1A1.1

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2

GENESIS

    
3Us is riht micel ðæt we rodera weard, wereda wuldorcining,
4wordum herigen, modum lufien.
5He is mægna sped, heafod ealra heahgesceafta, frea ælmihtig.
6Næs him fruma æfre, or geworden, ne nu ende cymþ ecean
7drihtnes, ac he bið a rice ofer heofenstolas.
8Heagum þrymmum soðfæst and swiðfeorm sweglbosmas
9heold, þa wæron gesette wide and side þurh geweald
10godes wuldres bearnum, gasta weardum.
11Hæfdon gleam and dream, and heora ordfruman, engla þreatas,
12beorhte blisse.
13Wæs heora blæd micel.
14þegnas þrymfæste þeoden heredon, sægdon lustum lof, heora
15liffrean demdon, drihtenes dugeþum wæron swiðe gesælige.
16Synna ne cuþon, firena fremman, ac hie on friðe lifdon, ece
17mid heora aldor.
18Elles ne ongunnon ræran on roderum nymþe riht and soþ,
19ærðon engla weard for oferhygde dwæl on gedwilde.
20Noldan dreogan leng heora selfra ræd, ac hie of siblufan
21godes ahwurfon.
22Hæfdon gielp micel þæt hie wið drihtne dælan meahton
23wuldorfæstan wic werodes þrymme, sid and swegltorht.
24Him þær sar gelamp, æfst and oferhygd, and þæs engles mod
25þe þone unræd ongan ærest fremman, wefan
26and weccean, þa he worde cwæð,

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27niþes ofþyrsted, þæt he
28on norðdæle ham and heahsetl heofena rices agan wolde.
29þa wearð yrre god and þam werode wrað þe he ær wurðode
30wlite and wuldre.
31Sceop þam werlogan wræclicne ham weorce to leane,
32helleheafas, hearde niðas.
33Heht þæt witehus wræcna bidan, deop, dreama leas, drihten
34ure, gasta weardas, þa he hit geare wiste,
35synnihte beseald, susle geinnod, geondfolen fyre and
36færcyle, rece and reade lege.
37Heht þa geond þæt rædlease hof weaxan witebrogan.
38Hæfdon hie wrohtgeteme grimme wið god gesomnod; him þæs
39grim lean becom.
40Cwædon þæt heo rice, reðemode, agan woldan, and swa eaðe
41meahtan.
42Him seo wen geleah, siððan waldend his, heofona heahcining,
43honda arærde, hehste wið þam herge.
44Ne mihton hygelease, mæne wið metode, mægyn bryttigan ,
45ac him se mæra mod getwæfde, bælc forbigde.
46þa he gebolgen wearð, besloh synsceaþan sigore and
47gewealde, dome and dugeðe, and dreame benam his
48feond, friðo and gefean ealle, torhte tire, and his torn
49gewræc on gesacum swiðe selfes mihtum strengum stiepe.
50Hæfde styrne mod, gegremed grymme, grap on wraðe faum
51folmum, and him on fæðm gebræc yrre on mode;
52æðele bescyrede his wiðerbrecan wuldorgestealdum.
53Sceof þa and scyrede scyppend ure oferhidig cyn engla of
54heofnum, wærleas werod.
55Waldend sende

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56laðwendne here on langne sið, geomre gastas;
57wæs him gylp forod, beot forborsten, and
58forbiged þrym, wlite gewemmed.
59Heo on wrace syððan seomodon swearte, siðe ne þorfton
60hlude hlihhan, ac heo helltregum werige wunodon
61and wean cuðon, sar and sorge, susl þrowedon þystrum
62beþeahte, þearl æfterlean þæs þe heo ongunnon
63wið gode winnan.
64þa wæs soð swa ær sibb on heofnum, fægre freoþoþeawas,
65frea eallum leof, þeoden his þegnum; þrymmas
66weoxon duguða mid drihtne, dreamhæbbendra.
67Wæron þa gesome, þa þe swegl buað , wuldres eðel.
68Wroht wæs asprungen, oht mid englum and orlegnið, siððan
69herewosan heofon ofgæfon, leohte belorene.
70Him on laste setl, wuldorspedum welig, wide stodan gifum
71growende on godes rice, beorht and geblædfæst,
72buendra leas, siððan wræcstowe werige gastas under
73hearmlocan heane geforan.
74þa þeahtode þeoden ure modgeþonce, hu he þa mæran
75gesceaft, eðelstaðolas eft gesette, swegltorhtan
76seld, selran werode, þa hie gielpsceaþan ofgifen hæfdon,
77heah on heofenum.
78Forþam halig god under roderas feng, ricum mihtum, wolde
79þæt him eorðe and uproder and sid wæter geseted
80wurde woruldgesceafte on wraðra gield, þara þe
81forhealdene of hleo sende.
82Ne wæs her þa giet nymþe heolstersceado wiht geworden, ac
83þes wida grund

