Judith

tweode gifena in ðys ginnan grunde. Heo ðar ða gearwe funde mundbyrd æt ðam mæran þeodne, þa heo ahte mæste þearfe, hyldo þæs hehstan deman, þæt he hie wið þæs hehstan brogan gefriðode, frymða waldend. Hyre ðæs fæder on roderum torhtmod tiðe gefremede, þe heo ahte trumne geleafan a to ðam ælmihtigan. Gefrægen ic ða Holofernus winhatan wyrcean georne ond eallum wundrum þrymlic girwan up swæsendo. To ðam het se gumena baldor ealle ða yldestan ðegnas; hie ðæt ofstum miclum ræfndon, rondwiggende, comon to ðam rican þeodne feran, folces ræswan. þæt wæs þy feorðan dogore þæs ðe Iudith hyne, gleaw on geðonce, ides ælfscinu, ærest gesohte.

Hie ða to ðam symle sittan eodon, wlance to wingedrince, ealle his weagesiðas, bealde byrnwiggende. þær wæron bollan steape boren æfter bencum gelome, swylce eac bunan ond orcas fulle fletsittendum; hie þæt fæge þegon, rofe rondwiggende, þeah ðæs se rica ne wende, egesful eorla dryhten. ða wearð Holofernus, goldwine gumena, on gytesalum, hloh ond hlydde, hlynede ond dynede, þæt mihten fira bearn feorran gehyran hu se stiðmoda styrmde ond gylede, modig ond medugal, manode geneahhe bencsittende þæt hi gebærdon wel. Swa se inwidda ofer ealne dæg

dryhtguman sine drencte mid wine, swiðmod sinces brytta, oðþæt hie on swiman lagon, oferdrencte his duguðe ealle, swylce hie wæron deaðe geslegene, agotene goda gehwylces. Swa het se gumena aldor fylgan fletsittendum, oðþæt fira bearnum nealæhte niht seo þystre. Het ða niða geblonden þa eadigan mægð ofstum fetigan to his bedreste beagum gehlæste, hringum gehrodene. Hie hraðe fremedon, anbyhtscealcas, swa him heora ealdor bebead, byrnwigena brego, bearhtme stopon to ðam gysterne, þær hie Iudithðe fundon ferhðgleawe, ond ða fromlice lindwiggende lædan ongunnon

þa torhtan mægð to træfe þam hean, þær se rica hyne reste on symbel nihtes inne, nergende lað, Holofernus. þær wæs eallgylden fleohnet fæger ymbe þæs folctogan bed ahongen, þæt se bealofulla mihte wlitan þurh, wigena baldor, on æghwylcne þe ðær inne com hæleða bearna, ond on hyne nænig monna cynnes, nymðe se modiga hwæne niðe rofra him þe near hete rinca to rune gegangan. Hie ða on reste gebrohton snude ða snoteran idese; eodon ða stercedferhðe, hæleð heora hearran cyðan þæt wæs seo halige meowle

gebroht on his burgetelde. þa wearð se brema on mode bliðe, burga ealdor, þohte ða beorhtan idese mid widle ond mid womme besmitan. Ne wolde þæt wuldres dema geðafian, þrymmes hyrde, ac he him þæs ðinges gestyrde, dryhten, dugeða waldend. Gewat ða se deofulcunda, galferhð gumena ðreate bealofull his beddes neosan, þær he sceolde his blæd forleosan ædre binnan anre nihte; hæfde ða his ende gebidenne on eorðan unswæslicne, swylcne he ær æfter worhte, þearlmod ðeoden gumena, þenden he on ðysse worulde wunode under wolcna hrofe. Gefeol ða wine swa druncen se rica on his reste middan, swa he nyste ræda nanne on gewitlocan. Wiggend stopon ut of ðam inne ofstum miclum,

weras winsade, þe ðone wærlogan, laðne leodhatan, læddon to bedde nehstan siðe. þa wæs nergendes þeowen þrymful, þearle gemyndig hu heo þone atolan eaðost mihte ealdre benæman ær se unsyfra, womfull, onwoce. Genam ða wundenlocc scyppendes mægð scearpne mece, scurum heardne, ond of sceaðe abræd swiðran folme; ongan ða swegles weard be naman nemnan, nergend ealra woruldbuendra, ond þæt word acwæð: "Ic ðe, frymða god ond frofre gæst, bearn alwaldan, biddan wylle

