Daniel

Gefrægn ic Hebreos eadge lifgean in Hierusalem, goldhord dælan, cyningdom habban, swa him gecynde wæs, siððan þurh metodes mægen on Moyses hand wearð wig gifen, wigena mænieo, and hie of Egyptum ut aforon, mægene micle. þæt wæs modig cyn! þenden hie þy rice rædan moston, burgum wealdan, wæs him beorht wela. þenden þæt folc mid him hiera fæder wære healdan woldon, wæs him hyrde god, heofonrices weard, halig drihten, wuldres waldend. Se ðam werude geaf mod and mihte, metod alwihta,

þæt hie oft fela folca feore gesceodon, heriges helmum, þara þe him hold ne wæs, oðþæt hie wlenco anwod æt winþege deofoldædum, druncne geðohtas. þa hie æcræftas ane forleton, metodes mægenscipe, swa no man scyle his gastes lufan wið gode dælan. þa geseah ic þa gedriht in gedwolan hweorfan, Israhela cyn unriht don, wommas wyrcean. þæt wæs weorc gode! Oft he þam leodum to lare sende, heofonrices weard, halige gastas, þa þam werude wisdom budon. Hie þære snytro soð gelyfdon

lytle hwile, oðþæt hie langung beswac eorðan dreamas eces rædes, þæt hie æt siðestan sylfe forleton drihtnes domas, curon deofles cræft. þa wearð reðemod rices ðeoden, unhold þeodum þam þe æhte geaf. Wisde him æt frymðe, ða ðe on fruman ær ðon wæron mancynnes metode dyrust, dugoða dyrust, drihtne leofost; herepað tæhte to þære hean byrig, eorlum elðeodigum, on eðelland þær Salem stod searwum afæstnod, weallum geweorðod. To þæs witgan foron, Caldea cyn, to ceastre forð,

þær Israela æhta wæron, bewrigene mid weorcum; to þam þæt werod gefor, mægenþreat mære, manbealwes georn. Awehte þone wælnið wera aldorfrea, Babilones brego, on his burhstede, Nabochodonossor, þurh niðhete, þæt he secan ongan sefan gehygdum hu he Israelum eaðost meahte þurh gromra gang guman oðþringan. Gesamnode þa suðan and norðan wælhreow werod, and west foran herige hæðencyninga to þære hean byrig. Israela eðelweardas hæfdon lufan, lifwelan, þenden hie let metod.

þa ic eðan gefrægn ealdfeonda cyn winburh wera. þa wigan ne gelyfdon, bereafodon þa receda wuldor readan golde, since and seolfre, Salomones templ. Gestrudan gestreona under stanhliðum, swilc eall swa þa eorlas agan sceoldon, oðþæt hie burga gehwone abrocen hæfdon, þara þe þam folce to friðe stodon. Gehlodon him to huðe hordwearda gestreon, feoh and frætwa, swilc þær funden wæs, and þa mid þam æhtum eft siðedon, and gelæddon eac on langne sið Israela cyn, on eastwegas to Babilonia, beorna unrim,

under hand hæleð hæðenum deman. Nabochodonossor him on nyd dyde Israela bearn ofer ealle lufen, wæpna lafe to weorcþeowum. Onsende þa sinra þegna worn þæs werudes west toferan, þæt him þara leoda land geheolde, eðne eðel, æfter Ebreum. Het þa secan sine gerefan geond Israela earme lafe, hwilc þære geogoðe gleawost wære boca bebodes, þe þær brungen wæs. Wolde þæt þa cnihtas cræft leornedon, þæt him snytro on sefan secgan mihte,

nales ðy þe he þæt moste oððe gemunan wolde þæt he þara gifena gode þancode þe him þær to duguðe drihten scyrede. þa hie þær fundon þry freagleawe æðele cnihtas and æfæste, ginge and gode in godsæde; an wæs Annanias, oðer Azarias, þridda Misael, metode gecorene. þa þry comon to þeodne foran, hearde and higeþancle, þær se hæðena sæt, cyning corðres georn, in Caldea byrig. þa hie þam wlancan wisdom sceoldon, weras Ebrea, wordum cyðan, higecræft heane, þurh halig mod,