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84stod deop and dim, drihtne
85fremde, idel and unnyt.
86On þone eagum wlat stiðfrihþ cining, and þa stowe beheold,
87dreama lease, geseah deorc gesweorc semian
88sinnihte sweart under roderum, wonn and weste, oðþæt
89þeos woruldgesceaft þurh word gewearð wuldorcyninges.
90Her ærest gesceop ece drihten, helm eallwihta, heofon and
91eorðan, rodor arærde, and þis rume land gestaþelode
92strangum mihtum, frea ælmihtig.
93Folde wæs þa gyt græs ungrene; garsecg þeahte sweart
94synnihte, side and wide, wonne węgas.
95þa wæs wuldortorht heofonweardes gast ofer holm boren miclum
96spedum.
97Metod engla heht, lifes brytta, leoht forð cuman ofer rumne
98grund.
99Raþe wæs gefylled Heahcininges hæs; him wæs halig leoht
100ofer westenne, swa se wyrhta bebead.
101þa gesundrode sigora waldend ofer laguflode leoht wið
102þeostrum, sceade wið sciman.
103Sceop þa bam naman, lifes brytta.
104Leoht wæs ærest þurh drihtnes word dæg genemned,
105wlitebeorhte gesceaft .
106Wel licode frean æt frymðe forþbæro tid, dæg æresta;
107geseah deorc sceado sweart swiðrian geond sidne grund.
108þa seo tid gewat ofer timber sceacan middangeardes,
109metod æfter sceaf scirum sciman, scippend ure, æfen ærest.
110Him arn on last, þrang þystre genip, þam þe se þeoden
111self sceop nihte naman.
112Nergend ure

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113hie gesundrode; siððan æfre drugon and dydon
114drihtnes willan, ece ofer eorðan.
115ða com oðer dæg, leoht æfter þeostrum.
116Heht þa lifes weard on mereflode middum weorðan hyhtlic
117heofontimber.
118Holmas dælde waldend ure and geworhte þa roderas fæsten;
119þæt se rica ahof up from eorðan þurh his agen
120word, frea ælmihtig.
121Flod wæs adæled under heahrodore halgum mihtum, wæter
122of wætrum, þam þe wuniað gyt under fæstenne folca hrofes.
123þa com ofer foldan fus siðian mære mergen þridda.
124Næron metode ða gyt widlond ne wegas nytte, ac stod
125bewrigen fæste folde mid flode.
126Frea engla heht þurh his word wesan wæter gemæne, þa nu
127under roderum heora ryne healdað, stowe gestefnde.
128ða stod hraðe holm under heofonum, swa se halga bebead, sid
129ætsomne, ða gesundrod wæs lago wið lande.
130Geseah þa lifes weard drige stowe, dugoða hyrde, wide
131æteowde, þa se wuldorcyning eorðan nemde.
132Gesette yðum heora onrihtne ryne, rumum flode, and gefetero.
133Ne þuhte þa gerysne rodora wearde, þæt Adam leng ana wære
134neorxnawonges, niwre gesceafte, hyrde and
135healdend.
136Forþon him heahcyning, frea ælmihtig fultum tiode; wif
137aweahte and þa wraðe sealde, lifes leohtfruma, leofum rince.

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138He þæt andweorc of Adames lice aleoðode, and him listum
139ateah rib of sidan.
140He wæs reste fæst, and softe swæf, sar ne wiste, earfoða
141dæl, ne þær ænig com blod of benne, ac him
142brego engla of lice ateah liodende ban, wer unwundod, of þam
143worhte god freolice fæmnan.
144Feorh in gedyde, ece saula.
145Heo wæron englum gelice, þa wæs Eve , Adames bryd, gaste
146gegearwod.
147Hie on geogoðe bu wlitebeorht wæron on woruld cenned
148meotodes mihtum.
149Man ne cuðon don ne dreogan, ac him drihtnes wæs bam on
150breostum byrnende lufu.
151þa gebletsode bliðheort cyning, metod alwihta, monna cynnes
152ða forman twa, fæder and moder, wif and
153wæpned.
154He þa worde cwæð: Temað nu and wexað, tudre fyllað
155eorðan ælgrene, incre cynne, sunum and dohtrum.
156Inc sceal sealt wæter wunian on gewealde and eall worulde
157gesceaft.
158Brucað blæddaga and brimhlæste and heofonfugla.
159Inc is halig feoh and wilde deor on geweald geseald, and
160lifigende, ða ðe land tredað, feorheaceno
161cynn, ða ðe flod wecceð geond hronrade.
162Inc hyrað eall.
163þa sceawode scyppend ure his weorca wlite and his wæstma
164blæd, niwra gesceafta.
165Neorxnawong stod god and gastlic, gifena gefylled

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166fremum forðweardum.
167Fægere leohte þæt liðe land lago yrnende, wylleburne.
168Nalles wolcnu ða giet ofer rumne grund regnas bæron, wann
169mid winde, hwæðre wæstmum stod folde gefrætwod.
170Heoldon forðryne eastreamas heora æðele feower of þam
171niwan neorxnawonge.
172þa wæron adælede drihtnes mihtum ealle of anum, þa he þas
173eorðan gesceop, wætre wlitebeorhtum, and on woruld sende.
174þæra anne hatað ylde, eorðbuende, Fison folcweras;
175se foldan dæl brade bebugeð beorhtum streamum
176Hebeleac utan.
177On þære eðyltyrf niððas findað nean and feorran gold and
178gymcynn, gumþeoda bearn, ða selestan, þæs
179þe us secgað bec.
180þonne seo æftre Ethiopia land and liodgeard beligeð uton,
181ginne rice, þære is Geon noma.
182þridda is Tigris, seo wið þeodscipe, ea inflede, Assirię
183belið.
184Swilce is seo feorðe, þa nu geond folc monig weras Eufraten
185wide nemnað.

