Angelsächsische Genesis-Übersetzung

Textgrundlage:

The Anglo Saxon Minor Poems

Hrsg.: Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie,

London: George Routledge & Sons, 1942

Adam und Eva im Paradies

Erschaffung und Sturz der Engel

Der Sündenfall

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[Adam und Eva im Paradies]

235

«ac niotað inc þæs oðres ealles,|forlætað þone ænne beam,

wariað inc wið þone wæstm.|Ne wyrð inc wilna gæd.»

Hnigon þa mid heafdum|heofoncyninge

georne togenes|and sædon ealles þanc,

lista and þara lara.|He let heo þæt land buan,

240

hwærf him þa to heofenum|halig drihten,

stiðferhð cyning.|Stod his handgeweorc

somod on sande,|nyston sorga wiht

to begrornianne,|butan heo godes willan

lengest læsten.|Heo wæron leof gode

245

þenden heo his halige word|healdan woldon.

[Erschaffung und Sturz der Engel]

Hæfde se alwalda|engelcynna

þurh handmægen,|halig drihten,

tene getrimede,|þæm he getruwode wel

þæt hie his giongorscipe|fyligan wolden,

250

wyrcean his willan,|forþon he him gewit forgeaf

and mid his handum gesceop,|halig drihten.

Gesett hæfde he hie swa gesæliglice,|ænne hæfde he swa swiðne geworhtne,

swa mihtigne on his modgeþohte,|he let hine swa micles wealdan,

hehstne to him on heofona rice,|hæfde he hine swa hwitne geworhtne,

255

swa wynlic wæs his wæstm on heofonum|þæt him com from weroda drihtne,

gelic wæs he þam leohtum steorrum.|Lof sceolde he drihtnes wyrcean,

dyran sceolde he his dreamas on heofonum,|and sceolde his drihtne þancian

þæs leanes þe he him on þam leohte gescerede|þonne læte he his hine lange wealdan.

Ac he awende hit him to wyrsan þinge,|ongan him winn up ahebban

260

wið þone hehstan heofnes waldend,|þe siteð on þam halgan stole.

Deore wæs he drihtne urum;|ne mihte him bedyrned weorðan

þæt his engyl ongan|ofermod wesan,

ahof hine wið his hearran,|sohte hetespræce,

gylpword ongean,|nolde gode þeowian,

265

cwæð þæt his lic wære|leoht and scene,

hwit and hiowbeorht.|Ne meahte he æt his hige findan

þæt he gode wolde|geongerdome,

þeodne þeowian.|þuhte him sylfum

þæt he mægyn and cræft|maran hæfde

270

þonne se halga god|habban mihte

folcgestælna.|Feala worda gespæc

se engel ofermodes.|þohte þurh his anes cræft

hu he him strenglicran|stol geworhte,

heahran on heofonum;|cwæð þæt hine his hige speone

275

þæt he west and norð|wyrcean ongunne,

trymede getimbro;|cwæð him tweo þuhte

þæt he gode wolde|geongra weorðan.

«Hwæt sceal ic winnan?» cwæð he.|«Nis me wihtæ þearf

hearran to habbanne.|Ic mæg mid handum swa fela

280

wundra gewyrcean.|Ic hæbbe geweald micel

to gyrwanne|godlecran stol,

hearran on heofne.|Hwy sceal ic æfter his hyldo ðeowian,

bugan him swilces geongordomes?|Ic mæg wesan god swa he.

Bigstandað me strange geneatas,|þa ne willað me æt þam striðe geswican,

285

hæleþas heardmode.|Hie habbað me to hearran gecorene,

rofe rincas;|mid swilcum mæg man ræd geþencean,

fon mid swilcum folcgesteallan.|Frynd synd hie mine georne,

holde on hyra hygesceaftum.|Ic mæg hyra hearra wesan,

rædan on þis rice.|Swa me þæt riht ne þinceð,

290

þæt ic oleccan|awiht þurfe

gode æfter gode ænegum.|Ne wille ic leng his geongra wurþan.»

þa hit se allwalda|eall gehyrde,

þæt his engyl ongan|ofermede micel

ahebban wið his hearran|and spræc healic word

295

dollice wið drihten sinne,|sceolde he þa dæd ongyldan,

worc þæs gewinnes gedælan,|and sceolde his wite habban,

ealra morðra mæst.|Swa deð monna gehwilc

þe wið his waldend|winnan ongynneð

mid mane wið þone mæran drihten.|þa wearð se mihtiga gebolgen,

300

hehsta heofones waldend,|wearp hine of þan hean stole.