þa se beorn bebead, Babilone weard, 100 swiðmod cyning, sinum þegnum, þæt þa frumgaras be feore dæde, þæt þam gengum þrym gad ne wære wiste ne wæde in woruldlife. þa wæs breme Babilone weard, 105 mære and modig ofer middangeard, egesful ylda bearnum. No he æ fremede, ac in oferhygde æghwæs lifde. þa þam folctogan on frumslæpe, siððan to reste gehwearf rice þeoden, 110

com on sefan hwurfan swefnes woma, hu woruld wære wundrum geteod, ungelic yldum oð edsceafte. Wearð him on slæpe soð gecyðed, þætte rices gehwæs reðe sceolde gelimpan, 115 eorðan dreamas, ende wurðan. þa onwoc wulfheort, se ær wingal swæf, Babilone weard. Næs him bliðe hige, ac him sorh astah, swefnes woma. No he gemunde þæt him meted wæs. 120 Het þa tosomne sinra leoda þa wiccungdom widost bæron,

frægn þa ða mænigeo hwæt hine gemætte, þenden reordberend reste wunode. Wearð he on þam egesan acol worden, 125 þa he ne wisse word ne angin swefnes sines; het him secgan þeah. þa him unbliðe andswaredon deofolwitgan (næs him dom gearu to asecganne swefen cyninge): 130 "Hu magon we swa dygle, drihten, ahicgan on sefan þinne, hu ðe swefnede, oððe wyrda gesceaft wisdom bude, gif þu his ærest ne meaht or areccan?"

þa him unbliðe andswarode 135 wulfheort cyning, witgum sinum: "Næron ge swa eacne ofer ealle men modgeþances swa ge me sægdon, and þæt gecwædon, þæt ge cuðon mine aldorlege, swa me æfter wearð, 140 oððe ic furðor findan sceolde. Nu ge mætinge mine ne cunnon, þa þe me for werode wisdom berað. Ge sweltað deaðe, nymþe ic dom wite soðan swefnes, þæs min sefa myndgað." 145

Ne meahte þa seo mænigeo on þam meðelstede þurh witigdom wihte aþencean ne ahicgan, þa hit forhæfed gewearð þætte hie sædon swefn cyninge, wyrda gerynu, oðþæt witga cwom, 150 Daniel to dome, se wæs drihtne gecoren, snotor and soðfæst, in þæt seld gangan. Se wæs ordfruma earmre lafe þære þe þam hæðenan hyran sceolde. Him god sealde gife of heofnum 155 þurh hleoðorcwyde haliges gastes, þæt him engel godes eall asægde

swa his mandrihten gemæted wearð. ða eode Daniel, þa dæg lyhte, swefen reccan sinum frean, 160 sægde him wislice wereda gesceafte, þætte sona ongeat swiðmod cyning ord and ende þæs þe him ywed wæs. ða hæfde Daniel dom micelne, blæd in Babilonia mid bocerum, 165 siððan he gesæde swefen cyninge, þæt he ær for fyrenum onfon ne meahte, Babilonie weard, in his breostlocan. No hwæðere þæt Daniel gedon mihte

þæt he wolde metodes mihte gelyfan, 170 ac he wyrcan ongan weoh on felda þam þe deormode Diran heton, se wæs on ðære ðeode ðe swa hatte, bresne Babilonige. þære burge weard anne manlican ofer metodes est, 175 gyld of golde, gumum arærde, for þam þe gleaw ne wæs, gumrices weard, reðe and rædleas, riht ...... þa wearð hæleða hlyst þa hleoðor cwom byman stefne ofer burhware. 180

þa hie for þam cumble on cneowum sæton, onhnigon to þam herige hæðne þeode, wurðedon wihgyld, ne wiston wræstran ræd, efndon unrihtdom, swa hyra aldor dyde, mane gemenged, mode gefrecnod. 185 Fremde folcmægen, swa hyra frea ærest, unræd efnde, (him þæs æfter becwom yfel endelean), unriht dyde. þær þry wæron on þæs þeodnes byrig, eorlas Israela, þæt hie a noldon 190 hyra þeodnes dom þafigan onginnan, þæt hie to þam beacne gebedu rærde,