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186Ongunnon hie þa be godes hæse bearn astrienan, swa him metod
187bebead.
188Adames and Euan aforan wæron freolicu twa frumbearn cenned,
189Cain and Abel.
190Us cyðað bec, hu þa dædfruman dugeþa stryndon, welan and
191wiste, willgebroðor.
192Oðer his to eorðan elnes tilode, se wæs ærboren; oðer
193æhte heold fæder on fultum, oðþæt forð gewat
194dægrimes worn.
195Hie þa drihtne lac begen brohton.
196Brego engla beseah on Abeles gield eagum sinum, cyning
197eallwihta, Caines ne wolde tiber sceawian.
198þæt wæs torn were hefig æt heortan.
199Hygewælm asteah beorne on breostum, blatende nið, yrre
200for æfstum.
201He þa unræden folmum gefremede, freomæg ofsloh, broðor
202sinne, and his blod ageat, Cain Abeles.
203Cwealmdreore swealh þæs middangeard, monnes swate.
204æfter wælswenge wea wæs aræred, tregena tuddor.
205Of ðam twige siððan ludon laðwende leng swa swiðor reðe
206wæstme.
207Ræhton wide geond werþeoda wrohtes telgan, hrinon hearmtanas
208hearde and sare drihta bearnum, doð gieta
209swa, of þam brad blado bealwa gehwilces sprytan ongunnon.
210We þæt spell magon, wælgrimme wyrd, wope cwiðan, nales
211holunge; ac us hearde sceod freolecu fæmne þurh forman gylt

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212þe wið metod æfre men gefremeden,
213eorðbuende, siððan Adam wearð of godes muðe gaste
214eacen.
215ða worde frægn wuldres aldor Cain, hwær Abel eorðan wære.
216Him ða se cystleasa cwealmes wyrhta ædre æfter þon
217andswarode: Ne can ic Abeles or ne fore, hleomæges
218sið, ne ic hyrde wæs broðer mines.
219Him þa brego engla, godspedig gast gean þingade: Hwæt,
220befealdest þu folmum þinum wraðum on wælbedd
221wærfæstne rinc, broðor þinne, and his blod to me
222cleopað and cigeð.
223þu þæs cwealmes scealt wite winnan and on wræc hweorfan,
224awyrged to widan aldre.
225Ne seleð þe wæstmas eorðe wlitige to woruldnytte, ac heo
226wældreore swealh halge of handum þinum; forþon
227heo þe hroðra oftihð, glæmes grene folde.
228þu scealt geomor hweorfan, arleas of earde þinum, swa þu
229Abele wurde to feorhbanan; forþon þu flema
230scealt widlast wrecan, winemagum lað.
231Him þa ædre Cain andswarode: Ne þearf ic ænigre are
232wenan on woruldrice, ac ic forworht hæbbe, heofona
233heahcyning, hyldo þine, lufan and freode; forþon ic
234lastas sceal wean on wenum wide lecgan, hwonne
235me gemitte manscyldigne, se me feor oððe neah fæhðe
236gemonige, broðorcwealmes.
237Ic his blod ageat, dreor on eorðan.
238þu to dæge þissum ademest me fram duguðe and adrifest from
239earde minum.
240Me to aldorbanan weorðeð wraðra sum.
241Ic awyrged sceal, þeoden, of gesyhðe þinre hweorfan.

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242Him þa selfa oncwæð sigora drihten: Ne þearft ðu þe
243ondrædan deaðes brogan, feorhcwealm nu giet, þeah
244þu from scyle freomagum feor fah gewitan.
245Gif þe monna hwelc mundum sinum aldre beneoteð, hine on
246cymeð æfter þære synne seofonfeald wracu,
247wite æfter weorce.
248Hine waldend on, tirfæst metod, tacen sette, freoðobeacen
249frea, þy læs hine feonda hwilc mid guðþræce
250gretan dorste feorran oððe nean.
251Heht þa from hweorfan meder and magum manscyldigne, cnosle
252sinum.
253Him þa Cain gewat gongan geomormod gode of gesyhðe, wineleas
254wrecca, and him þa wic geceas eastlandum on,
255eðelstowe fædergeardum feor, þær him freolecu mæg,
256ides æfter æðelum eaforan fedde.
257Se æresta wæs Enos haten, frumbearn Caines.
258Siððan fæsten ongon mid þam cneomagum ceastre timbran;
259þæt wæs under wolcnum weallfæstenna ærest ealra
260þara þe æðelingas, sweordberende, settan heton.
261þanon his eaforan ærest wocan, bearn from bryde, on þam
262burhstede.
263Se yldesta wæs Iared haten, sunu Enoses.
264Siððan wocan, þa þæs cynnes cneowrim icton, mægburg
265Caines.
266Malalehel wæs æfter Iarede yrfes hyrde fæder on laste,
267oðþæt he forð gewat.
268Siððan Mathusal magum dælde, bearn æfter bearne broðrum
269sinum æðelinga gestreon, oðþæt aldorgedal