Hete hæfde he æt his hearran gewunnen,|hyldo hæfde his ferlorene,

gram wearð him se goda on his mode.|Forþon he sceolde grund gesecean

heardes hellewites,|þæs þe he wann wið heofnes waldend.

Acwæð hine þa fram his hyldo|and hine on helle wearp,

305

on þa deopan dala,|þær he to deofle wearð,

se feond mid his geferum eallum.|Feollon þa ufon of heofnum

þurhlonge swa|þreo niht and dagas,

þa englas of heofnum on helle,|and heo ealle forsceop

drihten to deoflum.|Forþon heo his dæd and word

310

noldon weorðian,|forþon he heo on wyrse leoht

under eorðan neoðan,|ællmihtig god,

sette sigelease|on þa sweartan helle.

þær hæbbað heo on æfyn|ungemet lange,

ealra feonda gehwilc,|fyr edneowe,

315

þonne cymð on uhtan|easterne wind,

forst fyrnum cald.|Symble fyr oððe gar,

sum heard geswinc|habban sceoldon.

Worhte man hit him to wite,|(hyra woruld wæs gehwyrfed),

forman siðe,|fylde helle

320

mid þam andsacum.|Heoldon englas forð

heofonrices hehðe,|þe ær godes hyldo gelæston.

Lagon þa oðre fynd on þam fyre,|þe ær swa feala hæfdon

gewinnes wið heora waldend.|Wite þoliað,

hatne heaðowelm|helle tomiddes,

325

brand and brade ligas,|swilce eac þa biteran recas,

þrosm and þystro,|forþon hie þegnscipe

godes forgymdon.|Hie hyra gal beswac,

engles oferhygd,|noldon alwaldan

word weorþian,|hæfdon wite micel,

330

wæron þa befeallene|fyre to botme

on þa hatan hell|þurh hygeleaste

and þurh ofermetto,|sohton oþer land,

þæt wæs leohtes leas|and wæs liges full,

fyres fær micel.|Fynd ongeaton

335

þæt hie hæfdon gewrixled|wita unrim

þurh heora miclan mod|and þurh miht godes

and þurh ofermetto|ealra swiðost.

þa spræc se ofermoda cyning,|þe ær wæs engla scynost,

hwitost on heofne|and his hearran leof,

340

drihtne dyre,|oð hie to dole wurdon,

þæt him for galscipe|god sylfa wearð

mihtig on mode yrre.|Wearp hine on þæt morðer innan,

niðer on þæt niobedd,|and sceop him naman siððan,

cwæð se hehsta|hatan sceolde

345

Satan siððan,|het hine þære sweartan helle

grundes gyman,|nalles wið god winnan.

Satan maðelode,|sorgiende spræc,

se ðe helle forð|healdan sceolde,

gieman þæs grundes.|Wæs ær godes engel,

350

hwit on heofne,|oð hine his hyge forspeon

and his ofermetto|ealra swiðost,

þæt he ne wolde|wereda drihtnes

word wurðian.|Weoll him on innan

hyge ymb his heortan,|hat wæs him utan

355

wraðlic wite.|He þa worde cwæð:

«Is þæs ænga styde|ungelic swiðe

þam oðrum ham|þe we ær cuðon,

hean on heofonrice,|þe me min hearra onlag,

þeah we hine for þam alwaldan|agan ne moston,

360

romigan ures rices.|Næfð he þeah riht gedon

þæt he us hæfð befælled|fyre to botme,

helle þære hatan,|heofonrice benumen;

hafað hit gemearcod|mid moncynne

to gesettanne.|þæt me is sorga mæst,

365

þæt Adam sceal,|þe wæs of eorðan geworht,

minne stronglican|stol behealdan,

wesan him on wynne,|and we þis wite þolien,

hearm on þisse helle.|Wa la, ahte ic minra handa geweald

and moste ane tid|ute weorðan,

370

wesan ane winterstunde,|þonne ic mid þys werode –

Ac licgað me ymbe|irenbenda,

rideð racentan sal.|Ic eom rices leas;

habbað me swa hearde|helle clommas

fæste befangen.|Her is fyr micel,

375

ufan and neoðone.|Ic a ne geseah

laðran landscipe.|Lig ne aswamað,

hat ofer helle.|Me habbað hringa gespong,

sliðhearda sal|siðes amyrred,

afyrred me min feðe;|fet synt gebundene,

380

handa gehæfte.|Synt þissa heldora

wegas forworhte,|swa ic mid wihte ne mæg

of þissum lioðobendum.|Licgað me ymbe

heardes irenes|hate geslægene

grindlas greate.|Mid þy me god hafað

385

gehæfted be þam healse,|swa ic wat he minne hige cuðe;

and þæt wiste eac|weroda drihten,

þæt sceolde unc Adame|yfele gewurðan

ymb þæt heofonrice,|þær ic ahte minra handa geweald.