ðeah ðe ðær on herige byman sungon. ða wæron æðelum god Abrahames bearn, wæron wærfæste, wiston drihten 195 ecne uppe, ælmihtigne. Cnihtas cynegode cuð gedydon, þæt hie him þæt gold to gode noldon habban ne healdan, ac þone hean cyning, gasta hyrde, ðe him gife sealde. 200 Oft hie to bote balde gecwædon þæt hie þæs wiges wihte ne rohton, ne hie to þam gebede mihte gebædon hæðen heriges wisa, þæt hie þider hweorfan wolden,

guman to þam gyldnan gylde, þe he him to gode geteode. 205 þegnas þeodne sægdon þæt hie þære geþeahte wæron, hæftas hearan, in þisse hean byrig, þa þis hegan ne willað, ne þysne wig wurðigean, þe ðu þe to wuldre wundrum teodest. ða him bolgenmod Babilone weard 210 yrre andswarode, eorlum onmælde grimme þam gingum, and geocre oncwæð, þæt hie gegnunga gyldan sceolde oððe þrowigean þreanied micel, frecne fyres wylm, nymðe hie friðes wolde 215

wilnian to þam wyrrestan, weras Ebrea, guman to þam golde, þe he him to gode teode. Noldon þeah þa hyssas hyran larum in hige hæðnum. Hogedon georne þæt æ godes ealle gelæste, 220 and ne awacodon wereda drihtne, ne þan mæ gehwurfe in hæðendom, ne hie to facne freoðo wilnedan, þeah þe him se bitera deað geboden wære. þa wearð yrre anmod cyning, het he ofn onhætan 225 to cwale cnihta feorum forðam þe hie his cræftas onsocon. þa he wæs gegleded, swa he grimmost mihte,

frecne fyres lige, þa he þyder folc samnode, and gebindan het, Babilone weard, grim and gealhmod, godes spelbodan. 230 Het þa his scealcas scufan þa hyssas in bælblyse, beornas geonge. Gearo wæs se him geoce gefremede; þeah þe hie swa grome nydde in fæðm fyres lige, hwæðere heora feorh generede mihtig metodes weard. Swa þæt mænige gefrunon, 235 halige him þær help geteode, sende him of hean rodore god, gumena weard, gast þone halgan. Engel in þone ofn innan becwom þær hie þæt aglac drugon, freobearn fæðmum beþeahte under þam fyrenan hrofe.

Ne mihte þeah heora wlite gewemman owiht 240 wylm þæs wæfran liges, þa hie se waldend nerede. Hreohmod wæs se hæðena þeoden, het hie hraðe bærnan. æled wæs ungescead micel. þa wæs se ofen onhæted, isen eall ðurhgleded. Hine ðær esnas mænige wurpon wudu on innan, swa him wæs on wordum gedemed; 245 bæron brandas on bryne blacan fyres, (wolde wulfheort cyning wall onsteallan, iserne ymb æfæste), oðþæt up gewat lig ofer leofum and þurh lust gesloh micle mare þonne gemet wære. 250

ða se lig gewand on laðe men, hæðne of halgum. Hyssas wæron bliðemode, burnon scealcas ymb ofn utan, alet gehwearf teonfullum on teso. ðær to geseah 255 Babilone brego. Bliðe wæron eorlas Ebrea, ofestum heredon drihten on dreame, dydon swa hie cuðon ofne on innan, aldre generede. Guman glædmode god wurðedon, 260 under þæs fæðme þe geflymed wearð frecne fyres hæto. Freobearn wurdon

alæten liges gange, ne hie him þær lað gedydon. Næs him se sweg to sorge ðon ma þe sunnan scima, ne se bryne beot mæcgum þe in þam beote wæron, 265 ac þæt fyr fyr scyde to ðam þe ða scylde worhton, hwearf on þa hæðenan hæftas fram þam halgan cnihton, werigra wlite minsode, þa ðe ðy worce gefægon. Geseah ða swiðmod cyning, ða he his sefan ontreowde, wundor on wite agangen; him þæt wræclic þuhte. 270 Hyssas hale hwurfon in þam hatan ofne, ealle æfæste ðry; him eac þær wæs an on gesyhðe, engel ælmihtiges. Him þær on ofne owiht ne derede,

ac wæs þær inne ealles gelicost 275 efne þonne on sumera sunne scineð, and deaw dryge on dæge weorðeð, winde geondsawen. þæt wæs wuldres god þe hie generede wið þam niðhete. ða Azarias ingeþancum 280 hleoðrade halig þurh hatne lig, dreag dæda georn, drihten herede, wer womma leas, and þa word acwæð: "Metod alwihta, hwæt! þu eart mihtum swið niðas to nergenne. Is þin nama mære, 285

