg, beman stefne. Byrhtword aras engla ordfruma, and to þæm æþelan hnigan him sanctas; sigetorht aras

ece drihten, ofer us gestod 240 and gebletsode bilewitne heap dogra gehwilcne, and his se deora sunu, gasta scyppend. God seolfa wæs eallum andfeng þe ðær up becom, and hine on eorðan ær gelefde. 245 þa ðæs ofþuhte þæt se þeoden wæs strang and stiðmod. Ongan ic þa steppan forð ana wið englum, and to him eallum spræc: 'Ic can eow læran langsumne ræd, gif ge willað minre mihte gelefan. 250

Uta oferhycgan helm þone micclan, weroda waldend, agan us þis wuldres leoht, eall to æhte. þis is idel gylp þæt we ær drugon ealle hwile.' ða gewearð usic þæt we woldon swa 255 drihten adrifan of þam deoran ham, cyning of cestre. Cuð is wide þæt wreclastas wunian moton, grimme grundas. God seolfa him rice haldeð. He is ana cyning, 260 þe us eorre gewearð, ece drihten, meotod mihtum swið. Sceal nu þeos menego her

licgan on leahtrum, sume on lyft scacan, fleogan ofer foldan; fyr bið ymbutan on æghwylcum, þæh he uppe seo. 265 Ne mot he þam sawlum þe ðær secað up, eadige of eorþan æfre gehrinan, ah ic be hondum mot hæþenre sceale gripan to grunde, godes andsacan. Sume sceolon hweorfan geond hæleða land 270 and unsibbe oft onstyrian monna mægðum geond middaneard. Ic her geþolian sceal þinga æghwylces, bitres niðæs beala gnornian,

sic and sorhful, þæs ic seolfa weold, 275 þonne ic on heofonum ham staðelode, hwæðer us se eca æfre wille on heofona rice ham alefan, eðel to æhte, swa he ær dyde." Swa gnornedon godes andsacan, 280 hate on helle. Him wæs hælend god wrað geworden for womcwidum. Forþon mæg gehycgan, se ðe his heorte deah, þæt he him afirre frecne geþohtas, laðe leahtras, lifigendra gehwylc. 285

Gemunan symle on mode meotodes strengðo; gearwian us togenes grene stræte up to englum, þær is se ælmihtiga god. And us befæðman wile freobearn godes, gif we þæt on eorðan ær geþencað, 290 and us to þam halgan helpe gelefað. þonne he us no forlæteð, ah lif syleð uppe mid englum, eadigne dream. Tæceð us se torhta trumlicne ham, beorhte burhweallas. Beorhte scinað 295 gesælige sawle, sorgum bedælde, þær heo æfre forð wunian moten

cestre and cynestol. Uton cyþan þæt! Deman we on eorðan, ærror lifigend, onlucan mid listum locen waldendes, 300 ongeotan gastlice! Us ongean cumað þusend engla, gif þider moton, and þæt on eorðan ær gewyrcað. Forþon se bið eadig se ðe æfre wile man oferhycgen, meotode cweman, 305 synne adwæscan. Swa he sylfa cwæð: "Soðfæste men, sunnan gelice, fægre gefrætewod in heora fæder rice scinað in sceldbyrig." þær heo sceppend seolf

friðe befæðmeð, fæder mancynnes, 310 ahefeð holdlice in heofones leoht, þær heo mid wuldorcyninge wunian moton awa to aldre, agan dreama dream mid drihtne gode, a to worulde a buton ende. 315 Eala hwæt! Se awyrgda wraðe geþohte þæt he heofencyninge heran ne wolde, fæder frefergendum. Flor attre weol, hat under hæftum; hreopan deofla, wide geond windsele wean cwanedon, 320

man and morður. Wæs seo menego þær swylce onæled; wæs þæt eall full strong, þonne wæs heora aldor, þe ðær ærest com forð on feþan, fæste gebunden fyre and lige. þæt wæs fæstlic þreat; 325 ec sceoldon his þegnas þær gewunian atolan eðles, nalles up þanon geheran in heofonum haligne dream, þær heo oft fægerne folgað hæfdon uppe mid englum. Wæron þa alles þæs 330 goda lease, ah nymþe gryndes ad wunian ne moten and þone werigan sele