miltse þinre me þearfendre, ðrynesse ðrym. þearle ys me nu ða heorte onhæted ond hige geomor, swyðe mid sorgum gedrefed. Forgif me, swegles ealdor, sigor ond soðne geleafan, þæt ic mid þys sweorde mote geheawan þysne morðres bryttan; geunne me minra gesynta, þearlmod þeoden gumena. Nahte ic þinre næfre miltse þon maran þearfe. Gewrec nu, mihtig dryhten, torhtmod tires brytta, þæt me ys þus torne on mode, hate on hreðre minum." Hi ða se hehsta dema ædre mid elne onbryrde, swa he deð anra gehwylcne herbuendra þe hyne him to helpe seceð mid ræde ond mid rihte geleafan. þa wearð hyre rume on mode, haligre hyht geniwod; genam ða þone hæðenan mannan

fæste be feaxe sinum, teah hyne folmum wið hyre weard 100 bysmerlice, ond þone bealofullan listum alede, laðne mannan, swa heo ðæs unlædan eaðost mihte wel gewealdan. Sloh ða wundenlocc þone feondsceaðan fagum mece, 105 heteþoncolne, þæt heo healfne forcearf þone sweoran him, þæt he on swiman læg, druncen ond dolhwund. Næs ða dead þa gyt, ealles orsawle; sloh ða eornoste ides ellenrof oðre siðe 110

þone hæðenan hund, þæt him þæt heafod wand forð on ða flore. Læg se fula leap gesne beæftan, gæst ellor hwearf under neowelne næs ond ðær genyðerad wæs, susle gesæled syððan æfre, 115 wyrmum bewunden, witum gebunden, hearde gehæfted in hellebryne æfter hinsiðe. Ne ðearf he hopian no, þystrum forðylmed, þæt he ðonan mote of ðam wyrmsele, ac ðær wunian sceal 120 awa to aldre butan ende forð in ðam heolstran ham, hyhtwynna leas.

Hæfde ða gefohten foremærne blæd Iudith æt guðe, swa hyre god uðe, swegles ealdor, þe hyre sigores onleah. 125 þa seo snotere mægð snude gebrohte þæs herewæðan heafod swa blodig on ðam fætelse þe hyre foregenga, blachleor ides, hyra begea nest, ðeawum geðungen, þyder on lædde, 130 ond hit þa swa heolfrig hyre on hond ageaf, higeðoncolre, ham to berenne, Iudith gingran sinre. Eodon ða gegnum þanonne þa idesa ba ellenþriste,

oðþæt hie becomon, collenferhðe, 135 eadhreðige mægð, ut of ðam herige, þæt hie sweotollice geseon mihten þære wlitegan byrig weallas blican, Bethuliam. Hie ða beahhrodene feðelaste forð onettan, 140 oð hie glædmode gegan hæfdon to ðam wealgate. Wiggend sæton, weras wæccende wearde heoldon in ðam fæstenne, swa ðam folce ær geomormodum Iudith bebead, 145

searoðoncol mægð, þa heo on sið gewat, ides ellenrof. Wæs ða eft cumen leof to leodum, ond ða lungre het gleawhydig wif gumena sumne of ðære ginnan byrig hyre togeanes gan, 150 ond hi ofostlice in forleton þurh ðæs wealles geat, ond þæt word acwæð to ðam sigefolce: "Ic eow secgan mæg þoncwyrðe þing, þæt ge ne þyrfen leng murnan on mode. Eow ys metod bliðe, 155 cyninga wuldor; þæt gecyðed wearð geond woruld wide, þæt eow ys wuldorblæd

torhtlic toweard ond tir gifeðe þara læðða þe ge lange drugon." þa wurdon bliðe burhsittende, 160 syððan hi gehyrdon hu seo halige spræc ofer heanne weall. Here wæs on lustum. Wið þæs fæstengeates folc onette, weras wif somod, wornum ond heapum, ðreatum ond ðrymmum þrungon ond urnon 165 ongean ða þeodnes mægð þusendmælum, ealde ge geonge. æghwylcum wearð men on ðære medobyrig mod areted, syððan hie ongeaton þæt wæs Iudith cumen

eft to eðle, ond ða ofostlice 170 hie mid eaðmedum in forleton. þa seo gleawe het, golde gefrætewod, hyre ðinenne þancolmode þæs herewæðan heafod onwriðan ond hyt to behðe blodig ætywan 175 þam burhleodum, hu hyre æt beaduwe gespeow. Spræc ða seo æðele to eallum þam folce: "Her ge magon sweotole, sigerofe hæleð, leoda ræswan, on ðæs laðestan hæðenes heaðorinces heafod starian, 180

