This translation is in progress and subject to change.
(Last update: 5/11/2012)
Old English Version (c. 800-1000 AD)
Hwæt, ic swefna cyst / secgan wylle,
hwæt mê gemætte / tô midre nihte,
sy∂†an reordberend / reste wunedon.
†ûhte mê †æt ic gesâwe /
syllicre trêow
5] on lyft lædan / lêohte bewunden,
bêama beorhtost. /
Eall †æt bêacen wæs
begoten mid golde; / gimmas stôdon
fægere æt foldan scêatum, /
swylce †ær fife wæron
uppe on †âm eaxlgespanne. / Behêoldon †ær engel Dryhtnes ealle,
10] fægere †urh for∂gesceaft. /
Ne wæs ∂ær hûru fracodes gealga,
ac hine †ær behêoldon /
hâlige gâstas,
men ofer moldan / ond eall †êos mære gesceaft.
Syllic wæs se sigebêam, /
ond ic synnum fâh,
forwunded mid wommum. /
Geseah ic wuldres trêow
15] wædum geweor∂od / wynnum scînan,
gegyred mid golde; / gimmas hæfdon
bewrigen weor∂lîce / Wealdendes trêow.
Hwæ∂re ic †urh †æt gold / ongytan meahte
earmra ærgewin, /
†æt hit ærest ongan
20] swætan on †â swî∂ran healfe. / Eall ic wæs mid sorgum gedrêfed,
forht ic wæs for †ære fægran gesyh∂e. /
Geseah ic †æt fûse bêacen
wendan wædum on blêom: /
hwîlum hit wæs mid wætan bestêmed,
beswyled mid swâtes gange, /
hwîlum mid since gegyrwed.
Hwæ∂re ic †ær / licgende lange hwîle
25] behêold hrêowcearig / Hælendes trêow,
o∂ ∂æt ic gehyrde / †æt hit hlêo∂rode;
ongan †â word sprecan / wudu sêlesta:
“†æt wæs geâra iû –– / ic †æt gyta geman ––
†æt ic wæs âhêawen / holtes on ende,
30] âstyred of stefne mînum. /
Genâman mê ∂ær strange fêondas,
geworhton him †ær tô wæfersyne, /
hêton mê heora wergas hebban.
Bæron mê ∂ær beornas on eaxlum /
o∂ ∂æt hîe mê on beorg âsetton;
gefæstnodon mê †ær fêondas genôge. /
Geseah ic †â Frêan mancynnes
efstan elne mycle / †æt hê mê wolde on gestîgan.
35] †ær ic †â ne dorste / ofer Dryhtnes word
bûgan o∂∂e berstan, / †â ic bifian geseah
eor∂an scêatas. / Ealle ic mihte
fêondas gefyllan, / hwæ∂re ic fæste stôd.
“Ongyrede hine †â geong Hæle∂ –– /
†æt wæs God ælmigtig ––,
40] strang ond stî∂môd; /
gestâh hê on gealgan hêanne,
môdig on manigra gesyh∂e, /
†â hê wolde mancyn lysan.
Bifode ic †â mê se Beorn ymbclypte; /
ne dorste ic hwæ∂re bûgan tô eor∂an,
feallan tô foldan scêatum, / ac ic sceolde fæste standan.
Rôd wæs ic âræred; /
âhôf ic rîcne Cyning,
45] heofona Hlâford; / hyldan mê ne dorste.
†urhdrifan hî mê mid deorcan næglum: /
on mê syndon †â dolg gesîene,
opene inwidhlemmas. / Ne dorste ic hira ænigum sce∂∂an.
Bysmeredon hîe unc bûtû ætgædere. /
Eall ic wæs mid blôde bestêmed,
begoten of †æs Guman sîdan / si∂∂an hê hæfde his gâst onsended.
50] Feala ic on †âm beorge / gebiden hæbbe
wrâ∂ra wyrda: /
geseah ic weruda God
†earle †enian. / †ystro hæfdon
bewrigen mid wolcnum / Wealdendes hræw,
scîrne scîman; / sceadu for∂êode,
55] wann under wolcnum. / Wêop eal gesceaft,
cwî∂don Cyninges fyll: /
Crîst wæs on rôde.
“Hwæ†ere †ær fûse / feorran cwôman
tô †âm Æ∂elinge: / ic †æt eall behêold.