þær is wom and wop wide gehered, and gristbitungc and gnornungc mecga. Nabbað he to hyhte nymþe cyle and fyr, 335 wean and witu and wyrma þreat, dracan and næddran and þone dimman ham. Forðon mihte geheran, se ðe æt hylle wæs twelf milum neh, þæt ðær wæs toða geheaw, hlude and geomre. Godes andsacan 340 hweorfan geond helle hate onæled ufan and utan (him wæs æghwær wa), witum werige, wuldres bescyrede, dreamum bedælde. Heofon deop gehygd,

þa heo on heofonum ham staðelodon, 345 þæt hie woldon benæman nergendne Crist rodera rices, ah he on riht geheold hired heofona and þæt halige seld. Nis nænig swa snotor ne swa cræftig, ne þæs swa gleaw, nymþe god seolfa, 350 þæt asecgan mæge swegles leoman, hu scima þær scineð ymbutan meotodes mihte, geond þæt mære cynn, þær habbað englas eadigne dream, sanctas singað (þæt is se seolfa) for god. 355

þonne beoð þa eadigan þe of eorðan cumað, bringað to bearme blostman stences, wyrte wynsume (þæt synd word godes), þonne hie befæðmeð fæder mancynnes, and hie gesegnað mid his swiðran hond, 360 lædeð to lihte, þær hi lif agon a to aldre, uplicne ham, byrhtne burhstyde. Blæd bið æghwæm þæm ðe hælende heran þenceð, and wel is þam ðe þæt wyrcan mot. 365 Wæs þæt encgelcyn ær genemned, Lucifer haten, leohtberende,

on geardagum in godes rice. þa he in wuldre wrohte onstalde þæt he oferhyda agan wolde. 370 þa Satanus swearte geþohte þæt he wolde on heofonum hehseld wyrcan uppe mid þam ecan. þæt wæs ealdor heora, yfeles ordfruma. Him þæt eft gehreaw, þa he to helle hnigan sceolde, 375 and his hired mid hine, in hynðo geglidan, nergendes nið, and no seoððan þæt hi mosten in þone ecan andwlitan seon buton ende. þa him egsa becom,

dyne for deman, þa he duru in helle 380 bræc and begde. Blis wearð monnum þa hi hælendes heafod gesawon. þonne wæs þam atolan þe we ær nemdon þa wæron mid egsan ealle afyrhte, wide geond windsele wordum mændon: 385 "þis is stronglic, nu þes storm becom, þegen mid þreate, þeoden engla. Him beforan fereð fægere leoht þonne we æfre ær eagum gesawon, buton þa we mid englum uppe wæron. 390

Wile nu ure witu þurh his wuldres cræft eall toweorpan. Nu ðes egsa com, dyne for drihtne, sceal þes dreorga heap ungeara nu atol þrowian. Hit is se seolfa sunu waldendes, 395 engla drihten. Wile uppe heonan sawla lædan, and we seoððan a þæs yrreweorces henðo geþoliað." Hwearf þa to helle hæleða bearnum, meotod þurh mihte; wolde manna rim, 400 fela þusenda, forð gelædan up to eðle. þa com engla sweg,

dyne on dægred; hæfde drihten seolf feond oferfohten. Wæs seo fæhðe þa gyt open on uhtan, þa se egsa becom. 405 Let þa up faran eadige sawle, Adames cyn, ac ne moste Efe þa gyt wlitan in wuldre ær heo wordum cwæð: "Ic þe æne abealh, ece drihten, þa wit Adam twa eaples þigdon 410 þurh næddran nið, swa wit na ne sceoldon. Gelærde unc se atola, se ðe æfre nu beorneð on bendum, þæt wit blæd ahton, haligne ham, heofon to gewalde.

þa wit ðæs awærgdan wordum gelyfdon, 415 namon mid handum on þam halgan treo beorhte blæda; unc þæs bitere forgeald þa wit in þis hate scræf hweorfan sceoldon, and wintra rim wunian seoððan, þusenda feolo, þearle onæled. 420 Nu ic þe halsige, heofenrices weard, for þan hirede þe ðu hider læddest, engla þreatas, þæt ic up heonon mæge and mote mid minre mægðe. And ymb þreo niht com þegen hælendes 425

ham to helle; is nu hæftum strong, witum werig, swylce him wuldorcyning for onmædlan eorre geworden. Segdest us to soðe þætte seolfa god wolde helwarum ham gelihtan. 430 Aras þa anra gehwylc, and wið earm gesæt, hleonade wið handa. þeah hylle gryre egeslic þuhte, wæron ealle þæs fægen in firnum þæt freodrihten wolde him to helpe helle gesecan." 435 Ræhte þa mid handum to heofencyninge, bæd meotod miltse þurh Marian had:

"Hwæt, þu fram minre dohtor, drihten, onwoce in middangeard mannum to helpe. Nu is gesene þæt ðu eart sylfa god 440 and ece ordfruma ealra gesceafta." Let þa up faran ece drihten; wuldre hæfde wites clomma feondum oðfæsted, and heo furðor sceaf in þæt neowle genip, nearwe gebeged, 445 þær nu Satanus swearte þingað, earm aglæca, and þa atolan mid him, witum werige. Nalles wuldres leoht habban moton, ah in helle grund,

ne hi edcerres æfre moton 450 wenan seoððan. Him wæs drihten god wrað geworden, sealde him wites clom, atole to æhte, and egsan gryre, dimne and deorcne deaðes scuwan, hatne helle grund, hinsiðgryre. 455 þæt, la, wæs fæger, þæt se feða com up to earde, and se eca mid him, meotod mancynnes in þa mæran burh! Hofon hine mid him handum halige witigan up to eðle, Abrahames cynn. 460

Hæfde þa drihten seolf deað oferwunnen, feond geflemed; þæt in fyrndagum witegan sædon þæt he swa wolde. þis wæs on uhtan eall geworden, ær dægrede, þæt se dyne becom, 465 hlud of heofonum, þa he helle duru forbræc and forbegde; ban weornodon þa hie swa leohtne leoman gesawon. Gesæt þa mid þære fyrde frumbearn godes, sæde soðcwidum: "Snotre gastas, 470 ic eow þurh mine mihte geworhte, Adam ærest and þæt æðele wif.

þa hie begeton on godes willan feowertig bearna, þæt forð þonon on middangeard menio onwocon, 475 and wintra feola wunian moston, eorlas on eðle, oððæt eft gelamp þæt hie afyrde eft feond in firenum; fah is æghwær. Ic on neorxnawonge niwe asette 480 treow mid telgum, þæt ða tanas up æpla bæron, and git æton þa beorhtan blæda, swa inc se balewa het, handþegen helle. Hæfdon forþon hatne grund,

þæs git ofergymdon hælendes word, 485 æten þa egsan. Wæs se atola beforan, se inc bam forgeaf balewe geþohtas. þa me gereaw þæt min handgeweorc þæs carcernes clom ðrowade. Næs ða monna gemet, ne mægen engla, 490 ne witegena weorc, ne wera snytero, þæt eow mihte helpan, nimðe hælend god, se þæt wite ær to wrece gesette. Ferde to foldan þurh fæmnan had ufan from eðle, and on eorþan gebad 495

tintregan fela and teonan micelne. Me seredon ymb secgas monige dæges and nihtes, hu heo me deaðes cwealm, rices rædboran, hrefnan mihten. þa wæs þæs mæles mearc agangen 500 þæt on worulde wæs wintra gerimes þreo and þritig geara ær ic þrowode. Gemunde ic ðæs mænego on þam minnan ham lange þæs ðe ic of hæftum ham gelædde up to earde, þæt heo agan sceolon 505 drihtnes domas and duguðe þrym; wuniað in wynnum, habbað wuldres blæd

þusendmælum. Ic eow þingade þa me on beame beornas sticedon, garum on galgum. Heow se giunga þær, 510 and ic eft up becom ece dreamas to haligum drihtne." Swa wuldres weard wordum sæde, meotod moncynnes ær on morgen þæs þe drihten god of deaðe aras. 515 Næs nan þæs stronglic stan gefæstnod, þeah he wære mid irne eall ymbfangen, þæt mihte þam miclan mægne wiðhabban, ah he ut eode, engla drihten,

on þæm fæstenne, and gefatian het 520 englas eallbeorhte andleofan gingran, and huru secgan het Simon Petre þæt he moste in Galileam god sceawian, ecne and trumne, swa he ær dyde. þa ic gongan gefregn gingran ætsomne 525 ealle to Galileam; hæfdon gastes bled, ongeton haligne godes sunu swa heo gesegon hwær sunu meotodes þa on upp gestod, ece drihten, god in Galileam. To ðæs gingran þider 530

ealle urnon, þær se eca wæs. Feollon on foldan, and to fotum hnigon; þanceden þeodne þæt hit þus gelomp þæt hi sceawodon scyppend engla. þa sona spræc Simon Petrus: 535 "Eart þu þis, drihten, dome gewurðad? We ðe gesawon æt sumum cyrre, þec gelegdon on laðne bend hæþene mid hondum; him þæt gehreowan mæg þonne heo endestæf eft gesceawiað." 540 Sume hie ne mihton mode oncnawan þæt wæs se deora (Didimus wæs haten)