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270frod fyrndagum fremman sceolde, lif oflætan.
271Lameh onfeng æfter fæder dæge fletgestealdum,
272botlgestreonum.
273Him bryda twa, idesa on eðle eaforan feddon, Ada and Sella;
274þara anum wæs Iabal noma, se þurh gleawne
275geþanc herbuendra hearpan ærest handum sinum hlyn awehte,
276swinsigende sweg, sunu Lamehes.
277Swylce on ðære mægðe maga wæs haten on þa ilcan tid
278Tubal Cain, se þurh snytro sped smiðcræftega wæs,
279and þurh modes gemynd monna ærest, sunu Lamehes,
280sulhgeweorces fruma wæs ofer foldan, siððan folca
281bearn æres cuðon and isernes, burhsittende, brucan
282wide.
283þa his wifum twæm wordum sægde Lameh seolfa, leofum
284gebeddum, Adan and Sellan unarlic spel: Ic on morðor
285ofsloh minra sumne hyldemaga.
286honda gewemde on Caines cwealme mine, fylde mid folmum fæder
287Enoses, ordbanan Abeles, eorðan sealde
288wældreor weres.
289Wat ic gearwe þæt þam lichryre on last cymeð
290soðcyninges seofonfeald wracu, micel æfter mane.
291Min sceal swiðor mid grimme gryre golden wurðan fyll and
292feorhcwealm, þonne ic forð scio.
293þa wearð Adame on Abeles gyld eafora on eðle oþer feded,
294soðfæst sunu, þam wæs Seth noma.
295Se wæs eadig and his yldrum ðah freolic to frofre, fæder
296and meder,

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297Adames and Euan, wæs Abeles gield on woruldrice.
298þa word acwæð ord moncynnes: Me ece sunu sealde
299selfa sigora waldend, lifes aldor on leofes stæl,
300þæs þe Cain ofsloh, and me cearsorge mid þys magotimbre
301of mode asceaf þeoden usser.
302Him þæs þanc sie.
303Adam hæfde, þa he eft ongan him to eðelstæfe oðres
304strienan bearnes be bryde, beorn ellenrof, XXX
305and C þisses lifes, wintra on worulde.
306Us gewritu secgað þæt her eahtahund iecte siððan mægðum
307and mæcgum mægburg sine Adam on eorðan; ealra
308hæfde nigenhund wintra and XXX eac, þa he þas woruld
309þurh gastgedal ofgyfan sceolde.
310Him on laste Seth leod weardode, eafora æfter yldrum;
311eþelstol heold and wif begeat.
312Wintra hæfde fif and hundteontig þa he furðum ongan his
313mægburge men geicean sunum and dohtrum.
314Sethes eafora se yldesta wæs Enos haten; se nemde god
315niðþa bearna ærest ealra, siððan Adam stop on
316grene græs gaste geweorðad.
317Seth wæs gesælig; siððan strynde seofon winter her suna
318and dohtra and eahtahund.
319Ealra hæfde XII and nigonhund, þa seo tid gewearð
320þæt he friðgedal fremman sceolde.
321Him æfter heold, þa he of worulde gewat,

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322Enos yrfe, siððan
323eorðe swealh sædberendes Sethes lice.
324He wæs leof gode and lifde her wintra hundnigontig ær he be
325wife her þurh gebedscipe bearn astrynde;
326him þa cenned wearð Cainan ærest eafora on eðle.
327Siððan eahtahund and fiftyno on friðo drihtnes gleawferhð
328hæleð geogoðe strynde, suna and dohtra; swealt,
329þa he hæfde, frod fyrnwita, V and nigonhund.
330þære cneorisse wæs Cainan siððan æfter Enose
331aldordema, weard and wisa.
332Wintra hæfde efne hundseofontig ær him sunu woce.
333þa wearð on eðle eafora feded, mago Cainanes , Malalehel
334wæs haten.
335Siððan eahtahund æðelinga rim and feowertig eac feorum
336geicte Enoses sunu.
337Ealra nigonhund wintra hæfde þa he woruld ofgeaf and tyne
338eac, þa his tiddæge under rodera rum rim wæs gefylled.
339Him on laste heold land and yrfe Malalehel siððan missera
340worn.
341Se frumgara fif and sixtig wintra hæfde þa he be wife ongann
342bearna strynan.
343Him bryd sunu meowle to monnum brohte.
344Se maga wæs on his mægðe, mine gefræge, guma on geogoðe,
345Iared haten.
346Lifde siððan and lissa breac Malalehel lange, mondreama her,
347woruldgestreona.
348Wintra hæfde fif and hundnigontig, þa he forð gewat,