Sâre ic wæs mid sorgum gedrêfed, /
hnâg ic hwæ∂re †âm secgum tô handa,
60] êa∂môd, elne mycle. /
Genâmon hîe †ær ælmihtigne God,
âhôfon hine of ∂âm hefian wîte. /
Forlêton mê †â hilderincas
standan stêame bedrifenne; /
eall ic wæs mid strælum forwundod.
Âlêdon hîe ∂ær limwêrigne, /
gestôdon him æt his lîces hêafdum;
behêoldon hîe ∂ær heofenes Dryhten, /
ond hê hine ∂ær hwîle reste,
65] mê∂e æfter ∂âm miclan gewinne. /
Ongunnon him †â moldern wyrcan
beornas on banan gesyh∂e, /
curfon hîe ∂æt of beorhtan stâne,
gesetton hîe ∂æron sigora Wealdend; /
ongunnon him †â sorhlêo∂ galawrtn,
earme on †â æfentîde. /
†â hîe woldon eft sî∂ian
mê∂e fram †âm mæran †êodne; /
reste hê ∂ær mæte weorode.
70] Hwæ∂ere wê ∂ær grêotende / gôde hwîle
stôdon on sta∂ole, / sy∂∂an stefn ûp gewât
hilderinca. / Hræw côlode,
fæger feorgbold. /
∂â ûs man fyllan ongan
ealle tô eor∂an; / †æt wæs egeslic wyrd!
75] Bedealf ûs man on dêopan sêa†e; /
hwæ∂re mê †ær Dryhtnes †egnas,
frêondas gefrûnon / [...]
gyredon mê / golde ond seolfre.
“Nû ∂û miht gehyran, / hæle∂ mîn se lêofa,
†æt ic bealuwara weorc / gebiden hæbbe,
80] sârra sorga. / Is nû sæl cumen
†æt mê weor∂ia∂ / wîde ond sîde
menn ofer moldan / ond eall †êos mære gesceaft,
gebidda† him tô †yssum bêacne. /
On mê Bearn Godes
†rôwode hwîle; / for †an ic †rymfæst nû
85] hlîfige under heofenum, /
ond ic hælan mæg
æghwylcne ânra / †âra †e him bi∂ egesa tô mê.
Iû ic wæs geworden / wîta heardost,
lêodum lâ∂ost, / ær †an ic him lîfes weg
rihtne gerymde, / reordberendum.
90] Hwæt, mê †â geweor∂ode / wuldres Ealdor
ofer holtwudu, / heofonrîces Weard,
swylce swâ hê his môdor êac, / Mârian sylfe,
ælmihtig God / for ealle menn
geweor∂ode / ofer ealle wîfa cynn.
95] “Nû ic †ê hâte, / hæle∂ mîn se lêofa
†æt ∂û †âs gesyg∂e / secge mannum:
onwrêoh wordum /
†æt hit is wuldres bêam,
sê ∂e ælmigtig God / on †rôwode
for mancynnes / manegum synnum
100] ond Âdomes / ealdgewurhtum.
Dêa∂ hê †ær byrigde; /
hwæ∂ere eft Dryhten ârâs
mid his miclan mihte /
mannum tô helpe.
Hê ∂â on heofenas âstâg. / Hider eft funda†
on †ysne middangeard / mancynn sêcan
105] on dómdæge /
Dryhten sylfa,
ælmihtig God, / ond his englas mid,
†æt hê †onne wile dêman, /
sê âh dômes geweald,
ânra gehwylcum / swâ hê him ærur hêr
on †yssum lænum / lîfe geearna†.
110] Ne mæg †ær ænig / unforht wesan
for †âm worde / †e se Wealdend cwy∂:
frîne∂ hê for †ære mænige / hwær se man sîe,
se ∂e for Dryhtnes naman / dêa∂es wolde
biteres onbyrigan, /
swâ hê ær on ∂âm bêame dyde.
115] Ac hîe †onne forhtia∂ / ond fêa †enca†
hwæt hîe tô Crîste / cwe∂an onginnen.
Ne ∂earf ∂ær †onne ænig / anforht wesan
†e him ær in brêostum bere∂ / bêacna sêlest,
ac ∂urh ∂â rôde sceal / rîce gesêcan
120] of eor∂wege / æghwylc sâwl,
sêo †e mid Wealdende / wunian †ence∂.”