Ac ðoliaþ we nu þrea on helle,|(þæt syndon þystro and hæto),

390

grimme, grundlease.|Hafað us god sylfa

forswapen on þas sweartan mistas;|swa he us ne mæg ænige synne gestælan,

þæt we him on þam lande lað gefremedon,|he hæfð us þeah þæs leohtes bescyrede,

beworpen on ealra wita mæste.|Ne magon we þæs wrace gefremman,

geleanian him mid laðes wihte|þæt he us hafað þæs leohtes bescyrede.

395

He hæfð nu gemearcod anne middangeard,|þær he hæfð mon geworhtne

æfter his onlicnesse.|Mid þam he wile eft gesettan

heofona rice mid hluttrum saulum.|We þæs sculon hycgan georne,

þæt we on Adame,|gif we æfre mægen,

and on his eafrum swa some,|andan gebetan,

400

onwendan him þær willan sines,|gif we hit mægen wihte aþencan.

Ne gelyfe ic me nu þæs leohtes furðor|þæs þe he him þenceð lange niotan,

þæs eades mid his engla cræfte.|Ne magon we þæt on aldre gewinnan,

þæt we mihtiges godes mod onwæcen.|Uton oðwendan hit nu monna bearnum,

þæt heofonrice, nu we hit habban ne moton,|gedon þæt hie his hyldo forlæten,

405

þæt hie þæt onwendon þæt he mid his worde bebead.|þonne weorð he him wrað on mode,

ahwet hie from his hyldo.|þonne sculon hie þas helle secan

and þas grimman grundas.|þonne moton we hie us to giongrum habban,

fira bearn on þissum fæstum clomme.|Onginnað nu ymb þa fyrde þencean!

Gif ic ænegum þægne|þeodenmadmas

410

geara forgeafe,|þenden we on þan godan rice

gesælige sæton|and hæfdon ure setla geweald,

þonne he me na on leofran tid|leanum ne meahte

mine gife gyldan,|gif his gien wolde

minra þegna hwilc|geþafa wurðan,

415

þæt he up heonon|ute mihte

cuman þurh þas clustro,|and hæfde cræft mid him

þæt he mid feðerhoman|fleogan meahte,

windan on wolcne,|þær geworht stondað

Adam and Eue|on eorðrice

420

mid welan bewunden,|and we synd aworpene hider

on þas deopan dalo.|Nu hie drihtne synt

wurðran micle,|and moton him þone welan agan

þe we on heofonrice|habban sceoldon,

rice mid rihte;|is se ræd gescyred

425

monna cynne.|þæt me is on minum mode swa sar,

on minum hyge hreoweð,|þæt hie heofonrice

agan to aldre.|Gif hit eower ænig mæge

gewendan mid wihte|þæt hie word godes

lare forlæten,|sona hie him þe laðran beoð.

430

Gif hie brecað his gebodscipe,|þonne he him abolgen wurðeþ;

siððan bið him se wela onwended|and wyrð him wite gegarwod,

sum heard hearmscearu.|Hycgað his ealle,

hu ge hi beswicen!|Siððan ic me sefte mæg

restan on þyssum racentum,|gif him þæt rice losað.

435

Se þe þæt gelæsteð,|him bið lean gearo

æfter to aldre,|þæs we her inne magon

on þyssum fyre forð|fremena gewinnan.

Sittan læte ic hine wið me sylfne,|swa hwa swa þæt secgan cymeð

on þas hatan helle,|þæt hie heofoncyninges

440

unwurðlice|wordum and dædum

lare»|

[Der Sündenfall]

Angan hine þa gyrwan|godes andsaca,

fus on frætwum,|(hæfde fæcne hyge),

hæleðhelm on heafod asette|and þone full hearde geband,

445

spenn mid spangum;|wiste him spræca fela,

wora worda.|Wand him up þanon,

hwearf him þurh þa helldora,|(hæfde hyge strangne),

leolc on lyfte|laþwendemod,

swang þæt fyr on twa|feondes cræfte;

450

wolde dearnunga|drihtnes geongran,

mid mandædum|men beswican,

forlædan and forlæran,|þæt hie wurdon lað gode.