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349and eahtahund; eaforan læfde land and leodweard.
350Longe siððan Geared gumum gold brittade.
351Se eorl wæs æðele, æfæst hæleð, and se frumgar his
352freomagum leof.
353Fif and hundteontig on fyore lifde wintra gebidenra on
354woruldrice and syxtig eac þa seo sæl gewearð
355þæt his wif sunu on woruld brohte; se eafora wæs Enoc
356haten, freolic frumbearn.
357Fæder her þa gyt his cynnes forð cneorim icte, eaforan
358eahtahund; ealra hæfde V and syxtig, þa he
359forð gewat, and nigonhund eac nihtgerimes, wine frod wintres,
360þa he þas woruld ofgeaf and Geared þa
361gleawum læfde land and leodweard, leofum rince.
362Enoch siððan ealdordom ahof, freoðosped folces wisa, nalles
363feallan let dom and drihtscipe, þenden he
364hyrde wæs heafodmaga.
365Breac blæddaga, bearna strynde þreohund wintra.
366Him wæs þeoden hold, rodera waldend.
367Se rinc heonon on lichoman lisse sohte, drihtnes duguðe,
368nales deaðe swealt middangeardes, swa her
369men doþ, geonge and ealde, þonne him god heora æhta and
370ætwist eorðan gestreona on genimeð and heora aldor somed.
371ac he cwic gewat mid cyning engla of þyssum lænan life
372feran on þam gearwum þe his gast onfeng ær
373hine to monnum modor brohte.
374He þam yldestan eaforan læfde folc, frumbearne; V and
375syxtig

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376wintra hæfde þa he woruld ofgeaf, and eac III hund.
377þrage siððan Mathusal heold maga yrfe, se on lichoman
378lengest þissa worulddreama breac.
379Worn gestrynde ær his swyltdæge suna and dohtra; hæfde frod
380hæle, þa he from sceolde niþþum hweorfan,
381nigonhund wintra and hundseofontig to.
382Sunu æfter heold, Lamech leodgeard, lange siððan woruld
383bryttade.
384Wintra hæfde twa and hundteontig þa seo tid gewearð þæt
385se eorl ongan æðele cennan, sunu and dohtor.
386Siððan lifde fif and hundnigontig, frea moniges breac wintra
387under wolcnum, werodes aldor, and V hund eac;
388heold þæt folc teala, bearna strynde, him byras
389wocan, eaforan and idesa.
390He þone yldestan Noę nemde, se niððum ær land bryttade
391siððan Lamech gewat.
392Hæfde æðelinga aldorwisa V hund wintra þa he furðum
393ongan bearna strynan, þæs þe bec cweðaþ.
394Sem wæs haten sunu Noes, se yldesta, oðer Cham, þridda
395Iafeth.
396þeoda tymdon rume under roderum, rim miclade monna mægðe
397geond middangeard sunum and dohtrum.
398ða giet wæs Sethes cynn, leofes leodfruman on lufan swiðe
399drihtne dyre and domeadig, oðþæt bearn godes
400bryda ongunnon on Caines cynne secan, wergum folce, and
401him þær wif curon ofer metodes est monna eaforan,

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402scyldfulra mægð scyne and fægere.
403þa reordade rodora waldend wrað moncynne and þa worde
404cwæð: Ne syndon me on ferhðe freo from gewitene
405cneorisn Caines, ac me þæt cynn hafað sare abolgen.
406Nu me Sethes bearn torn niwiað and him to nimað mægeð to
407gemæccum minra feonda; þær wifa wlite onwod
408grome, idesa ansien, and ece feond folcdriht wera, þa ær
409on friðe wæron.
410Siððan hundtwelftig geteled rime wintra on worulde wræce
411bisgodon fæge þeoda, hwonne frea wolde on
412wærlogan wite settan and on deað slean dædum scyldige
413gigantmæcgas, gode unleofe, micle mansceaðan,
414metode laðe.
415þa geseah selfa sigoro waldend hwæt wæs monna manes on
416eorðan and þæt hie wæron womma ðriste, inwitfulle.
417He þæt unfægere wera cneorissum gewrecan þohte, forgripan
418gumcynne grimme and sare, heardum mihtum.
419Hreaw hine swiðe þæt he folcmægþa fruman aweahte,
420æðelinga ord, þa he Adam sceop, cwæð þæt he wolde
421for wera synnum eall aæðan þæt on eorðan wæs, forleosan
422lica gehwilc þara þe lifes gast fæðmum þeahte.
423Eall þæt frea wolde on ðære toweardan tide acwellan þe
424þa nealæhte niðða bearnum.