wlitig and wuldorfæst ofer werðeode. Siendon þine domas in daga gehwam soðe and geswiðde and gesigefæste, swa þu eac sylfa eart. Syndon þine willan on woruldspedum 290 rihte and gerume, rodora waldend. Geoca user georne nu, gasta scyppend, and þurh hyldo help, halig drihten, nu we þec for þreaum and for ðeonydum and for eaðmedum arna biddað, 295 lige belegde. We ðæs lifgende worhton on worulde, eac ðon wom dyde

user yldran; for oferhygdum bræcon bebodo burhsittende, had oferhogedon halgan lifes. 300 Siendon we towrecene geond widne grund, heapum tohworfene, hyldelease; is user lif geond landa fela fracoð and gefræge folca manegum, þa usic bewræcon to þæs wyrrestan 305 eorðcyninga æhta gewealde, on hæft heorugrimra, and we nu hæðenra þeowned þoliað. þæs þe þanc sie, wereda wuldorcyning, þæt þu us þas wrace teodest.

Ne forlet þu usic ane, ece drihten, 310 for ðam miltsum ðe ðec men hligað, and for ðam treowum þe þu, tirum fæst, niða nergend, genumen hæfdest to Abrahame and to Isaace and to Iacobe, gasta scyppend. 315 þu him þæt gehete þurh hleoðorcwyde, þæt þu hyra frumcyn in fyrndagum ican wolde, þætte æfter him on cneorissum cenned wurde, and seo mænigeo mære wære, 320

had to hebbanne swa heofonsteorran bebugað bradne hwyrft, oððe brimfaroþes, sæfaroða sand, geond sealtne wæg in eare gryndeð, þæt his unrim a in wintra worn wurðan sceolde. 325 Fyl nu frumspræce, ðeah heora fea lifigen! Wlitiga þinne wordcwyde and þin wuldor on us! Gecyð cræft and miht þæt þa Caldeas and folca fela gefrigen habbað, ða þe under heofenum hæðene lifigeað, 330 and þæt þu ana eart ece drihten, weroda waldend, woruldgesceafta,

sigora settend, soðfæst metod!" Swa se halga wer hergende wæs metodes miltse and his mihta sped 335 rehte þurh reorde. ða of roderum wæs engel ælbeorht ufan onsended, wlitescyne wer on his wuldorhaman, se him cwom to frofre and to feorhnere mid lufan and mid lisse. Se ðone lig tosceaf, 340 halig and heofonbeorht, hatan fyres, tosweop hine and toswende þurh þa swiðan miht, ligges leoman, þæt hyra lice ne wæs owiht geegled, ac he on andan sloh

fyr on feondas for fyrendædum. 345 þa wæs on þam ofne, þær se engel becwom, windig and wynsum, wedere gelicost þonne hit on sumeres tid sended weorðeð dropena drearung on dæges hwile, wearmlic wolcna scur. Swylc bið wedera cyst, 350 swylc wæs on þam fyre frean mihtum halgum to helpe. Wearð se hata lig todrifen and todwæsced þær þa dædhwatan geond þone ofen eodon, and se engel mid, feorh nerigende, se ðær feorða wæs, 355

Annanias and Azarias and Misael. þær þa modhwatan þry on geðancum ðeoden heredon, bædon bletsian bearn Israela eall landgesceaft ecne drihten, 360 ðeoda waldend. Swa hie þry cwædon, modum horsce, þurh gemæne word: "ðe gebletsige, bylywit fæder, woruldcræfta wlite and weorca gehwilc! Heofonas and englas, and hluttor wæter, 365 þa ðe ofer roderum on rihtne gesceaft wuniað in wuldre, ða þec wurðiað!