Holofernus unlyfigendes, þe us monna mæst morðra gefremede, sarra sorga, ond þæt swyðor gyt ycan wolde, ac him ne uðe god lengran lifes, þæt he mid læððum us 185 eglan moste; ic him ealdor oðþrong þurh godes fultum. Nu ic gumena gehwæne þyssa burgleoda biddan wylle, randwiggendra, þæt ge recene eow fysan to gefeohte. Syððan frymða god, 190 arfæst cyning, eastan sende leohtne leoman, berað linde forð,

bord for breostum ond byrnhomas, scire helmas in sceaðena gemong, fyllan folctogan fagum sweordum, 195 fæge frumgaras. Fynd syndon eowere gedemed to deaðe, ond ge dom agon, tir æt tohtan, swa eow getacnod hafað mihtig dryhten þurh mine hand." þa wearð snelra werod snude gegearewod, 200 cenra to campe. Stopon cynerofe secgas ond gesiðas, bæron sigeþufas, foron to gefeohte forð on gerihte, hæleð under helmum, of ðære haligan byrig

on ðæt dægred sylf. Dynedan scildas, 205 hlude hlummon. þæs se hlanca gefeah wulf in walde, ond se wanna hrefn, wælgifre fugel. Wistan begen þæt him ða þeodguman þohton tilian fylle on fægum; ac him fleah on last 210 earn ætes georn, urigfeðera, salowigpada sang hildeleoð, hyrnednebba. Stopon heaðorincas, beornas to beadowe, bordum beðeahte, hwealfum lindum, þa ðe hwile ær 215

elðeodigra edwit þoledon, hæðenra hosp. Him þæt hearde wearð æt ðam æscplegan eallum forgolden, Assyrium, syððan Ebreas under guðfanum gegan hæfdon 220 to ðam fyrdwicum. Hie ða fromlice leton forð fleogan flana scuras, hildenædran, of hornbogan, strælas stedehearde; styrmdon hlude grame guðfrecan, garas sendon 225 in heardra gemang. Hæleð wæron yrre, landbuende, laðum cynne,

stopon styrnmode, stercedferhðe, wrehton unsofte ealdgeniðlan medowerige; mundum brugdon 230 scealcas of sceaðum scirmæled swyrd, ecgum gecoste, slogon eornoste Assiria oretmæcgas, niðhycgende, nanne ne sparedon þæs herefolces, heanne ne ricne, 235 cwicera manna þe hie ofercuman mihton. Swa ða magoþegnas on ða morgentid ehton elðeoda ealle þrage, oðþæt ongeaton ða ðe grame wæron,

ðæs herefolces heafodweardas, 240 þæt him swyrdgeswing swiðlic eowdon weras Ebrisce. Hie wordum þæt þam yldestan ealdorþegnum cyðan eodon, wrehton cumbolwigan ond him forhtlice færspel bodedon, 245 medowerigum morgencollan, atolne ecgplegan. þa ic ædre gefrægn slegefæge hæleð slæpe tobredon ond wið þæs bealofullan burgeteldes werigferhðe hwearfum þringan, 250

Holofernus. Hogedon aninga hyra hlaforde hilde bodian, ærðon ðe him se egesa on ufan sæte, mægen Ebrea. Mynton ealle þæt se beorna brego ond seo beorhte mægð 255 in ðam wlitegan træfe wæron ætsomne, Iudith seo æðele ond se galmoda, egesfull ond afor. Næs ðeah eorla nan þe ðone wiggend aweccan dorste oððe gecunnian hu ðone cumbolwigan 260 wið ða halgan mægð hæfde geworden, metodes meowlan. Mægen nealæhte,