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425Weras basnedon witelaces , wean under weallum, and heora
426wif somed.
427Duguðum wlance drihtne guldon god mid gnyrne, oðþæt gasta
428helm, lifes leohtfruma leng ne wolde torn
429þrowigean, ac him to sende stiðmod cyning strange twegen
430aras sine, þa on æfentid siðe gesohton Sodoma ceastre.
431Hie þa æt burhgeate beorn gemitton sylfne sittan sunu
432Arones, þæt þam gleawan were geonge þuhton men
433for his eagum.
434Aras þa metodes þeow gastum togeanes, gretan eode

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435cuman cuðlice, cynna gemunde riht and gerisno, and
436þam rincum bead nihtfeormunge.
437Him þa nergendes æðele ærendracan andswarodon: Hafa
438arna þanc, þara þe þu unc bude.
439Wit be þisse stræte stille þencað sæles bidan, siððan
440sunnan eft forð to morgen metod up forlæt.
441þa to fotum Loth þam giestum hnah, and him georne bead reste
442and gereorda and his recedes hleow and
443þegnunge.
444Hie on þanc curon æðelinges est, eodon sona, swa him se
445Ebrisca eorl wisade, in undor edoras.
446þær him se æðela geaf, gleawferhð hæle, giestliðnysse
447fægre on flette, oðþæt forð gewat æfenscima.
448þa com æfter niht on last dæge.
449Lagustreamas wreah, þrym mid þystro þisses lifes, sæs and
450sidland.
451Comon Sodomware, geonge and ealde, gode unleofe corðrum
452miclum cuman acsian, þæt hie behæfdon herges
453mægne Loth mid giestum.
454Heton lædan ut of þam hean hofe halige aras, weras to
455gewealde, wordum cwædon þæt mid þam hæleðum hæman
456wolden unscomlice, arna ne gymden.
457þa aras hraðe, se ðe oft ræd ongeat, Loth on recede, eode
458lungre ut, spræc þa ofer ealle æðelinga gedriht
459sunu Arones, snytra gemyndig: Her syndon inne unwemme
460twa dohtor mine.
461Doð, swa ic eow bidde ne can þara idesa owðer gieta

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462þurh gebedscipe beorna neawest and geswicað þære synne.
463Ic eow sylle þa, ær ge sceonde wið gesceapu fremmen,
464ungifre yfel ylda bearnum.
465Onfoð þæm fæmnum, lætað frið agon gistas mine, þa ic
466for gode wille gemundbyrdan, gif ic mot, for eow.
467Him þa seo mænigeo þurh gemæne word, arlease cyn,
468andswarode: þis þinceð gerisne and riht micel, þæt
469þu ðe aferige of þisse folcsceare.
470þu þas werðeode wræccan laste freonda feasceaft feorran
471gesohtest, wineþearfende .
472Wilt ðu, gif þu most, wesan usser her aldordema, leodum
473lareow?
474þa ic on Lothe gefrægn hæðne heremæcgas handum gripan,
475faum folmum.
476Him fylston wel gystas sine, and hine of gromra þa, cuman
477arfæste, clommum abrugdon in under edoras,
478and þa ofstlice anra gehwilcum ymbstandendra folces Sodoma
479fæste forsæton heafodsiena.
480Wearð eal here sona burhwarena blind.
481Abrecan ne meahton reðemode reced æfter gistum, swa hie
482fundedon, ac þær frome wæron godes spellbodan.
483Hæfde gistmægen stiðe strengeo, styrnde swiðe werode mid
484wite.
485Spræcon wordum þa fæle freoðoscealcas fægre to Lothe: Gif
486þu sunu age oððe swæsne mæg, oððe on þissum
487folcum freond ænigne eac þissum idesum þe we her on
488wlitað, alæde of þysse leodbyrig, þa ðe leofe
489sien, ofestum miclum, and þin ealdor nere, þy læs þu
490forweorðe mid þyssum wærlogan.

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491Unc hit waldend heht for wera synnum Sodoma and Gomorra
492sweartan lige, fyre gesyllan and þas folc slean,
493cynn on ceastrum mid cwealmþrea and his torn wrecan.
494þære tide is neah geþrungen.
495Gewit þu nergean þin feorh foldwege.
496þe is frea milde.
497Him þa ædre Loth andswarode: Ne mæg ic mid idesum
498aldornere mine swa feor heonon feðegange siðe gesecan.
499Git me sibblufan and freondscipe fægre cyðað, treowe and
500hyldo tiðiað me.
501Ic wat hea burh her ane neah, lytle ceastre.
502Lyfað me þær are and reste, þæt we aldornere on Sigor up
503secan moten.
504Gif git þæt fæsten fyre willað steape forstandan, on
505þære stowe we gesunde magon sæles bidan, feorh
506generigan.
507Him þa freondlice englas arfæste andswaredon: þu scealt
508þære bene, nu þu ymb þa burh sprycest , tiða weorðan.
509Teng recene to þam fæstenne; wit þe friðe healdað and
510mundbyrde.
511Ne moton wyt on wærlogum wrecan torn godes, swebban synnig
512cynn, ær ðon þu on Sægor þin bearn gelæde
513and bryd somed.
514þa onette Abrahames mæg to þam fæstenne.
515Feðe ne sparode eorl mid idesum, ac he ofstum forð lastas
516legde, oðþæt he gelædde bryd mid bearnum
517under burhlocan in Sægor his.
518þa sunne up, folca friðcandel, furðum eode,

