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The Dream of the Rood (The Vercelli Book) wide wounds of hate. I durst not harm any of them.

attributed to Cynewulf They mocked us both together; I was all wet with blood
transl. Margaret Williams poured from the Man's side when He sent forth His soul.
There on the hill I underwent
I many bitter things. I saw the God of Hosts
Lo, I will tell the best of dreams sorely stretched out. Darkness there
That came to me dreaming in the midst of the night had wrapped in clouds the Ruler's Body,
When living men had sought their rest. its fair radiance. A shadow went forth,
It seemed that I saw the noblest of trees wan under clouds. All creation wept,
Aloft lifted, wound with light, bewailed the King's death, Christ on the rood.
Brightest of wood; all that beacon But there came from afar eager nobles
Was flooded with gold, and gems stood to Him all alone; I beheld all that.
Fair on the earth beneath; there were five more Sore was I troubled with sorrows, but I bent down to the hands of men
Up on the crossbeams. The Lord’s angels all gazed upon it humbly, with hearty will. There they took Almighty God,
Fair throughout creation – that was no felon’s gallows – lifted Him down from the heavy pain. They left me standing
But there beheld it holy spirits, wet with blood; I was all wounded with shafts.
Men upon earth, and all this noble creation. They laid Him down, limb-weary, they stood at His Body's head;
Wondrous was the victory-tree, and I stained with sins, they gazed on Him, Heaven's Lord, and He rested there awhile,
Wounded with wrong. I saw the tree of glory tired from the great strife. They began to make His grave
Clad with honour, shining joyful, in the sight of His foes. They carved it from the bright stone,
Girded with gold; and noble gems they laid in it the Lord of Hosts. They began to sing a sorrow song
Had worthily clasped their Maker’s tree. alone in the evening tide. Then they went away,
Yet through that gold I could see afar weary from the great crowd. With a few He rested there.
The struggle of poor ones, when it first began
To sweat on the right side. I was all troubled with sorrows, III
Fearful was I for the fair sight; I saw that eager beacon We were there grieving a good while;
Change its raiment and colour; now it was bedewed, wet, we stood in our place. A cry went up
Stained with blood poured out; now wound with treasure. from the heroes there. The body grew cold,
Yet I, lying there a long while, the fair soul-house. Then someone began
Gazed heart-repentant on the Healer’s tree, to fell us to the earth; terrible was that fate!
Until I heard that it spoke aloud; They dug for us a deep hole; yet there the Lord's thanes,
It uttered words, that best of wood: His friends, found me
and set me then in gold and silver.
II Now mayest thou hear, my beloved hero,
"It was long ago, I yet remember, how I have borne the bale of evils,
that I was torn down at the wood's end of sore sorrows. Now is the time come
torn from my place. They took me there, strong foes, that men over earth, and all this noble creation,
they set me up as a gazing-stock bade me lift on high their felons. shall give me honour far and wide.
Men bore me on their shoulders, till on a hill they set me, They pray by this bright sign; and on me God's Son
many foes fastened me there. Then I saw mankind's Lord suffered once; for that I am shining now,
swiftly come with courage, for He willed to mount on me. lifted high under heaven; and I can heal
Then dared I not, against the Lord's word, any of those who bear me reverence.
bend or break, when I saw Once was I the greatest of torments,
the earth trembling. I might there most hateful to men, until I made wide
have felled all my foes, but I stood fast. the way of life to speech-bearers.
then He stripped Himself, the young Hero, that was God Almighty, Lo, He has honoured me, the Prince of glory,
strong and firm-hearted. He mounted the mean gibbet; over all the trees of the wood, He, the Keeper of Heaven,
noble-hearted in the sight of many: He would set free mankind. even as the Almighty God, for mankind's sake
I shook when the Prince clasped me, but I durst not bow to the earth, honoured his Mother, Mary herself,
fall to the ground, but must needs stand fast. the most worthy of all women.
A Rood I was raised aloft, I lifted the mighty King, Now I bid thee, my beloved one,
Lord of Heaven, I durst not bend. tell of this sight to other men;
They drove me through with dark nails, on me the marks are plain, unveil in words that this wood is glorious
since God Almighty suffered on it
for the many sins of all mankind, I honour it well. My will is bent to it,
and for Adam's deed done long ago. strong in my heart, and my hope of safety
There He tasted death yet the Lord arose goes straight to the cross. I have now but few
with great might so to help men. friends on earth, but they are gone hence
Then He mounted to Heaven; thither He shall come from the world's joys, seeking the King of glory.
into this middle-earth to seek mankind They live now in Heaven with the High Father;
on Doomsday, the Lord Himself, they dwell in light, and I lingering
Almighty God, and His angels with Him. long for that day when the Lord's rood
Then He will give, He who wields doom forever, which here on earth I once gazed upon
judgment to each one, as he earned it before will come to fetch me from this fleeting life,
in the swift-passing days of life. and bring me there where is great bliss,
Nor will anyone be unafraid joy of heaven, where the Lord's folk
of the dread words that the Wielder will say. sit feasting in bliss unending,
Then shall He ask before those many men and set me there where I may forever
which of them, for the Lord's name willed to taste dwell in glory, safe with the holy ones,
of bitter death as He did on the Cross-beam. and taste their blessedness. May the Lord be my friend
But they shall then fear, and think a little who once suffered here on earth
what they could say to Christ in answer. on the gallows tree for men's sins.
Nor need anyone be then afraid He set us free and gave us life,
who bears in his breast the best of beacons, a heavenly home. Hope was made anew
but through the rood each shall seek a kingdom, with blossoms and with bliss where He bore burning pain.
every soul come from earth-ways The Son was victory-fast in His far-going,
who with the Wielder wills to dwell." mighty and enriched when He came with many,
a spirit-army, into God's kingdom,
IV the Almighty Lone-Wielder was bliss to angels
I prayed then to the beam, blithe in mood, and all holy ones who ere in heaven
with hearty will, when I was alone dwelt in glory when their Ruler came,
and few near me. Then was my heart's thought Amighty God, where His homeland was.
urged on its far way, oft it had borne
times of weary longing. I have hope of life now, End (Amen!)
that I shall go seek the victory tree;
more often now than all other men

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