And þec, ælmihtig, ealle gesceafte, rodorbeorhtan tunglu, þa þe ryne healdað, sunna and mona, sundor anra gehwilc 370 herige in hade! And heofonsteorran, deaw and deor scur, ða ðec domige! And þec, mihtig god, gastas lofige! Byrnende fyr and beorht sumor nergend hergað! Niht somod and dæg, 375 and þec landa gehwilc, leoht and þeostro, herige on hade, somod hat and ceald! And þec, frea mihtig, forstas and snawas, winterbiter weder and wolcenfaru,

lofige on lyfte! And þec ligetu, 380 blace, berhtmhwate, þa þec bletsige! Eall eorðan grund, ece drihten, hyllas and hrusan and hea beorgas, sealte sæwægas, soðfæst metod, eastream yða and upcyme, 385 wætersprync wylla, ða ðec wurðiað! Hwalas ðec herigað, and hefonfugolas, lyftlacende, þa ðe lagostreamas, wæterscipe wecgað! And wildu deor and neata gehwilc naman bletsie! 390

And manna bearn modum lufiað, and þec Israela, æhta scyppend, herigað in hade, herran sinne! And þec haligra heortan cræftas, soðfæstra gehwæs sawle and gastas, 395 lofiað liffrean, lean sellende eallum eadmodum, ece drihten! Annanias ðec and Adzarias and Misael metod domige breostgeðancum! We þec bletsiað, 400 frea folca gehwæs, fæder ælmihtig, soð sunu metodes, sawla nergend,

hæleða helpend, and þec, halig gast, wurðiað in wuldre, witig drihten! We ðec herigað, halig drihten, 405 and gebedum bremað! þu gebletsad eart, gewurðad wideferhð ofer worulde hrof, heahcyning heofones, halgum mihtum, lifes leohtfruma, ofer landa gehwilc!" ða þæt ehtode ealdor þeode, 410 Nabochodonossor, wið þam nehstum folcgesiðum: "þæt eower fela geseah, þeode mine, þæt we þry sendon, geboden to bæle in byrnende

fyres leoman. Nu ic þær feower men 415 geseo to soðe, nales me sefa leogeð." ða cwæð se ðe wæs cyninges ræswa, wis and wordgleaw: "þæt is wundra sum þæt we ðær eagum on lociað. Geðenc, ðeoden min, þine gerysna! 420 Ongyt georne hwa þa gyfe sealde gingum gædelingum! Hie god herigað, anne ecne, and ealles him be naman gehwam on neod sprecað, þanciað þrymmes þristum wordum, 425

cweðað he sie ana ælmihtig god, witig wuldorcyning, worlde and heofona. Aban þu þa beornas, brego Caldea, ut of ofne. Nis hit owihtes god þæt hie sien on þam laðe leng þonne þu þurfe." 430 Het þa se cyning to him cnihtas gangan. Hyssas hearde hyrdon lare, cyrdon cynegode swa hie gecyðde wæron, hwurfon hæleð geonge to þam hæðenan foran. Wæron þa bende forburnene þe him on banum lagon, 435 laðsearo leoda cyninges, and hyra lice geborgen. Næs hyra wlite gewemmed, ne nænig wroht on hrægle,

ne feax fyre beswæled, ac hie on friðe drihtnes of ðam grimman gryre glade treddedon, gleawmode guman, on gastes hyld. 440 ða gewat se engel up secan him ece dreamas on heanne hrof heofona rices, heh þegn and hold halgum metode. Hæfde on þam wundre gewurðod ðe þa gewyrhto ahton. Hyssas heredon drihten for þam hæðenan folce, 445 septon hie soðcwidum and him sædon fela soðra tacna, oðþæt he sylfa gelyfde þæt se wære mihta waldend se ðe hie of ðam mirce generede. Gebead þa se bræsna Babilone weard

swiðmod sinum leodum, þæt se wære his aldre scyldig, 450 se ðæs onsoce þætte soð wære mære mihta waldend, se hie of þam morðre alysde. Agæf him þa his leoda lafe þe þær gelædde wæron on æht ealdfeondum, þæt hie are hæfdon. Wæs heora blæd in Babilone, siððan hie þone bryne fandedon, 455 dom wearð æfter duguðe gecyðed, siððan hie drihtne gehyrdon. Wæron hyra rædas rice, siððan hie rodera waldend, halig heofonrices weard, wið þone hearm gescylde. þa ic secan gefrægn soðum wordum, siððan he wundor onget, 460

Babilone weard, þurh fyres bryne, hu þa hyssas þry hatan ofnes, færgryre fyres, oferfaren hæfdon. Wylm þurhwodon, swa him wiht ne sceod grim gleda nið, godes spelbodan, 465 frecnan fyres, ac him frið drihtnes wið þæs egesan gryre aldor gescylde. ða se ðeoden ongan geðinges wyrcan; het þa tosomne sine leode, and þa on þam meðle ofer menigo bebead 470 wyrd gewordene and wundor godes, þætte on þam cnihtum gecyðed wæs:

"Onhicgað nu halige mihte, wise wundor godes! We gesawon þæt he wið cwealme gebearh cnihtum on ofne, 475 lacende lig, þam þe his lof bæron; forþam he is ana ece drihten, dema ælmihtig, se ðe him dom forgeaf, spowende sped, þam þe his spel berað. Forðon witigað þurh wundor monig 480 halgum gastum þe his hyld curon. Cuð is þæt me Daniel dyglan swefnes soð gesæde, þæt ær swiðe oðstod manegum on mode minra leoda,

forþam ælmihtig eacenne gast 485 in sefan sende, snyttro cræftas." Swa wordum spræc werodes ræswa, Babilone weard, siððan he beacen onget, swutol tacen godes. No þy sel dyde, ac þam æðelinge oferhygd gesceod, 490 wearð him hyrra hyge and on heortan geðanc mara on modsefan þonne gemet wære, oðþæt hine mid nyde nyðor asette metod ælmihtig, swa he manegum deð þara þe þurh oferhyd up astigeð. 495

þa him wearð on slæpe swefen ætywed, Nabochodonossor; him þæt neh gewearð. þuhte him þæt on foldan fægre stode wudubeam wlitig, se wæs wyrtum fæst, beorht on blædum. Næs he bearwe gelic, 500 ac he hlifode to heofontunglum, swilce he oferfæðmde foldan sceatas, ealne middangeard, oð merestreamas, twigum and telgum. ðær he to geseah, þuhte him þæt se wudubeam wilddeor scylde, 505 ane æte eallum heolde, swylce fuglas eac heora feorhnere

on þæs beames bledum name. ðuhte him þæt engel ufan of roderum stigan cwome and stefne abead, 510 torhtan reorde. Het þæt treow ceorfan and þa wildan deor on weg fleon, swylce eac þa fugolas, þonne his fyll come. Het þonne besnædan seolfes blædum, twigum and telgum, and þeh tacen wesan, 515 wunian wyrtruman þæs wudubeames eorðan fæstne, oðþæt eft cyme grene bleda, þonne god sylle. Het eac gebindan beam þone miclan

ærenum clammum and isernum, 520 and gesæledne in susl don, þæt his mod wite þæt migtigra wite wealdeð þonne he him wið mæge. þa of slæpe onwoc, (swefn wæs æt ende), eorðlic æðeling, him þæs egesa stod, 525 gryre fram ðam gaste ðe þyder god sende. Het þa tosomne sine leode, folctogan feran, frægn ofer ealle swiðmod cyning hwæt þæt swefen bude, nalles þy he wende þæt hie hit wiston, 530

ac he cunnode hu hie cweðan woldon. ða wæs to ðam dome Daniel haten, godes spelboda. Him wæs gæst geseald, halig of heofonum, se his hyge trymede. On þam drihtenweard deopne wisse 535 sefan sidne geþanc and snytro cræft, wisne wordcwide. Oft he wundor manig, metodes mihta, for men ætbær. þa he secgan ongan swefnes woman, heahheort and hæðen heriges wisa, 540 ealne þone egesan þe him eowed wæs. Bæd hine areccan hwæt seo run bude,

hofe haligu word and in hige funde to gesecganne soðum wordum hwæt se beam bude þe he blican geseah, 545 and him witgode wyrda geþingu. He ða swigode, hwæðere soð ongeat, Daniel æt þam dome, þæt his drihten wæs, gumena aldor, wið god scyldig. Wandode se wisa, hwæðre he worde cwæð, 550 æcræftig ar, to þam æðelinge: "þæt is, weredes weard, wundor unlytel, þæt þu gesawe þurh swefen cuman, heofonheane beam and þa halgan word,

yrre and egeslicu, þa se engel cwæð, 555 þæt þæt treow sceolde, telgum besnæded, foran afeallan, þæt ær fæste stod, and þonne mid deorum dreamleas beon, westen wunian, and his wyrtruman foldan befolen, fyrstmearc wesan 560 stille on staðole, swa seo stefn gecwæð, ymb seofon tida sæde eft onfon. Swa þin blæd lið. Swa se beam geweox, heah to heofonum, swa þu hæleðum eart ana eallum eorðbuendum 565

