Exodus

Hwæt! We feor and neah gefrigen habað ofer middangeard Moyses domas, wræclico wordriht, wera cneorissum,-- in uprodor eadigra gehwam æfter bealusiðe bote lifes, lifigendra gehwam langsumne ræd,-- hæleðum secgan. Gehyre se ðe wille! þone on westenne weroda drihten, soðfæst cyning, mid his sylfes miht gewyrðode, and him wundra fela, ece alwalda, in æht forgeaf. He wæs leof gode, leoda aldor, horsc and hreðergleaw, herges wisa, freom folctoga. Faraones cyn,

godes andsacan, gyrdwite band, þær him gesealde sigora waldend, modgum magoræswan, his maga feorh, onwist eðles, Abrahames sunum. Heah wæs þæt handlean and him hold frea, gesealde wæpna geweald wið wraðra gryre, ofercom mid þy campe cneomaga fela, feonda folcriht. ða wæs forma sið þæt hine weroda god wordum nægde, þær he him gesægde soðwundra fela, hu þas woruld worhte witig drihten, eorðan ymbhwyrft and uprodor, gesette sigerice, and his sylfes naman, ðone yldo bearn ær ne cuðon,

frod fædera cyn, þeah hie fela wiston. Hæfde he þa geswiðed soðum cræftum and gewurðodne werodes aldor, Faraones feond, on forðwegas. þa wæs ingere ealdum witum deaðe gedrenced drihtfolca mæst; hordwearda hryre heaf wæs geniwad, swæfon seledreamas, since berofene. Hæfde mansceaðan æt middere niht frecne gefylled, frumbearna fela, abrocene burhweardas. Bana wide scrað, lað leodhata, land drysmyde deadra hræwum, dugoð forð gewat, wop wæs wide, worulddreama lyt.

Wæron hleahtorsmiðum handa belocene, alyfed laðsið leode gretan; folc ferende, feond wæs bereafod, hergas on helle. Heofung þider becom, druron deofolgyld. Dæg wæs mære ofer middangeard þa seo mengeo for. Swa þæs fæsten dreah fela missera, ealdwerige, Egypta folc, þæs þe hie wideferð wyrnan þohton Moyses magum, gif hie metod lete, on langne lust leofes siðes. Fyrd wæs gefysed, from se ðe lædde, modig magoræswa, mægburh heora. Oferfor he mid þy folce fæstena worn,

land and leodweard laðra manna, enge anpaðas, uncuð gelad, oðþæt hie on Guðmyrce gearwe bæron, (wæron land heora lyfthelme beþeaht), mearchofu morheald. Moyses ofer þa, fela meoringa, fyrde gelædde. Heht þa ymb twa niht tirfæste hæleð, siððan hie feondum oðfaren hæfdon, ymbwicigean werodes bearhtme mid ælfere æthanes byrig, mægnes mæste mearclandum on. Nearwe genyddon on norðwegas, wiston him be suðan Sigelwara land, forbærned burhhleoðu, brune leode,

hatum heofoncolum. þær halig god wið færbryne folc gescylde, bælce oferbrædde byrnendne heofon, halgan nette hatwendne lyft. Hæfde wederwolcen widum fæðmum eorðan and uprodor efne gedæled, lædde leodwerod, ligfyr adranc, hate heofontorht. Hæleð wafedon, drihta gedrymost. Dægsceades hleo wand ofer wolcnum; hæfde witig god sunnan siðfæt segle ofertolden, swa þa mæstrapas men ne cuðon, ne ða seglrode geseon meahton, eorðbuende ealle cræfte,

hu afæstnod wæs feldhusa mæst, siððan he mid wuldre geweorðode þeodenholde. þa wæs þridda wic folce to frofre. Fyrd eall geseah hu þær hlifedon halige seglas, lyftwundor leoht; leode ongeton, dugoð Israhela, þæt þær drihten cwom weroda drihten, wicsteal metan. Him beforan foran fyr and wolcen in beorhtrodor, beamas twegen, þara æghwæðer efngedælde heahþegnunga haliges gastes, deormodra sið dagum and nihtum. þa ic on morgen gefrægn modes rofan