He þa geferde|þurh feondes cræft

oððæt he Adam|on eorðrice,

455

godes handgesceaft,|gearone funde,

wislice geworht,|and his wif somed,

freo fægroste,|swa hie fela cuðon

godes gegearwigean,|þa him to gingran self

metod mancynnes|mearcode selfa.

460

And him bi twegin|beamas stodon

þa wæron utan|ofætes gehlædene,

gewered mid wæstme,|swa hie waldend god,

heah heofoncyning|handum gesette,

þæt þær yldo bearn|moste on ceosan

465

godes and yfeles,|gumena æghwilc,

welan and wawan.|Næs se wæstm gelic!

Oðer wæs swa wynlic,|wlitig and scene,

liðe and lofsum,|þæt wæs lifes beam;

moste on ecnisse|æfter lybban,

470

wesan on worulde,|se þæs wæstmes onbat,

swa him æfter þy|yldo ne derede,

ne suht sware,|ac moste symle wesan

lungre on lustum|and his lif agan,

hyldo heofoncyninges|her on worulde,

475

habban him to wæron|witode geþingþo

on þone hean heofon,|þonne he heonon wende.

þonne wæs se oðer|eallenga sweart,

dim and þystre;|þæt wæs deaðes beam,

se bær bitres fela.|Sceolde bu witan

480

ylda æghwilc|yfles and godes

gewand on þisse worulde.|Sceolde on wite a

mid swate and mid sorgum|siððan libban,

swa hwa swa gebyrgde|þæs on þam beame geweox.

Sceolde hine yldo beniman|ellendæda,

485

dreamas and drihtscipes,|and him beon deað scyred.

Lytle hwile|sceolde he his lifes niotan,

secan þonne landa|sweartost on fyre.

Sceolde feondum þeowian,|þær is ealra frecna mæste

leodum to langre hwile.|þæt wiste se laða georne,

490

dyrne deofles boda|þe wið drihten wann.

Wearp hine þa on wyrmes lic|and wand him þa ymbutan

þone deaðes beam|þurh deofles cræft,

genam þær þæs ofætes|and wende hine eft þanon

þær he wiste handgeweorc|heofoncyninges.

495

Ongon hine þa frinan|forman worde

se laða mid ligenum:|«Langað þe awuht,

Adam, up to gode?|Ic eom on his ærende hider

feorran gefered,|ne þæt nu fyrn ne wæs

þæt ic wið hine sylfne sæt.|þa het he me on þysne sið faran,

500

het þæt þu þisses ofætes æte,|cwæð þæt þin abal and cræft

and þin modsefa|mara wurde,

and þin lichoma|leohtra micle,

þin gesceapu scenran,|cwæð þæt þe æniges sceattes ðearf

ne wurde on worulde.|Nu þu willan hæfst,

505

hyldo geworhte|heofoncyninges,

to þance geþenod|þinum hearran,

hæfst þe wið drihten dyrne geworhtne.|Ic gehyrde hine þine dæd and word

lofian on his leohte|and ymb þin lif sprecan.

Swa þu læstan scealt|þæt on þis land hider

510

his bodan bringað.|Brade synd on worulde

grene geardas,|and god siteð

on þam hehstan|heofna rice,

ufan alwalda.|Nele þa earfeðu

sylfa habban|þæt he on þysne sið fare,

515

gumena drihten,|ac he his gingran sent

to þinre spræce.|Nu he þe mid spellum het

listas læran.|Læste þu georne

his ambyhto,|nim þe þis ofæt on hand,

bit his and byrige.|þe weorð on þinum breostum rum,

520

wæstm þy wlitegra.|þe sende waldend god,

þin hearra þas helpe|of heofonrice.»