weard and wisa. Nis þe wiðerbreca, man on moldan, nymðe metod ana. Se ðec aceorfeð of cyningdome, and ðec wineleasne on wræc sendeð, and þonne onhweorfeð heortan þine, 570 þæt þu ne gemyndgast æfter mandreame, ne gewittes wast butan wildeora þeaw, ac þu lifgende lange þrage heorta hlypum geond holt wunast. Ne bið þec mælmete nymþe mores græs, 575 ne rest witod, ac þec regna scur weceð and wreceð swa wildu deor,

oðþæt þu ymb seofon winter soð gelyfest, þæt sie an metod eallum mannum, reccend and rice, se on roderum is. 580 Is me swa þeah willa þæt se wyrtruma stille wæs on staðole, swa seo stefn gecwæð, and ymbe seofan tide sæde onfenge. Swa þin rice restende bið, anwalh for eorlum, oðþæt þu eft cymst. 585 Gehyge þu, frea min, fæstlicne ræd. Syle ælmyssan, wes earmra hleo, þinga for ðeodne, ær ðam seo þrah cyme þæt he þec aworpe of woruldrice.

Oft metod alæt monige ðeode 590 wyrcan bote, þonne hie woldon sylfe, fyrene fæstan, ær him fær godes þurh egesan gryre aldre gesceode." No þæs fela Daniel to his drihtne gespræc soðra worda þurh snytro cræft, 595 þæt þæs a se rica reccan wolde, middangeardes weard, ac his mod astah, heah fram heortan; he þæs hearde ongeald. Ongan ða gyddigan þurh gylp micel Caldea cyning þa he ceastergeweorc, 600

Babilone burh, on his blæde geseah, Sennera feld sidne bewindan, heah hlifigan; þæt se heretyma werede geworhte þurh wundor micel, wearð ða anhydig ofer ealle men, 605 swiðmod in sefan, for ðære sundorgife þe him god sealde, gumena rice, world to gewealde in wera life: "ðu eart seo micle and min seo mære burh þe ic geworhte to wurðmyndum, 610 rume rice. Ic reste on þe, eard and eðel, agan wille."

ða for ðam gylpe gumena drihten forfangen wearð and on fleam gewat, ana on oferhyd ofer ealle men. 615 Swa wod wera on gewindagum geocrostne sið in godes wite, ðara þe eft lifigende leode begete, Nabochodonossor, siððan him nið godes, hreð of heofonum, hete gesceode. 620 Seofon winter samod susl þrowode, wildeora westen, winburge cyning. ða se earfoðmæcg up locode, wilddeora gewita, þurh wolcna gang.

Gemunde þa on mode þæt metod wære, 625 heofona heahcyning, hæleða bearnum ana ece gast. þa he eft onhwearf wodan gewittes, þær þe he ær wide bær herewosan hige, heortan getenge. þa his gast ahwearf in godes gemynd, 630 mod to mannum, siððan he metod onget. Gewat þa earmsceapen eft siðian, nacod nydgenga, nið geðafian, wundorlic wræcca and wæda leas, mætra on modgeðanc, to mancynne, 635

ðonne gumena weard in gylpe wæs. Stod middangeard æfter mandrihtne, eard and eðel æfter þam æðelinge, seofon winter samod, swa no swiðrode rice under roderum oðþæt se ræswa com. 640 þa wæs eft geseted in aldordom Babilone weard, hæfde beteran ðeaw, leohtran geleafan in liffruman, þætte god sealde gumena gehwilcum welan swa wite, swa he wolde sylf. 645 Ne lengde þa leoda aldor witegena wordcwyde, ac he wide bead

metodes mihte þær he meld ahte, siðfæt sægde sinum leodum, wide waðe þe he mid wilddeorum ateah, 650 oðþæt him frean godes in gast becwom rædfæst sefa, ða he to roderum beseah. Wyrd wæs geworden, wundor gecyðed, swefn geseðed, susl awunnen, dom gedemed, swa ær Daniel cwæð, 655 þæt se folctoga findan sceolde earfoðsiðas for his ofermedlan. Swa he ofstlice godspellode metodes mihtum for mancynne,

siððan in Babilone burhsittendum 660 lange hwile lare sægde, Daniel domas. Siððan deora gesið, wildra wærgenga, of waðe cwom, Nabochodonossor of niðwracum, siððan weardode wide rice, 665 heold hæleða gestreon and þa hean burh, frod, foremihtig folca ræswa, Caldea cyning, oðþæt him cwelm gesceod, swa him ofer eorðan andsaca ne wæs gumena ænig oðþæt him god wolde 670