hebban herebyman hludan stefnum, 100 wuldres woman. Werod eall aras, modigra mægen, swa him Moyses bebead, mære magoræswa, metodes folce, fus fyrdgetrum. Forð gesawon lifes latþeow lifweg metan; 105 swegl siðe weold, sæmen æfter foron flodwege. Folc wæs on salum, hlud herges cyrm. Heofonbeacen astah æfena gehwam, oðer wundor, syllic æfter sunnan setlrade beheold, 110

ofer leodwerum lige scinan, byrnende beam. Blace stodon ofer sceotendum scire leoman; scinon scyldhreoðan, sceado swiðredon, neowle nihtscuwan neah ne mihton 115 heolstor ahydan; heofoncandel barn. Niwe nihtweard nyde sceolde wician ofer weredum, þy læs him westengryre, har hæðbroga, holmegum wederum on ferclamme ferhð getwæfde. 120 Hæfde foregenga fyrene loccas, blace beamas; bellegsan hweop

in þam hereþreate, hatan lige, þæt he on westenne werod forbærnde, nymðe hie modhwate Moyses hyrde. 125 Scean scir werod, scyldas lixton, gesawon randwigan rihte stræte, segn ofer sweoton, oðþæt sæfæsten landes æt ende leodmægne forstod, fus on forðweg. Fyrdwic aras; 130 wyrpton hie werige, wiste genægdon modige meteþegnas, hyra mægen beton. Bræddon æfter beorgum, siððan byme sang, flotan feldhusum. þa wæs feorðe wic,

randwigena ræst, be þan readan sæ. 135 ðær on fyrd hyra færspell becwom, oht inlende. Egsan stodan, wælgryre weroda; wræcmon gebad laðne lastweard, se ðe him lange ær eðelleasum onnied gescraf, 140 wean witum fæst. Wære ne gymdon, ðeah þe se yldra cyning ær ge... þa wearð yrfeweard ingefolca, manna æfter maðmum, þæt he swa miceles geðah. Ealles þæs forgeton siððan grame wurdon 145

Egypta cyn ymbe antwig; ða heo his mægwinum morðor fremedon, wroht berenedon, wære fræton. Wæron heaðowylmas heortan getenge, mihtmod wera; manum treowum 150 woldon hie þæt feorhlean facne gyldan, þætte hie þæt dægweorc dreore gebohte, Moyses leode, þær him mihtig god on ðam spildsiðe spede forgefe. þa him eorla mod ortrywe wearð 155 siððan hie gesawon of suðwegum fyrd Faraonis forð ongangan,

oferholt wegan, eored lixan, (garas trymedon, guð hwearfode, blicon bordhreoðan, byman sungon), 160 þufas þunian, þeod mearc tredan, on hwæl Hreopon herefugolas, hilde grædige, deawigfeðere ofer drihtneum, wonn wælceasega. Wulfas sungon 165 atol æfenleoð ætes on wenan, carleasan deor, cwyldrof beodan on laðra last leodmægnes fyl. Hreopon mearcweardas middum nihtum,

fleah fæge gast, folc wæs gehæged. 170 Hwilum of þam werode wlance þegnas mæton milpaðas meara bogum. Him þær segncyning wið þone segn foran, manna þengel, mearcþreate rad; guðweard gumena grimhelm gespeon, 175 cyning cinberge, (cumbol lixton), wiges on wenum, wælhlencan sceoc, het his hereciste healdan georne fæst fyrdgetrum. Freond onsegon laðum eagan landmanna cyme. 180

Ymb hine wægon wigend unforhte, hare heorowulfas hilde gretton, þurstige þræcwiges, þeodenholde. Hæfde him alesen leoda dugeðe tireadigra twa þusendo, 185 þæt wæron cyningas and cneowmagas, on þæt eade riht, æðelum deore. Forðon anra gehwilc ut alædde wæpnedcynnes, wigan æghwilcne þara þe he on ðam fyrste findan mihte. 190 Wæron ingemen ealle ætgædere, cyningas on corðre. Cuð oft gebad

horn on heape to hwæs hægstealdmen, guðþreat gumena, gearwe bæron. Swa þær eorp werod, ecan læddon, 195 lað æfter laðum, leodmægnes worn, þusendmælum; þider wæron fuse. Hæfdon hie gemynted to þam mægenheapum to þam ærdæge Israhela cynn billum abreotan on hyra broðorgyld. 200 Forþon wæs in wicum wop up ahafen, atol æfenleoð, egesan stodon, weredon wælnet, þa se woma cwom. Flugon frecne spel, feond wæs anmod,