Adam maðelode|þær he on eorðan stod,

selfsceafte guma:|«þonne ic sigedrihten,

mihtigne god,|mæðlan gehyrde

525

strangre stemne,|and me her stondan het,

his bebodu healdan,|and me þas bryd forgeaf,

wlitesciene wif,|and me warnian het

þæt ic on þone deaðes beam|bedroren ne wurde,

beswicen to swiðe,|he cwæð þæt þa sweartan helle

530

healdan sceolde|se ðe bi his heortan wuht

laðes gelæde.|Nat þeah þu mid ligenum fare

þurh dyrne geþanc|þe þu drihtnes eart

boda of heofnum.|Hwæt, ic þinra bysna ne mæg,

worda ne wisna|wuht oncnawan,

535

siðes ne sagona.|Ic wat hwæt he me self bebead,

nergend user,|þa ic hine nehst geseah;

he het me his word weorðian|and wel healdan,

læstan his lare.|þu gelic ne bist

ænegum his engla|þe ic ær geseah,

540

ne þu me oðiewdest|ænig tacen

þe he me þurh treowe|to onsende,

min hearra þurh hyldo.|þy ic þe hyran ne cann,

ac þu meaht þe forð faran.|Ic hæbbe me fæstne geleafan

up to þam ælmihtegan gode|þe me mid his earmum worhte,

545

her mid handum sinum.|He mæg me of his hean rice

geofian mid goda gehwilcum,|þeah he his gingran ne sende.»

Wende hine wraðmod|þær he þæt wif geseah

on eorðrice|Euan stondan,

sceone gesceapene,|cwæð þæt sceaðena mæst

550

eallum heora eaforum|æfter siððan

wurde on worulde:|«Ic wat, inc waldend god

abolgen wyrð,|swa ic him þisne bodscipe

selfa secge,|þonne ic of þys siðe cume

ofer langne weg,|þæt git ne læstan wel

555

hwilc ærende swa|he easten hider

on þysne sið sendeð.|Nu sceal he sylf faran

to incre andsware;|ne mæg his ærende

his boda beodan;|þy ic wat þæt he inc abolgen wyrð,

mihtig on mode.|Gif þu þeah minum wilt,

560

wif willende,|wordum hyran,

þu meaht his þonne rume|ræd geþencan.

Gehyge on þinum breostum|þæt þu inc bam twam meaht

wite bewarigan,|swa ic þe wisie.

æt þisses ofetes!|þonne wurðað þin eagan swa leoht

565

þæt þu meaht swa wide|ofer woruld ealle

geseon siððan,|and selfes stol

herran þines,|and habban his hyldo forð.

Meaht þu Adame|eft gestyran,

gif þu his willan hæfst|and he þinum wordum getrywð.

570

Gif þu him to soðe sægst|hwylce þu selfa hæfst

bisne on breostum,|þæs þu gebod godes

lare læstes,|he þone laðan strið,

yfel andwyrde|an forlæteð

on breostcofan,|swa wit him bu tu

575

an sped sprecað.|Span þu hine georne

þæt he þine lare læste,|þy læs gyt lað gode,

incrum waldende,|weorðan þyrfen.

Gif þu þæt angin fremest,|idesa seo betste,

forhele ic incrum herran|þæt me hearmes swa fela

580

Adam gespræc,|eargra worda.

Tyhð me untryowða,|cwyð þæt ic seo teonum georn,

gramum ambyhtsecg,|nales godes engel.

Ac ic cann ealle swa geare|engla gebyrdo,

heah heofona gehlidu;|wæs seo hwil þæs lang

585

þæt ic geornlice|gode þegnode

þurh holdne hyge,|herran minum,

drihtne selfum;|ne eom ic deofle gelic.»

Lædde hie swa mid ligenum|and mid listum speon

idese on þæt unriht,|oðþæt hire on innan ongan

590

weallan wyrmes geþeaht,|(hæfde hire wacran hige

metod gemearcod),|þæt heo hire mod ongan

lætan æfter þam larum;|forþon heo æt þam laðan onfeng

ofer drihtnes word|deaðes beames

weorcsumne wæstm.|Ne wearð wyrse dæd

595

monnum gemearcod!|þæt is micel wundor

þæt hit ece god|æfre wolde

þeoden þolian,|þæt wurde þegn swa monig

forlædd be þam lygenum|þe for þam larum com.

Heo þa þæs ofætes æt,|alwaldan bræc

600

word and willan.|þa meahte heo wide geseon

þurh þæs laðan læn|þe hie mid ligenum beswac,

dearnenga bedrog,|þe hire for his dædum com,

þæt hire þuhte hwitre|heofon and eorðe,

and eall þeos woruld wlitigre,|and geweorc godes

605

micel and mihtig,|þeah heo hit þurh monnes geþeaht

ne sceawode;|ac se sceaða georne

swicode ymb þa sawle|þe hire ær þa siene onlah,

þæt heo swa wide|wlitan meahte

ofer heofonrice.|þa se forhatena spræc

610

þurh feondscipe|(nalles he hie freme lærde):

«þu meaht nu þe self geseon,|swa ic hit þe secgan ne þearf,

Eue seo gode,|þæt þe is ungelic

wlite and wæstmas,|siððan þu minum wordum getruwodest,

læstes mine lare.|Nu scineð þe leoht fore

615

glædlic ongean|þæt ic from gode brohte

hwit of heofonum;|nu þu his hrinan meaht.