ær he mid hondum hælend genom sylfne be sidan þær he his swat forlet; feollon to foldan fulwihtes bæðe. 545 Fæger wæs þæt ongin þæt freodrihten geþrowode, þeoden ure. He on beame astah and his blod ageat, god on galgan, þurh his gastes mægen. Forþon men sceolon mæla gehwylce 550 secgan drihtne þanc dædum and weorcum, þæs ðe he us of hæftum ham gelædde up to eðle, þær we agan sceolon drihtnes domas,

and we in wynnum wunian moton. 555 Us is wuldres leoht torht ontyned, þam ðe teala þenceð. þa wæs on eorðan ece drihten feowertig daga folgad folcum, gecyðed mancynne, ær he in þa mæran gesceaft, 560 burhleoda fruma, bringan wolde haligne gast to heofonrice. Astah up on heofonum engla scyppend, weoroda waldend. þa com wolcna sweg, halig of heofonum. Mid wæs hond godes, 565

onfeng freodrihten, and hine forð lædde to þam halgan ham heofna ealdor. Him ymbflugon engla þreatas þusendmælum. þa hit þus gelomp, þa gyt nergende Crist gecwæð þæt he þæs 570 ymb tene niht twelf apostolas mid his gastes gife, gingran geswiðde. Hæfde þa gesette sawla unrim god lifigende. þa wæs Iudas of, se ðe ær on tifre torhtne gesalde, 575 drihten hælend; him seo dæd ne geþeah, þæs he bebohte bearn wealdendes

on seolfres sinc; him þæt swearte forgeald earm æglæca innon helle. Siteð nu on þa swiðran hond sunu his fæderes; 580 dæleð dogra gehwæm drihten weoroda help and hælo hæleþa bearnum geond middangeard. þæt is monegum cuð þæt he ana is ealra gescefta wyrhta and waldend þurh his wuldres cræft. 585 Siteð him on heofnum halig encgel, waldend mid witegum. Hafað wuldres bearn his seolfes seld swegl betolden. Leaðað us þider to leohte þurh his læcedom,

þær we moton seolfe sittan mid drihtne, 590 uppe mid englum, habban þæt ilce leoht, þær his hired nu halig eardað, wunað in wynnum, þær is wuldres bled torht ontyned. Uton teala hycgan þæt we hælende heran georne, 595 Criste cweman. þær is cuðre lif þonne we on eorðan mægen æfre gestreonan. Hafað nu geþingod to us þeoden mæra, ælmihtig god, on domdæge drihten seolfa. 600

Hateð hehenglas hluddre stefne beman blawan ofer burga geseotu geond foldan sceatas. þonne of þisse moldan men onwecnað; deade of duste arisað þurh drihtnes miht. 605 þæt bið daga lengust, and dinna mæst hlud gehered, þonne hælend cymeð, waldend mid wolcnum in þas woruld færeð. Wile þonne gesceadan wlitige and unclæne on twa healfe, tile and yfle. 610 Him þa soðfæstan on þa swiðran hond mid rodera weard reste gestigað.

þonne beoð bliðe þa in burh moton gongan in godes rice, and heo gesenað mid his swiðran hond 615 cynincg alwihta, cleopað ofer ealle: "Ge sind wilcuman! Gað in wuldres leoht to heofona rice, þær ge habbað a to aldre ece reste." þonne stondað þa forworhtan, þa ðe firnedon; 620 beoð beofigende hwonne him bearn godes deman wille þurh his dæda sped. Wenað þæt heo moten to þære mæran byrig up to englum swa oðre dydon,

ac him bið reordende 625 ece drihten, ofer ealle gecwæð: "Astigað nu, awyrgde, in þæt witehus ofostum miclum. Nu ic eow ne con." Sona æfter þæm wordum werige gastas, helle hæftas, hwyrftum scriþað 630 þusendmælum, and þider leaðað in þæt sceaðena scræf, scufað to grunde in þæt nearwe nið, and no seoððan þæt hie up þonan æfre moton, ah þær geþolian sceolon earmlic wite, 635