Gebæd ic mê †â tô †an bêame /
blî∂e môde,
elne mycle, / †ær ic âna wæs
mæte werede. / Wæs môdsefa
125] âfysed on for∂wege, /
feala ealra gebâd
langunghwîla. / Is mê nû lîfes hyht
†æt ic †one sigebêam / sêcan môte
âna oftor / †onne ealle men,
well weor†ian: /
mê is willa tô ∂âm
130] mycel on môde, / ond mîn mundbyrd is
geriht tô †ære rôde. //
Nâh ic rîcra feala
frêonda on foldan, / ac hîe for∂ heonon
gewiton of worulde drêamum, /
sôhton him wuldres Cyning,
lifia† nû on heofenum / mid Hêahfædere,
135] wunia† on wuldre, / ond ic wêne mê
daga gehwylce /
hwænne mê Dryhtnes rôd,
†e ic hêr on eor∂an / ær scæeawode,
on †ysson lænan / lîfe gefetige
ond mê †onne gebringe /
†ær is blis mycel
140] drêam on heofonum, /
†ær is Dryhtnes folc
geseted tô symle, / †ær is singâl blis,
ond mê †onne âsette / †ær ic sy††an môt
wunian on wuldre, /
well mid †âm hâlgum
drêames brûcan. /
Sî mê Dryhten frêond,
145] sê ∂e hêr on eor†an / ær †rôwode
on †âm gealgtrêowe /
for guman synnum:
hê ûs onlysde / ond ûs lîf forgeaf,
heofonlicne hâm. /
Hiht wæs genîwad
mid blêdum ond mid blisse /
†âm †e †ær bryne †olodan;
150] se Sunu wæs sigorfæst / on †âm sî∂fate,
mihtig ond spêdig, / †â hê mid manigeo côm,
gâsta weorode, / on Godes rîce,
Anwealda ælmihtig, / englum tô blisse
ond eallum ∂âm hâlgum / †âm †e on heofonum ær
155] wunedon on wuldre, / †â heora Wealdend cwôm,
ælmihtig God, / †ær his ê∂el wæs.
The Dream of the Rood
Alright! Listen, I want to tell
the best dream, that came to me at midnight,
while men, speech-bearers, were tangled up in sleep.
It seemed to me that I saw
the most wonderful tree
extended into the air, enveloped in light,
the brightest tree.
All that tree-vision
was covered in gold; and gems stood
shining on the reaches of the Earth,
of which there were five up on the crossbeam.
All the Lord’s angels watched there,
fair for all eternity.
That was surely not a bad-man’s gallows,
for the holy spirits,
the men on Earth, and all the glorious beings,
they saw the tree there.
Wondrous was this victory-tree,
and I, stained with sin,
was gravely wounded with the sores of guilt.
I saw the glorious tree
honored with adornments, shining with joys,
adorned with gold; and gems nobly
had covered that tree of the forest.
Yet through all the gold I came to understand
the ancient struggle of wretches,
as it first began to bleed on its right side.
I was so troubled with sorrows;
I was afraid of that beautiful sight!
I saw that bright vision
change garment and color:
at times it was soaked in wetness,
drenched with the flow of blood;
at times adorned with treasure.
Nevertheless, laying there a long while,
I watched the Savior’s tree, sorrowful, troubled,
until I heard it speak;
the noblest tree began to say these words:
“It was years ago – I still remember –
that I was cut down at the forest’s edge,
dissevered from my roots.
Strong enemies seized me there,
made me into a spectacle,
they told me to raise up their criminals.
Men carried me on their shoulders,
and they set me on a hill;
those many enemies planted me there.
I saw mankind’s Lord
come forth, for he meant to climb up on me.
And I dared not bow or break
beneath the Lord’s word, when I saw
the Earth’s surface tremble. I could have felled
all those enemies, but still I stood fast.
“The young hero stripped himself,
– that was God almighty! –
strong and stout-hearted;
he climbed up to these high gallows,
brave before the eyes of many,
for he wanted to save mankind.
I trembled when that Man enclasped me;
but I dared not bow towards Earth,
nor fall to the ground; I had to stand fast.
I was now a cross;
and I raised that powerful King,
heaven’s Lord; I dared not bow down.
Enemies pierced me with dark nails:
the wounds are visible on me,
wicked, open gashes. But I dared not harm them back.
They mocked us both together.
I was all drenched with blood
come from that man’s side, now he had sent his spirit on.