Sæge Adame|hwilce þu gesihðe hæfst

þurh minne cime cræfta.|Gif giet þurh cuscne siodo

læst mina lara,|þonne gife ic him þæs leohtes genog

620

þæs ic þe swa godes|gegired hæbbe.

Ne wite ic him þa womcwidas,|þeah he his wyrðe ne sie

to alætanne;|þæs fela he me laðes spræc.»

Swa hire eaforan sculon|æfter lybban:

þonne hie lað gedoð,|hie sculon lufe wyrcean,

625

betan heora hearran hearmcwyde|ond habban his hyldo forð.

þa gieng to Adame|idesa scenost,

wifa wlitegost|þe on woruld come,

forþon heo wæs handgeweorc|heofoncyninges,

þeah heo þa dearnenga|fordon wurde,

630

forlæd mid ligenum,|þæt hie lað gode

þurh þæs wraðan geþanc|weorðan sceolden,

þurh þæs deofles searo|dom forlætan,

hierran hyldo,|hefonrices þolian

monige hwile.|Bið þam men full wa

635

þe hine ne warnað|þonne he his geweald hafað!

Sum heo hire on handum bær,|sum hire æt heortan læg,

æppel unsælga,|þone hire ær forbead

drihtna drihten,|deaðbeames ofet,

and þæt word acwæð|wuldres aldor,

640

þæt þæt micle morð|menn ne þorfton

þegnas þolian,|ac he þeoda gehwam

hefonrice forgeaf,|halig drihten,

widbradne welan,|gif hie þone wæstm an

lætan wolden|þe þæt laðe treow

645

on his bogum bær,|bitre gefylled;

þæt wæs deaðes beam|þe him drihten forbead.

Forlec hie þa mid ligenum|se wæs lað gode,

on hete heofoncyninges,|and hyge Euan,

wifes wac geþoht,|þæt heo ongan his wordum truwian,

650

læstan his lare,|and geleafan nom

þæt he þa bysene from gode|brungen hæfde

þe he hire swa wærlice|wordum sægde,

iewde hire tacen|and treowa gehet,

his holdne hyge.|þa heo to hire hearran spræc:

655

«Adam, frea min,|þis ofet is swa swete,

bliðe on breostum,|and þes boda sciene,

godes engel god,|ic on his gearwan geseo

þæt he is ærendsecg|uncres hearran,

hefoncyninges.|His hyldo is unc betere

660

to gewinnanne|þonne his wiðermedo.

Gif þu him heodæg wuht|hearmes gespræce,

he forgifð hit þeah,|gif wit him geongordom

læstan willað.|Hwæt scal þe swa laðlic strið

wið þines hearran bodan?|Unc is his hyldo þearf;

665

he mæg unc ærendian|to þam alwaldan,

heofoncyninge.|Ic mæg heonon geseon

hwær he sylf siteð,|(þæt is suð and east),

welan bewunden,|se ðas woruld gesceop;

geseo ic him his englas|ymbe hweorfan

670

mid feðerhaman,|ealra folca mæst,

wereda wynsumast.|Hwa meahte me swelc gewit gifan,

gif hit gegnunga|god ne onsende,

heofones waldend?|Gehyran mæg ic rume

and swa wide geseon|on woruld ealle

675

ofer þas sidan gesceaft,|ic mæg swegles gamen

gehyran on heofnum.|Wearð me on hige leohte

utan and innan,|siðþan ic þæs ofætes onbat.

Nu hæbbe ic his her on handa,|herra se goda;

gife ic hit þe georne.|Ic gelyfe þæt hit from gode come,

680

broht from his bysene,|þæs me þes boda sægde

wærum wordum.|Hit nis wuhte gelic

elles on eorðan,|buton swa þes ar sægeð,

þæt hit gegnunga|from gode come.»