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519þa ic sendan
520gefrægn swegles aldor swefl of heofnum and
521sweartne lig werum to wite, weallende fyr, þæs hie on
522ærdagum drihten tyndon lange þrage.
523Him þæs lean forgeald gasta waldend.
524Grap heahþrea on hæðencynn.
525Hlynn wearð on ceastrum, cirm arleasra cwealmes on ore,
526laðan cynnes.
527Lig eall fornam þæt he grenes fond goldburgum in, swylce
528þær ymbutan unlytel dæl sidre foldan geondsended
529wæs bryne and brogan.
530Bearwas wurdon to axan and to yslan, eorðan wæstma, efne swa
531wide swa ða witelac reðe geræhton rum land wera.
532Strudende fyr steapes and geapes, swogende leg , forswealh
533eall geador þæt on Sodoma byrig secgas
534ahton and on Gomorra.
535Eall þæt god spilde, frea mid þy folce.
536þa þæt fyrgebræc, leoda lifgedal, Lothes gehyrde bryd on
537burgum, under bæc beseah wið þæs wælfylles.
538Us gewritu secgað þæt heo on sealtstanes sona wurde
539anlicnesse.
540æfre siððan se monlica þæt is mære spell stille wunode,
541þær hie strang begeat wite, þæs heo wordum
542wuldres þegna hyran ne wolde.
543Nu sceal heard and steap on þam wicum wyrde bidan, drihtnes
544domes, hwonne dogora rim, woruld gewite.
545þæt is wundra sum, þara ðe geworhte wuldres aldor.
546Him þa Abraham gewat ana gangan mid ærdæge þæt he eft
547gestod

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548þær wordum ær wið his waldend spræc frod frumgara.
549He geseah from foldan up wide fleogan wælgrimne rec.
550Hie þæs wlenco onwod and wingedrync þæt hie firendæda to
551frece wurdon, synna þriste, soð ofergeaton,
552drihtnes domas, and hwa him dugeða forgeaf, blæd on
553burgum.
554Forþon him brego engla wylmhatne lig to wræce sende.
555Waldend usser gemunde wærfæst þa Abraham arlice, swa he oft
556dyde leofne mannan.
557Loth generede, mæg þæs oðres, þa seo mænegeo forwearð.
558Ne dorste þa dædrof hæle for frean egesan on þam fæstenne
559leng eardigean, ac him Loth gewat of byrig
560gangan and his bearn somed wælstowe fyrr wic sceawian,
561oðþæt hie be hliðe heare dune eorðscræf fundon.
562þær se eadega Loth wærfæst wunode, waldende leof,
563dægrimes worn and his dohtor twa.
564Hie dydon swa; druncnum eode seo yldre to ær on reste heora
565bega fæder.
566Ne wiste blondenfeax hwonne him fæmnan to bryde him bu
567wæron, on ferhðcofan fæste genearwod mode and
568gemynde, þæt he mægða sið wine druncen gewitan ne
569meahte.
570Idesa wurdon eacne, eaforan brohtan willgesweostor on woruld
571sunu heora ealdan fæder.
572þara æðelinga modor oðerne Moab nemde, Lothes dohter, seo
573on life wæs wintrum yldre.
574Us gewritu secgeað,

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575godcunde bec, þæt seo gingre hire agen
576bearn Ammon hete.
577Of þam frumgarum folces unrim, þrymfæste twa þeoda
578awocon.
579Oðre þara mægða Moabitare eorðbuende ealle hatað,
580widmære cynn, oðre weras nemnað, æðelinga bearn,
581Ammonitare.
582Gewat him þa mid bryde broðor Arones under Abimelech æhte
583lædan mid his hiwum.
584Hæleðum sægde þæt Sarra his sweostor wære, Abraham
585wordum bearh his aldre, þy he wiste gearwe þæt he
586winemaga, on folce lyt freonda hæfde.
587þa se þeoden his þegnas sende, heht hie bringan to him
588selfum.
589þa wæs ellþeodig oðre siðe wif Abrahames from were
590læded on fremdes fæðm.
591Him þær fylste þa ece drihten, swa he oft dyde, nergend
592usser.
593Com nihtes self, þær se waldend læg wine druncen.
594Ongan þa soðcyning þurh swefn sprecan to þam æðelinge
595and him yrre hweop: þu Abrahames idese gename,
596bryde æt beorne.
597þe abregdan sceal for þære dæde deað of breostum sawle
598þine.
599Him symbelwerig sinces brytta þurh slæp oncwæð:
600Hwæt, þu æfre, engla þeoden, þurh þin yrre wilt aldre
601lætan, heah beheowan , þæne þe her leofað
602rihtum þeawum, bið on ræde fæst,