werud wæs wigblac, oðþæt wlance forsceaf 205 mihtig engel, se ða menigeo beheold, þæt þær gelaðe mid him leng ne mihton geseon tosomne; sið wæs gedæled. Hæfde nydfara nihtlangne fyrst, þeah ðe him on healfa gehwam hettend seomedon, 210 mægen oððe merestream; nahton maran hwyrft. Wæron orwenan eðelrihtes, sæton æfter beorgum in blacum reafum, wean on wenum; wæccende bad eall seo sibgedriht somod ætgædere 215

maran mægenes, oð Moyses bebead eorlas on uhttid ærnum bemum folc somnigean, frecan arisan, habban heora hlencan, hycgan on ellen, beran beorht searo, beacnum cigean 220 sweot sande near. Snelle gemundon weardas wigleoð, werod wæs gefysed, brudon ofer burgum, (byman gehyrdon), flotan feldhusum, fyrd wæs on ofste. Siððan hie getealdon wið þam teonhete 225 on þam forðherge feðan twelfe moderofra; mægen wæs onhrered.

Wæs on anra gehwam æðelan cynnes alesen under lindum leoda duguðe on folcgetæl fiftig cista; 230 hæfde cista gehwilc cuðes werodes garberendra, guðfremmendra, X hund geteled, tireadigra. þæt wæs wiglic werod; wace ne gretton in þæt rincgetæl ræswan herges, 235 þa þe for geoguðe gyt ne mihton under bordhreoðan breostnet wera wið flane feond folmum werigean, ne him bealubenne gebiden hæfdon

ofer linde lærig, licwunde swor, 240 gylpplegan gares. Gamele ne moston, hare heaðorincas, hilde onþeon, gif him modheapum mægen swiðrade, ac hie be wæstmum on wig curon, hu in leodscipe læstan wolde 245 mod mid aran, eac þan mægnes cræft, garbeames feng. þa wæs handrofra here ætgædere, fus forðwegas. Fana up gerad, beama beorhtost; bidon ealle þa gen 250

hwonne siðboda sæstreamum neah leoht ofer lindum lyftedoras bræc. Ahleop þa for hæleðum hildecalla, bald beohata, bord up ahof, heht þa folctogan fyrde gestillan, 255 þenden modiges meðel monige gehyrdon. Wolde reordigean rices hyrde ofer hereciste halgan stefne, werodes wisa wurðmyndum spræc: "Ne beoð ge þy forhtran, þeah þe Faraon brohte 260 sweordwigendra side hergas, eorla unrim! Him eallum wile

mihtig drihten þurh mine hand to dæge þissum dædlean gyfan, þæt hie lifigende leng ne moton 265 ægnian mid yrmðum Israhela cyn. Ne willað eow andrædan deade feðan, fæge ferhðlocan, fyrst is æt ende lænes lifes. Eow is lar godes abroden of breostum. Ic on beteran ræd, 270 þæt ge gewurðien wuldres aldor, and eow liffrean lissa bidde, sigora gesynto, þær ge siðien. þis is se ecea Abrahames god,

frumsceafta frea, se ðas fyrd wereð, 275 modig and mægenrof, mid þære miclan hand." Hof ða for hergum hlude stefne lifigendra leod, þa he to leodum spræc: "Hwæt, ge nu eagum to on lociað, folca leofost, færwundra sum, 280 hu ic sylfa sloh and þeos swiðre hand grene tacne garsecges deop. Yð up færeð, ofstum wyrceð wæter wealfæsten. Wegas syndon dryge, haswe herestræta, holm gerymed, 285

ealde staðolas, þa ic ær ne gefrægn ofer middangeard men geferan, fage feldas, þa forð heonon in ece tid yðe þeahton, sælde sægrundas. Suðwind fornam 290 bæðweges blæst, brim is areafod, sand sæcir spaw. Ic wat soð gere þæt eow mihtig god miltse gecyðde, eorlas ærglade. Ofest is selost þæt ge of feonda fæðme weorðen, 295 nu se agend up arærde reade streamas in randgebeorh.