I stood on that hill
and suffered many bitter strikes of fate:
I saw the God of hosts
stretched out painfully. Darkness had covered
the Lord’s corpse with mists,
his shining radiance; a shadow went forth,
dark below the clouds. All creation wept,
lamenting the King’s death:
Christ was on the cross.
“Nevertheless brave men came from afar
to that Noble One: I saw all that.
Though I was bitterly troubled with sorrows,
I bowed into the hands of those men,
grateful, willing, and with great relief.
There they received God almighty;
released him from that heavy punishment.
Then the men abandoned me,
to stand there, steeped with blood;
I was all wounded with arrows.
They lay the limb-weary one down,
and they stood by him at either end;
there they saw heaven’s Lord,
as he rested himself there a while,
weary from that great struggle.
So the men began to make an earth-house for him
within sight of me, his death-bringer,
they carved it from bright stone,
and lay victory’s Lord within;
they began to sing him a sorrow-song,
grievers in the evening dusk.
Then, weary, they wanted to move on,
they departed again from their famous lord;
and so he rested there with little company.
Only we still stood there, weeping,
a good while after the warriors’ voices went away.
The corpse had grown cold,
that fair life-dwelling.
Eventually each of us was cut down to earth,
that was a terrible fate!
We were buried deep in a pit;
but finally friends, the Lord’s thanes,
discovered me there, raised me from my grave.
They wrapped me in gold and silver.
“Now you can hear, my beloved friend,
how I have faced the deeds of evil men,
bitter sorrows. Now the time is come
that men honor me far and wide;
men across earth, and all the glorious beings,
will each pray to this vision.
God’s Child suffered on me a while, so now
I tower glorious under the heavens,
and I have the power to heal
each and every being,
if he honors and fears my glory.
Once I was made into the cruelest torment for men,
the most dreaded; until I revealed
life’s righteous path to men, speech-bearers.
And then World’s Lord, Heaven’s Ward,
honored me over all the tree-forests,
just as almighty God honored
his mother, Mary herself,
over all womankind, for all men.
Now I command, my beloved friend,
that you tell this vision to men:
reveal this story in words,
that it is a glorious tree,
that on which God almighty
suffered for mankind’s many sins
and Adam’s deed of old.
He tasted death there,
and still the Lord rose again
through his great might
so he could help us men.
He rose up to heaven.
And he will return to this middle earth,
to seek mankind on doomsday,
the Lord himself, almighty God,
and his angels with him.
He has the power to judge,
and he will judge each and every one,
by what they will have earned
here in this life on earth.
Nor will any one there be unafraid
to hear the word that the Lord will say:
he will ask before all where the man may be,
who, in the Lord’s name,
would taste bitter death,
as he, the Lord, had done on that tree.
But they will become afraid, and few will know
what they could even begin to say to Christ.
Yet none there need be too afraid,
if they have carried this noble dream in their heart,
since through this cross each soul may seek
the kingdom on their path from Earth,
he who hopes to dwell with the Lord.”
I prayed then to that tree,
joyful at heart, devoted.
I was alone there
with little company. My heart’s
was urged onward,
I endured many times
full of longing. Now it is my life’s resolve
that I may seek that victory-tree
on my own, more often than any other man,
and honor it well:
my desire for that is deep in my heart,
and my hope of salvation
lies right at the cross.
I do not have many powerful friends
on Earth, for they have gone onward
from the joys of this world, and sought
for themselves the glory-King;
they live now in heaven with the High-father,
they dwell in light,
and I, everyday, long for a time
when the Lord’s cross
that I, here on Earth, once beheld,
will fetch me from this borrowed life
and then bring me to where
there is much joy,
happiness in the heavens:
there the Lord’s people are seated at feast,
there is endless joy
and there I will seat myself,
where evermore I may live in glory,
homely with the Saints,
to enjoy dreams of joy.
May the Lord be my friend,
he who suffered for man’s sins
here on Earth on the gallows-tree:
he released us and gave us our lives,
and gave us a heavenly home.
Because of him hope was renewed
with blessings and with joy
for all those who suffered burning before;
that Son was unbeatable on his journey
mighty and triumphant,
when he returned with a crowd of souls
to God’s kingdom, the almighty Ruler,
bringing joy to all the angels and saints
who lived in glory when their Ruler rose to heaven,
God almighty:
there was his rightful home.