clom and carcern, and þone caldan grund deopne adreogan and deofles spellunge, hu hie him on edwit oft asettað swarte suslbonan, stæleð feondas fæhðe and firne, þær ðe hie freodrihten, 640 ecne anwaldan, oft forgeaton, þone þe hie him to hihte habban sceoldon. Uton, la, geþencan geond þas worulde, þæt we hælende heran onginnen! Georne þurh godes gife gemunan gastes bled, 645 hu eadige þær uppe sittað selfe mid swegle, sunu hælendes!

þær is geat gylden gimmum gefrætewod, wynnum bewunden, þæm þe in wuldres leoht gongan moten to godes rice, 650 and ymb þa weallas wlitige scinað engla gastas and eadige sawla, þa ðe heonon ferað. þær martiras meotode cwemað, and herigað hehfæder halgum stefnum, 655 cyning in cestre. Cweþað ealle þus: "þu eart hæleða helm and heofendema, engla ordfruma, and eorðan tudor up gelæddest to þissum eadigan ham."

Swa wuldres weard wordum herigað 660 þegnas ymb þeoden, þær is þrym micel, sang æt selde, is sylf cyning, ealra aldor, in ðære ecan gesceft. þæt is se drihten, seðe deað for us geþrowode, þeoden engla. 665 Swylce he fæste feowertig daga, metod mancynnes, þurh his mildsa sped. þa gewearð þone weregan, þe ær aworpen wæs of heofonum þæt he in helle gedeaf, þa costode cyning alwihta. 670

Brohte him to bearme brade stanas, bæd him for hungre hlafas wyrcan-- "gif þu swa micle mihte hæbbe." þa him andswarode ece drihten: "Wendest þu, awyrgda, þæt awriten nære, 675 nymþe me ænne ac geseted hafast, sigores agend, lifigendum liht, lean butan ende, on heofenrice, halige dreamas." þa he mid hondum genom 680 atol þurh edwit, and on esle ahof, herm bealowes gast, and on beorh astah,

asette on dune drihten hælend: "Loca nu ful wide ofer londbuende. Ic þe geselle on þines seolfes dom 685 folc and foldan. Foh hider to me burh and breotone bold to gewealde, rodora rices, gif þu seo riht cyning engla and monna, swa ðu ær myntest." þa him andswarode ece drihten: 690 "Gewit þu, awyrgda, in þæt witescræf, Satanus seolf; þe is susl weotod gearo togegnes, nalles godes rice. Ah ic þe hate þurh þa hehstan miht

þæt ðu hellwarum hyht ne abeode, 695 ah þu him secgan miht sorga mæste, þæt ðu gemettes meotod alwihta, cyning moncynnes. Cer ðe on bæcling! Wite þu eac, awyrgda, hu wid and sid helheoðo dreorig, and mid hondum amet. 700 Grip wið þæs grundes; gang þonne swa oððæt þu þone ymbhwyrft alne cunne, and ærest amet ufan to grunde, and hu sid seo se swarta eðm. Wast þu þonne þe geornor þæt þu wið god wunne, 705

seoððan þu þonne hafast handum ametene hu heh and deop hell inneweard seo, grim græfhus. Gong ricene to, ær twa seondon tida agongene, þæt ðu merced hus ameten hæbbe." 710 þa þam werigan wearð wracu getenge. Satan seolua ran and on susle gefeol, earm æglece. Hwilum mid folmum mæt wean and witu. Hwilum se wonna læg læhte wið þes laþan. Hwilum he licgan geseah 715 hæftas in hylle. Hwilum hream astag, ðonne he on þone atolan eagum gesawun.

Hæfdon gewunnon godes andsacan blac bealowes gast, þæt he on botme stod. þa him þuhte þæt þanon wære 720 to helleduru hund þusenda mila gemearcodes, swa hine se mihtiga het þæt þurh sinne cræft susle amæte. ða he gemunde þæt he on grunde stod. Locade leas wiht geond þæt laðe scræf, 725 atol mid egum, oððæt egsan gryre deofla mænego þonne up astag. Wordum in witum ongunnon þa werigan gastas reordian and cweðan:

"La, þus beo nu on yfele! Noldæs ær teala!" 730 Finit Liber II . Amen.