Syndon þa foreweallas fægre gestepte, wrætlicu wægfaru, oð wolcna hrof." æfter þam wordum werod eall aras, 300 modigra mægen. Mere stille bad. Hofon herecyste hwite linde, segnas on sande. Sæweall astah, uplang gestod wið Israhelum andægne fyrst. Wæs seo eorla gedriht 305 anes modes, fæstum fæðmum freoðowære heold. Nalles hige gehyrdon haliges lare, siððan leofes leoþ læste near

sweg swiðrode and sances bland. 310 þa þæt feorðe cyn fyrmest eode, wod on wægstream, wigan on heape, ofer grenne grund, Iudisc feða on orette on uncuð gelad for his mægwinum. Swa him mihtig god 315 þæs dægweorces deop lean forgeald, siððan him gesælde sigorworca hreð, þæt he ealdordom agan sceolde ofer cynericu, cneowmaga blæd. Hæfdon him to segne, þa hie on sund stigon, 320

ofer bordhreoðan beacen aræred in þam garheape, gyldenne leon, drihtfolca mæst, deora cenost. Be þam herewisan hynðo ne woldon be him lifigendum lange þolian, 325 þonne hie to guðe garwudu rærdon ðeoda ænigre. þracu wæs on ore, heard handplega, hægsteald modige wæpna wælslihtes, wigend unforhte, bilswaðu blodige, beadumægnes ræs, 330 grimhelma gegrind, þær Iudas for. æfter þære fyrde flota modgade,

Rubenes sunu. Randas bæron sæwicingas ofer sealtne mersc, manna menio; micel angetrum 335 eode unforht. He his ealdordom synnum aswefede, þæt he siðor for on leofes last. Him on leodsceare frumbearnes riht freobroðor oðþah, ead and æðelo; he wæs gearu swa þeah. 340 þær forð æfter him folca þryðum sunu Simeones sweotum comon; þridde þeodmægen (þufas wundon ofer garfare) guðcyste onþrang

deawig sceaftum. Dægwoma becwom 345 ofer garsecge, godes beacna sum, morgen mæretorht; mægen forð gewat. þa þær folcmægen for æfter oðrum, isernhergum. An wisode mægenþrymmum mæst, þy he mære wearð, 350 on forðwegas folc æfter wolcnum, cynn æfter cynne. Cuðe æghwilc mægburga riht, swa him Moises bead, eorla æðelo. Him wæs an fæder, leof leodfruma, landriht geþah, 355

frod on ferhðe, freomagum leof. Cende cneowsibbe cenra manna heahfædera sum, halige þeode, Israela cyn, onriht godes, swa þæt orþancum ealde reccað 360 þa þe mægburge mæst gefrunon, frumcyn feora, fæderæðelo gehwæs. Niwe flodas Noe oferlað, þrymfæst þeoden, mid his þrim sunum, þone deopestan drencefloda 365 þara ðe gewurde on woruldrice. Hæfde him on hreðre halige treowa;

forþon he gelædde ofer lagustreamas maðmhorda mæst, mine gefræge. On feorhgebeorh foldan hæfde 370 eallum eorðcynne ece lafe, frumcneow gehwæs, fæder and moder tuddorteondra, geteled rime mismicelra þonne men cunnon, snottor sæleoda. Eac þon sæda gehwilc 375 on bearm scipes beornas feredon, þara þe under heofonum hæleð bryttigað. Swa þæt wise men wordum secgað þæt from Noe nigoða wære

fæder Abrahames on folctale. 380 þæt is se Abraham se him engla god naman niwan asceop; eac þon neah and feor halige heapas in gehyld bebead, werþeoda geweald; he on wræce lifde. Siððan he gelædde leofost feora 385 haliges hæsum; heahlond stigon sibgemagas, on Seone beorh. Wære hie þær fundon, wuldor gesawon, halige heahtreowe, swa hæleð gefrunon. þær eft se snottra sunu Dauides, 390

wuldorfæst cyning, witgan larum getimbrede tempel gode, alh haligne, eorðcyninga se wisesta on woruldrice, heahst and haligost, hæleðum gefrægost, 395 mæst and mærost, þara þe manna bearn, fira æfter foldan, folmum geworhte. To þam meðelstede magan gelædde Abraham Isaac. Adfyr onbran; fyrst ferhðbana no þy fægenra wæs. 400 Wolde þone lastweard lige gesyllan, in bælblyse beorna selost,