Hio spræc him þicce to|and speon hine ealne dæg

685

on þa dimman dæd|þæt hie drihtnes heora

willan bræcon.|Stod se wraða boda,

legde him lustas on|and mid listum speon,

fylgde him frecne;|wæs se feond full neah

þe on þa frecnan fyrd|gefaren hæfde

690

ofer langne weg;|leode hogode

on þæt micle morð|men forweorpan,

forlæran and forlædan,|þæt hie læn godes,

ælmihtiges gife|an forleten,

heofenrices geweald.|Hwæt, se hellsceaða

695

gearwe wiste|þæt hie godes yrre

habban sceoldon|and hellgeþwing,

þone nearwan nið|niede onfon,

siððan hie gebod godes|forbrocen hæfdon,

þa he forlærde|mid ligenwordum

700

to þam unræde|idese sciene,

wifa wlitegost,|þæt heo on his willan spræc,

wæs him on helpe|handweorc godes

to forlæranne.|

Heo spræc ða to Adame|idesa sceonost

705

ful þiclice,|oð þam þegne ongan

his hige hweorfan,|þæt he þam gehate getruwode

þe him þæt wif|wordum sægde.

Heo dyde hit þeah þurh holdne hyge,|nyste þæt þær hearma swa fela,

fyrenearfeða,|fylgean sceolde

710

monna cynne,|þæs heo on mod genam

þæt heo þæs laðan bodan|larum hyrde,

ac wende þæt heo hyldo|heofoncyninges

worhte mid þam wordum|þe heo þam were swelce

tacen oðiewde|and treowe gehet,

715

oðþæt Adame|innan breostum

his hyge hwyrfde|and his heorte ongann

wendan to hire willan.|He æt þam wife onfeng

helle and hinnsið,|þeah hit nære haten swa,

ac hit ofetes noman|agan sceolde;

720

hit wæs þeah deaðes swefn|and deofles gespon,

hell and hinnsið|and hæleða forlor,

menniscra morð,|þæt hie to mete dædon,

ofet unfæle.|Swa hit him on innan com,

hran æt heortan,|hloh þa and plegode

725

boda bitre gehugod,|sægde begra þanc

hearran sinum:|«Nu hæbbe ic þine hyldo me

witode geworhte,|and þinne willan gelæst

to ful monegum dæge.|Men synt forlædde,

Adam and Eue.|Him is unhyldo

730

waldendes witod,|nu hie wordcwyde his,

lare forleton.|Forþon hie leng ne magon

healdan heofonrice,|ac hie to helle sculon

on þone sweartan sið.|Swa þu his sorge ne þearft

beran on þinum breostum,|þær þu gebunden ligst,

735

murnan on mode,|þæt her men bun

þone hean heofon,|þeah wit hearmas nu,

þreaweorc þoliað,|and þystre land,

and þurh þin micle mod|monig forleton

on heofonrice|heahgetimbro,

740

godlice geardas.|Unc wearð god yrre

forþon wit him noldon|on heofonrice

hnigan mid heafdum|halgum drihtne

þurh geongordom;|ac unc gegenge ne wæs

þæt wit him on þegnscipe|þeowian wolden.

745

Forþon unc waldend wearð|wrað on mode,

on hyge hearde,|and us on helle bedraf,

on þæt fyr fylde|folca mæste,

and mid handum his|eft on heofonrice

rihte rodorstolas|and þæt rice forgeaf

750

monna cynne.|Mæg þin mod wesan

bliðe on breostum,|forþon her synt bu tu gedon:

ge þæt hæleða bearn|heofonrice sculon

leode forlætan|and on þæt lig to þe

hate hweorfan,|eac is hearm gode,

755

modsorg gemacod.|Swa hwæt swa wit her morðres þoliað,

hit is nu Adame|eall forgolden

mid hearran hete|and mid hæleða forlore,

monnum mid morðes cwealme.|Forþon is min mod gehæled,

hyge ymb heortan gerume,|ealle synt uncre hearmas gewrecene

760

laðes þæt wit lange þoledon.|Nu wille ic eft þam lige near,

Satan ic þær secan wille;|he is on þære sweartan helle

hæft mid hringa gesponne.»|Hwearf him eft niðer

boda bitresta;|sceolde he þa bradan ligas

secan helle gehliðo,|þær his hearra læg

765

simon gesæled.|Sorgedon ba twa,

Adam and Eue,|and him oft betuh

gnornword gengdon;|godes him ondredon,

heora herran hete,|heofoncyninges nið

swiðe onsæton;|selfe forstodon

770

his word onwended.|þæt wif gnornode,

hof hreowigmod,|(hæfde hyldo godes,

lare forlæten),|þa heo þæt leoht geseah

ellor scriðan|þæt hire þurh untreowa

tacen iewde|se him þone teonan geræd,

775

þæt hie helle nið|habban sceoldon,

hynða unrim;|forþam him higesorga

burnon on breostum.|Hwilum to gebede feollon

sinhiwan somed,|and sigedrihten

godne gretton|and god nemdon,

780

heofones waldend,|and hine bædon

þæt hie his hearmsceare|habban mosten,

georne fulgangan,|þa hie godes hæfdon

bodscipe abrocen.|Bare hie gesawon

heora lichaman;|næfdon on þam lande þa giet

785

sælða gesetena,|ne hie sorge wiht

weorces wiston,|ac hie wel meahton

libban on þam lande,|gif hie wolden lare godes

forweard fremman.|þa hie fela spræcon

sorhworda somed,|sinhiwan twa.

790

Adam gemælde|and to Euan spræc: 

«Hwæt, þu Eue, hæfst|yfele gemearcod

uncer sylfra sið.|Gesyhst þu nu þa sweartan helle

grædige and gifre.|Nu þu hie grimman meaht

heonane gehyran.|Nis heofonrice

795

gelic þam lige,|ac þis is landa betst,

þæt wit þurh uncres hearran þanc|habban moston,

þær þu þam ne hierde|þe unc þisne hearm geræd,

þæt wit waldendes|word forbræcon,

heofoncyninges.|Nu wit hreowige magon

800

sorgian for þis siðe.|Forþon he unc self bebead

þæt wit unc wite|warian sceolden,

hearma mæstne.|Nu slit me hunger and þurst

bitre on breostum,|þæs wit begra ær

wæron orsorge|on ealle tid.

805

Hu sculon wit nu libban|oððe on þys lande wesan,

gif her wind cymð,|westan oððe eastan,

suðan oððe norðan?|Gesweorc up færeð,

cymeð hægles scur|hefone getenge,

færeð forst on gemang,|se byð fyrnum ceald.

810

Hwilum of heofnum|hate scineð,

blicð þeos beorhte sunne,|and wit her baru standað,

unwered wædo.|Nys unc wuht beforan

to scursceade,|ne sceattes wiht

to mete gemearcod,|ac unc is mihtig god,

815

waldend wraðmod.|To hwon sculon wit weorðan nu?

Nu me mæg hreowan|þæt ic bæd heofnes god,

waldend þone godan,|þæt he þe her worhte to me

of liðum minum,|nu þu me forlæred hæfst

on mines herran hete.|Swa me nu hreowan mæg

820

æfre to aldre|þæt ic þe minum eagum geseah.»

þa spræc Eue eft,|idesa scienost,

wifa wlitegost;|hie wæs geweorc godes,

þeah heo þa on deofles cræft|bedroren wurde:

«þu meaht hit me witan,|wine min Adam,

825

wordum þinum;|hit þe þeah wyrs ne mæg

on þinum hyge hreowan|þonne hit me æt heortan deð.»

Hire þa Adam|andswarode:

«Gif ic waldendes|willan cuðe,

hwæt ic his to hearmsceare|habban sceolde,

830

ne gesawe þu no sniomor,|þeah me on sæ wadan

hete heofones god|heonone nu þa,

on flod faran,|nære he firnum þæs deop,

merestream þæs micel,|þæt his o min mod getweode,

ac ic to þam grunde genge,|gif ic godes meahte

835

willan gewyrcean.|Nis me on worulde niod

æniges þegnscipes,|nu ic mines þeodnes hafa

hyldo forworhte,|þæt ic hie habban ne mæg.

Ac wit þus baru ne magon|bu tu ætsomne

wesan to wuhte.|Uton gan on þysne weald innan,

840

on þisses holtes hleo.»|Hwurfon hie ba twa,

togengdon gnorngende|on þone grenan weald,

sæton onsundran,|bidan selfes gesceapu

heofoncyninges,|þa hie þa habban ne moston

þe him ær forgeaf|ælmihtig god.

845

þa hie heora lichoman|leafum beþeahton,

weredon mid ðy wealde,|wæda ne hæfdon;

ac hie on gebed feollon|bu tu ætsomne

morgena gehwilce,|bædon mihtigne

þæt hie ne forgeate|god ælmihtig,

850

and him gewisade|waldend se goda,

hu hie on þam leohte forð|libban sceolden.