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603modgeþance, and him miltse to þe seceð?
604Me sægde ær þæt wif hire wordum selfa unfricgendum, þæt
605heo Abrahames sweostor wære.
606Næbbe ic synne wið hie, facna ænig gefremed gena.
607Him þa ædre eft ece drihten, soðfæst metod, þurh þæt
608swefn oncwæð: Agif Abrahame idese sine, wif to
609gewealde, gif þu on worulde leng, æðelinga helm, aldres
610recce.
611He is god and gleaw, mæg self wið god sprecan,
612geseon sweglcyning.
613þu sweltan scealt mid feo and mid feorme, gif ðu þam
614frumgaran bryde wyrnest.
615He abiddan mæg, gif he ofstum me ærendu wile þeawfæst
616and geþyldig þin abeodan, þæt ic þe lissa lifigendum
617giet on dagum læte duguþa brucan sinces gesundne.
618þa slæpe tobrægd forht folces weard.
619Heht him fetigean to gesprecan sine, spedum sægde eorlum
620Abimeleh, egesan geðread, waldendes word.
621Weras him ondredon for þære dæde drihtnes handa sweng
622æfter swefne.
623Heht sylf cyning him þa Abraham to ofstum miclum.
624þa reordode rice þeoden: Mago Ebrea, þæs þu me wylle
625wordum secgean, hu geworhte ic þæt, siððan þu
626usic under, Abraham, þine on þas eðelturf æhta læddest,
627þæt þu me þus swiðe searo renodest?
628þu ellþeodig usic woldest on þisse folcsceare facne
629besyrwan,

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630synnum besmitan, sægdest wordum þæt Sarra
631þin sweostor wære, lices mæge, woldest laðlice þurh
632þæt wif on me wrohte alecgean, ormæte yfel.
633We þe arlice gefeormedon, and þe freondlice on þisse
634werþeode wic getæhton, land to lissum.
635þu us leanast nu, unfreondlice fremena þancast.
636Abraham þa andswarode: Ne dyde ic for facne ne for
637feondscipe ne for wihte þæs ic þe wean uðe.
638Ac ic me, gumena baldor, guðbordes sweng leodmagum feor lare
639gebearh, siððan me se halga of hyrde frean,
640mines fæder fyrn alædde .
641Ic fela siððan folca gesohte, wina uncuðra, and þis wif
642mid me, freonda feasceaft.
643Ic þæs færes a on wenum sæt hwonne me wraðra sum
644ellþeodigne aldre beheowe, se ðe him þas idese eft
645agan wolde.
646Forðon ic wigsmiðum wordum sægde þæt Sarra min sweostor
647wære æghwær eorðan þær wit earda leas mid wealandum
648winnan sceoldon.
649Ic þæt ilce dreah on þisse eðyltyrf, siððan ic þina,
650þeoden mæra, mundbyrde geceas.
651Ne wæs me on mode cuð, hwæðer on þyssum folce frean
652ælmihtiges egesa wære, þa ic her ærest com.
653Forþon ic þegnum þinum dyrnde and sylfum þe swiðost micle
654soðan spræce, þæt me Sarra bryde laste beddreste
655gestah.

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656þa ongan Abimæleh Abraham swiðan woruldgestreonum and him
657his wif ageaf.
658Sealde him to bote, þæs þe he his bryd genam, gangende feoh
659and glæd seolfor and weorcþeos .
660Spræc þa wordum eac to Abrahame æðelinga helm: wuna
661mid usic and þe wic geceos on þissum lande þær
662þe leofost sie, eðelstowe, þe ic agan sceal.
663Wes us fæle freond, we ðe feoh syllað.
664Cwæð þa eft raðe oðre worde to Sarran sinces brytta:
665Ne þearf ðe on edwit Abraham settan, ðin freadrihten,
666þæt þu flettpaðas , mæg ælfscieno, mine
667træde, ac him hygeteonan hwitan seolfre deope bete.
668Ne ceara incit duguða of ðisse eðyltyrf ellor secan, winas
669uncuðe, ac wuniað her.
670Abraham fremede swa hine his aldor heht, onfeng freondscipe be
671frean hæse, lufum and lissum.
672He wæs leof gode.
673Forðon he sibbe gesælig dreah and his scippende under
674sceade gefor, hleowfeðrum þeaht, her þenden lifde.
675þa gien wæs yrre god Abimelehe for þære synne þe he wið
676Sarrai and wið Abrahame ær gefremede, þa he
677gedælde him deore twa, wif and wæpned.
678He þæs weorc gehleat, frecne wite.
679Ne meahton freo ne þeowe heora bregoweardas bearnum ecan
680monrim mægeð, ac him þæt metod forstod, oðþæt
681se halga his hlaforde

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682Abraham ongan arna biddan
683ecne drihten.
684Him engla helm getigðode, tuddorsped onleac folccyninge
685freora and þeowra, wera and wifa; let weaxan
686eft heora rimgetel rodora waldend, ead and æhta.
687ælmihtig wearð milde on mode, moncynnes weard ,
688Abimeleche, swa hine Abraham bæd.