his swæsne sunu to sigetibre, angan ofer eorðan yrfelafe, feores frofre, ða he swa forð gebad, 405 leodum to lafe, langsumne hiht. He þæt gecyðde, þa he þone cniht genam fæste mid folmum, folccuð geteag ealde lafe, (ecg grymetode), þæt he him lifdagas leofran ne wisse 410 þonne he hyrde heofoncyninge. Up aræmde Abraham þa; se eorl wolde slean eaferan sinne unweaxenne, ecgum reodan

magan mid mece, gif hine metod lete. 415 Ne wolde him beorht fæder bearn ætniman, halig tiber, ac mid handa befeng. þa him styran cwom stefn of heofonum, wuldres hleoðor, word æfter spræc: "Ne sleh þu, Abraham, þin agen bearn, 420 sunu mid sweorde! Soð is gecyðed, nu þin cunnode cyning alwihta, þæt þu wið waldend wære heolde, fæste treowe, seo þe freoðo sceal in lifdagum lengest weorðan, 425

awa to aldre unswiciendo. Hu þearf mannes sunu maran treowe? Ne behwylfan mæg heofon and eorðe his wuldres word, widdra and siddra þonne befæðman mæge foldan sceattas, 430 eorðan ymbhwyrft and uprodor, garsecges gin and þeos geomre lyft. He að swereð, engla þeoden, wyrda waldend and wereda god, soðfæst sigora, þurh his sylfes lif, 435 þæt þines cynnes and cneowmaga, randwiggendra, rim ne cunnon,

yldo ofer eorðan, ealle cræfte to gesecgenne soðum wordum, nymðe hwylc þæs snottor in sefan weorðe 440 þæt he ana mæge ealle geriman stanas on eorðan, steorran on heofonum, sæbeorga sand, sealte yða; ac hie gesittað be sæm tweonum oð Egipte incaðeode 445 land Cananea, leode þine, freobearn fæder, folca selost." Folc wæs afæred, flodegsa becwom gastas geomre, geofon deaðe hweop.

Wæron beorhhliðu blode bestemed, 450 holm heolfre spaw, hream wæs on yðum, wæter wæpna ful, wælmist astah. Wæron Egypte eft oncyrde, flugon forhtigende, fær ongeton, woldon herebleaðe hamas findan, 455 gylp wearð gnornra. Him ongen genap atol yða gewealc, ne ðær ænig becwom herges to hame, ac behindan beleac wyrd mid wæge. þær ær wegas lagon, mere modgode, mægen wæs adrenced. 460

Streamas stodon, storm up gewat heah to heofonum, herewopa mæst. Laðe cyrmdon, (lyft up geswearc), fægum stæfnum, flod blod gewod. Randbyrig wæron rofene, rodor swipode 465 meredeaða mæst, modige swulton, cyningas on corðre, cyre swiðrode sæs æt ende. Wigbord scinon heah ofer hæleðum, holmweall astah, merestream modig. Mægen wæs on cwealme 470 fæste gefeterod, forðganges weg searwum æsæled, sand basnodon,

witodre fyrde, hwonne waðema stream, sincalda sæ, sealtum yðum æflastum gewuna ece staðulas, 475 nacud nydboda, neosan come, fah feðegast, se ðe feondum geneop. Wæs seo hæwene lyft heolfre geblanden, brim berstende blodegesan hweop, sæmanna sið, oðþæt soð metod 480 þurh Moyses hand modge rymde, wide wæðde, wælfæðmum sweop. Flod famgode, fæge crungon, lagu land gefeol, lyft wæs onhrered,

wicon weallfæsten, wægas burston, 485 multon meretorras, þa se mihtiga sloh mid halige hand, heofonrices weard, on werbeamas. Wlance ðeode ne mihton forhabban helpendra pað, merestreames mod, ac he manegum gesceod 490 gyllende gryre. Garsecg wedde, up ateah, on sleap. Egesan stodon, weollon wælbenna. Witrod gefeol heah of heofonum handweorc godes, famigbosma flodwearde sloh, 495

unhleowan wæg, alde mece, þæt ðy deaðdrepe drihte swæfon, synfullra sweot. Sawlum lunnon fæste befarene, flodblac here, siððan hie on bugon brun yppinge, 500 modewæga mæst. Mægen eall gedreas ða gedrencte wæron dugoð Egypta, Faraon mid his folcum. He onfond hraðe, siððan grund gestah godes andsaca, þæt wæs mihtigra mereflodes weard; 505 wolde heorufæðmum hilde gesceadan, yrre and egesfull. Egyptum wearð