folc Ebrea, fuhton þearle heardum heoruwæpnum, hæfte guldon hyra fyrngeflitu, fagum swyrdum, 265 ealde æfðoncan; Assyria wearð on ðam dægeweorce dom geswiðrod, bælc forbiged. Beornas stodon ymbe hyra þeodnes træf þearle gebylde, sweorcendferhðe. Hi ða somod ealle 270 ongunnon cohhetan, cirman hlude ond gristbitian, gode orfeorme, mid toðon torn þoligende. þa wæs hyra tires æt ende, eades ond ellendæda. Hogedon þa eorlas aweccan

hyra winedryhten; him wiht ne speow. 275 þa wearð sið ond late sum to ðam arod þara beadorinca, þæt he in þæt burgeteld niðheard neðde, swa hyne nyd fordraf. Funde ða on bedde blacne licgan his goldgifan gæstes gesne, 280 lifes belidenne. He þa lungre gefeoll freorig to foldan, ongan his feax teran, hreoh on mode, ond his hrægl somod, ond þæt word acwæð to ðam wiggendum þe ðær unrote ute wæron: 285

"Her ys geswutelod ure sylfra forwyrd, toweard getacnod þæt þære tide ys mid niðum neah geðrungen, þe we sculon nyde losian, somod æt sæcce forweorðan. Her lið sweorde geheawen, beheafdod healdend ure." Hi ða hreowigmode 290 wurpon hyra wæpen of dune, gewitan him werigferhðe on fleam sceacan. Him mon feaht on last, mægeneacen folc, oð se mæsta dæl þæs heriges læg hilde gesæged on ðam sigewonge, sweordum geheawen, 295 wulfum to willan ond eac wælgifrum fuglum to frofre. Flugon ða ðe lyfdon,

laðra lindwerod. Him on laste for sweot Ebrea sigore geweorðod, dome gedyrsod; him feng dryhten god 300 fægre on fultum, frea ælmihtig. Hi ða fromlice fagum swyrdum, hæleð higerofe, herpað worhton þurh laðra gemong, linde heowon, scildburh scæron. Sceotend wæron 305 guðe gegremede, guman Ebrisce; þegnas on ða tid þearle gelyste gargewinnes. þær on greot gefeoll se hyhsta dæl heafodgerimes

Assiria ealdorduguðe, 310 laðan cynnes. Lythwon becom cwicera to cyððe. Cirdon cynerofe, wiggend on wiðertrod, wælscel on innan, reocende hræw. Rum wæs to nimanne londbuendum on ðam laðestan, 315 hyra ealdfeondum unlyfigendum heolfrig herereaf, hyrsta scyne, bord ond bradswyrd, brune helmas, dyre madmas. Hæfdon domlice on ðam folcstede fynd oferwunnen 320

eðelweardas, ealdhettende swyrdum aswefede. Hie on swaðe reston, þa ðe him to life laðost wæron cwicera cynna. þa seo cneoris eall, mægða mærost, anes monðes fyrst, 325 wlanc, wundenlocc, wagon ond læddon to ðære beorhtan byrig, Bethuliam, helmas ond hupseax, hare byrnan, guðsceorp gumena golde gefrætewod, mærra madma þonne mon ænig 330 asecgan mæge searoþoncelra; eal þæt ða ðeodguman þrymme geeodon,

cene under cumblum on compwige þurh Iudithe gleawe lare, mægð modigre. Hi to mede hyre 335 of ðam siðfate sylfre brohton, eorlas æscrofe, Holofernes sweord ond swatigne helm, swylce eac side byrnan gerenode readum golde, ond eal þæt se rinca baldor swiðmod sinces ahte oððe sundoryrfes, 340 beaga ond beorhtra maðma, hi þæt þære beorhtan idese ageafon gearoþoncolre. Ealles ðæs Iudith sægde wuldor weroda dryhtne, þe hyre weorðmynde geaf, mærðe on moldan rice, swylce eac mede on heofonum,

sigorlean in swegles wuldre, þæs þe heo ahte soðne geleafan 345 to ðam ælmihtigan; huru æt þam ende ne tweode þæs leanes þe heo lange gyrnde. ðæs sy ðam leofan drihtne wuldor to widan aldre, þe gesceop wind ond lyfte, roderas ond rume grundas, swylce eac reðe streamas ond swegles dreamas, ðurh his sylfes miltse.