þurh hryre hreddan hea rice. Siððan þær his aferan ead bryttedon, welan, wunden gold, in þære widan byrig, ealhstede eorla, unwaclice, heah hordmægen, þa hyra hlaford læg. 675 ða in ðære ðeode awoc his þæt þridde cneow. Wæs Baldazar burga aldor, weold wera rices, oðþæt him wlenco gesceod, oferhyd egle. ða wæs endedæg ðæs ðe Caldeas cyningdom ahton. 680 ða metod onlah Medum and Persum aldordomes ymb lytel fæc,

let Babilone blæd swiðrian, þone þa hæleð healdan sceoldon. Wiste he ealdormen in unrihtum, 685 ða ðe ðy rice rædan sceoldon. ða þæt gehogode hamsittende, Meda aldor, þæt ær man ne ongan, þæt he Babilone abrecan wolde, alhstede eorla, þær æðelingas 690 under wealla hleo welan brytnedon. þæt wæs þara fæstna folcum cuðost, mæst and mærost þara þe men bun, Babilon burga, oðþæt Baldazar

þurh gylp grome godes frasade. 695 Sæton him æt wine wealle belocene, ne onegdon na orlegra nið, þeah ðe feonda folc feran cwome herega gerædum to þære heahbyrig þæt hie Babilone abrecan mihton. 700 Gesæt þa to symble siðestan dæge Caldea cyning mid cneomagum, þær medugal wearð mægenes wisa. Het þam æðelum beran Israela gestreon, huslfatu halegu, on hand werum, 705

þa ær Caldeas mid cyneðrymme, cempan in ceastre, clæne genamon, gold in Gerusalem, ða hie Iudea blæd forbræcon billa ecgum, and þurh hleoðorcyme, herige genamon 710 beorhte frætwe. ða hie tempel strudon, Salomanes seld, swiðe gulpon. ða wearð bliðemod burga aldor, gealp gramlice gode on andan, cwæð þæt his hergas hyrran wæron 715 and mihtigran mannum to friðe þonne Israela ece drihten.

Him þæt tacen wearð þær he to starude, egeslic for eorlum innan healle, þæt he for leodum ligeword gecwæð, 720 þa þær in egesan engel drihtnes let his hand cuman in þæt hea seld, wrat þa in wage worda gerynu, baswe bocstafas, burhsittendum. ða wearð folctoga forht on mode, 725 acul for þam egesan. Geseah he engles hand in sele writan Sennera wite. þæt gyddedon gumena mænigeo, hæleð in healle, hwæt seo hand write

to þam beacne burhsittendum. 730 Werede comon on þæt wundor seon. Sohton þa swiðe in sefan gehydum, hwæt seo hand write haliges gastes. Ne mihton arædan runcræftige men engles ærendbec, æðelinga cyn, 735 oðþæt Daniel com, drihtne gecoren, snotor and soðfæst, in þæt seld gangan. ðam wæs on gaste godes cræft micel, to þam ic georne gefrægn gyfum ceapian burhge weardas þæt he him bocstafas 740

arædde and arehte, hwæt seo run bude. Him æcræftig andswarode, godes spelboda, gleaw geðances: "No ic wið feohsceattum ofer folc bere drihtnes domas, ne ðe dugeðe can, 745 ac þe unceapunga orlæg secge, worda gerynu, þa þu wendan ne miht. þu for anmedlan in æht bere huslfatu halegu, on hand werum. On þam ge deoflu drincan ongunnon, 750 ða ær Israela in æ hæfdon æt godes earce, oðþæt hie gylp beswac,

windruncen gewit, swa þe wurðan sceal. No þæt þin aldor æfre wolde godes goldfatu in gylp beran, 755 ne ðy hraðor hremde, ðeah ðe here brohte Israela gestreon in his æhte geweald, ac þæt oftor gecwæð aldor ðeoda soðum wordum ofer sin mægen, siððan him wuldres weard wundor gecyðde, 760 þæt he wære ana ealra gesceafta drihten and waldend, se him dom forgeaf, unscyndne blæd eorðan rices, and þu lignest nu þæt sie lifgende,

se ofer deoflum dugeþum wealdeð."