þæs dægweorces deop lean gesceod, forðam þæs heriges ham eft ne com ealles ungrundes ænig to lafe, 510 þætte sið heora secgan moste, bodigean æfter burgum bealospella mæst, hordwearda hryre, hæleða cwenum, ac þa mægenþreatas meredeað geswealh, spelbodan eac. Se ðe sped ahte, 515 ageat gylp wera. Hie wið god wunnon! þanon Israhelum ece rædas on merehwearfe Moyses sægde, heahþungen wer, halige spræce,

deop ærende. Dægword nemnað 520 swa gyt werðeode, on gewritum findað doma gehwilcne, þara ðe him drihten bebead on þam siðfate soðum wordum, gif onlucan wile lifes wealhstod, beorht in breostum, banhuses weard, 525 ginfæsten god gastes cægon. Run bið gerecenod, ræd forð gæð, hafað wislicu word on fæðme, wile meagollice modum tæcan þæt we gesne ne syn godes þeodscipes, 530

metodes miltsa. He us ma onlyhð, nu us boceras beteran secgað lengran lifwynna. þis is læne dream, wommum awyrged, wreccum alyfed, earmra anbid. Eðellease 535 þysne gystsele gihðum healdað, murnað on mode, manhus witon fæst under foldan, þær bið fyr and wyrm, open ece scræf. Yfela gehwylces swa nu regnþeofas rice dælað, 540 yldo oððe ærdeað. Eftwyrd cymð, mægenþrymma mæst ofer middangeard,

dæg dædum fah. Drihten sylfa on þam meðelstede manegum demeð, þonne he soðfæstra sawla lædeð, 545 eadige gastas, on uprodor, þær is leoht and lif, eac þon lissa blæd; dugoð on dreame drihten herigað, weroda wuldorcyning, to widan feore. Swa reordode ræda gemyndig 550 manna mildost, mihtum swiðed, hludan stefne; here stille bad witodes willan, wundor ongeton, modiges muðhæl; he to mænegum spræc:

"Micel is þeos menigeo, mægenwisa trum, 555 fullesta mæst, se ðas fare lædeð; hafað us on Cananea cyn gelyfed burh and beagas, brade rice; wile nu gelæstan þæt he lange gehet mid aðsware, engla drihten, 560 in fyrndagum fæderyncynne, gif ge gehealdað halige lare, þæt ge feonda gehwone forð ofergangað, gesittað sigerice be sæm tweonum, beorselas beorna. Bið eower blæd micel!" 565

æfter þam wordum werod wæs on salum, sungon sigebyman, (segnas stodon), on fægerne sweg; folc wæs on lande, hæfde wuldres beam werud gelæded, halige heapas, on hild godes. 570 Life gefegon þa hie oðlæded hæfdon feorh of feonda dome, þeah ðe hie hit frecne geneðdon, weras under wætera hrofas. Gesawon hie þær weallas standan, ealle him brimu blodige þuhton, þurh þa heora beadosearo wægon. Hreðdon hildespelle, siððan hie þam herge wiðforon; 575 hofon hereþreatas hlude stefne, for þam dædweorce drihten heredon,

weras wuldres sang; wif on oðrum, folcsweota mæst, fyrdleoð golan aclum stefnum, eallwundra fela. 580 þa wæs eðfynde Afrisc meowle on geofones staðe golde geweorðod. Handa hofon halswurðunge, bliðe wæron, bote gesawon, heddon herereafes, hæft wæs onsæled. 585 Ongunnon sælafe segnum dælan on yðlafe, ealde madmas, reaf and randas. Heo on riht sceodon gold and godweb, Iosepes gestreon,

wera wuldorgesteald. Werigend lagon 590 on deaðstede, drihtfolca mæst.