CC 20220801
tweode gifena in �ys ginnan grunde. Heo �ar �a gearwe funde mundbyrd �t �am m�ran �eodne, �a heo ahte m�ste �earfe, hyldo ��s hehstan deman, ��t he hie wi� ��s hehstan brogan 5\ngefri�ode, frym�a waldend. Hyre ��s f�der on roderum torhtmod ti�e gefremede, �e heo ahte trumne geleafan a to �am �lmihtigan. Gefr�gen ic �a Holofernus winhatan wyrcean georne ond eallum wundrum �rymlic girwan up sw�sendo. To �am het se gumena baldor 10\nealle �a yldestan �egnas; hie ��t ofstum miclum r�fndon, rondwiggende, comon to �am rican �eodne feran, folces r�swan. ��t w�s �y feor�an dogore ��s �e Iudith hyne, gleaw on ge�once, ides �lfscinu, �rest gesohte. 15\nHie �a to �am symle sittan eodon, wlance to wingedrince, ealle his weagesi�as, bealde byrnwiggende. ��r w�ron bollan steape boren �fter bencum gelome, swylce eac bunan ond orcas fulle fletsittendum; hie ��t f�ge �egon, 20\nrofe rondwiggende, �eah ��s se rica ne wende, egesful eorla dryhten. �a wear� Holofernus, goldwine gumena, on gytesalum, hloh ond hlydde, hlynede ond dynede, ��t mihten fira bearn feorran gehyran 25\nhu se sti�moda styrmde ond gylede, modig ond medugal, manode geneahhe bencsittende ��t hi geb�rdon wel. Swa se inwidda ofer ealne d�g dryhtguman sine drencte mid wine, 30\nswi�mod sinces brytta, o���t hie on swiman lagon, oferdrencte his dugu�e ealle, swylce hie w�ron dea�e geslegene, agotene goda gehwylces. Swa het se gumena aldor fylgan fletsittendum, o���t fira bearnum neal�hte niht seo �ystre. Het �a ni�a geblonden 35\n�a eadigan m�g� ofstum fetigan to his bedreste beagum gehl�ste, hringum gehrodene. Hie hra�e fremedon, anbyhtscealcas, swa him heora ealdor bebead, byrnwigena brego, bearhtme stopon 40\nto �am gysterne, ��r hie Iudith�e fundon ferh�gleawe, ond �a fromlice lindwiggende l�dan ongunnon �a torhtan m�g� to tr�fe �am hean, ��r se rica hyne reste on symbel 45\nnihtes inne, nergende la�, Holofernus. ��r w�s eallgylden fleohnet f�ger ymbe ��s folctogan bed ahongen, ��t se bealofulla mihte wlitan �urh, wigena baldor, 50\non �ghwylcne �e ��r inne com h�le�a bearna, ond on hyne n�nig monna cynnes, nym�e se modiga hw�ne ni�e rofra him �e near hete rinca to rune gegangan. Hie �a on reste gebrohton 55\nsnude �a snoteran idese; eodon �a stercedferh�e, h�le� heora hearran cy�an ��t w�s seo halige meowle gebroht on his burgetelde. �a wear� se brema on mode bli�e, burga ealdor, �ohte �a beorhtan idese mid widle ond mid womme besmitan. Ne wolde ��t wuldres dema 60\nge�afian, �rymmes hyrde, ac he him ��s �inges gestyrde, dryhten, duge�a waldend. Gewat �a se deofulcunda, galferh� gumena �reate bealofull his beddes neosan, ��r he sceolde his bl�d forleosan �dre binnan anre nihte; h�fde �a his ende gebidenne 65\non eor�an unsw�slicne, swylcne he �r �fter worhte, �earlmod �eoden gumena, �enden he on �ysse worulde wunode under wolcna hrofe. Gefeol �a wine swa druncen se rica on his reste middan, swa he nyste r�da nanne on gewitlocan. Wiggend stopon 70\nut of �am inne ofstum miclum, weras winsade, �e �one w�rlogan, la�ne leodhatan, l�ddon to bedde nehstan si�e. �a w�s nergendes �eowen �rymful, �earle gemyndig 75\nhu heo �one atolan ea�ost mihte ealdre ben�man �r se unsyfra, womfull, onwoce. Genam �a wundenlocc scyppendes m�g� scearpne mece, scurum heardne, ond of scea�e abr�d 80\nswi�ran folme; ongan �a swegles weard be naman nemnan, nergend ealra woruldbuendra, ond ��t word acw��: "Ic �e, frym�a god ond frofre g�st, bearn alwaldan, biddan wylle 85\nmiltse �inre me �earfendre, �rynesse �rym. �earle ys me nu �a heorte onh�ted ond hige geomor, swy�e mid sorgum gedrefed. Forgif me, swegles ealdor, sigor ond so�ne geleafan, ��t ic mid �ys sweorde mote 90\ngeheawan �ysne mor�res bryttan; geunne me minra gesynta, �earlmod �eoden gumena. Nahte ic �inre n�fre miltse �on maran �earfe. Gewrec nu, mihtig dryhten, torhtmod tires brytta, ��t me ys �us torne on mode, hate on hre�re minum." Hi �a se hehsta dema 95\n�dre mid elne onbryrde, swa he de� anra gehwylcne herbuendra �e hyne him to helpe sece� mid r�de ond mid rihte geleafan. �a wear� hyre rume on mode, haligre hyht geniwod; genam �a �one h��enan mannan f�ste be feaxe sinum, teah hyne folmum wi� hyre weard 100\nbysmerlice, ond �one bealofullan listum alede, la�ne mannan, swa heo ��s unl�dan ea�ost mihte wel gewealdan. Sloh �a wundenlocc �one feondscea�an fagum mece, 105\nhete�oncolne, ��t heo healfne forcearf �one sweoran him, ��t he on swiman l�g, druncen ond dolhwund. N�s �a dead �a gyt, ealles orsawle; sloh �a eornoste ides ellenrof o�re si�e 110\n�one h��enan hund, ��t him ��t heafod wand for� on �a flore. L�g se fula leap gesne be�ftan, g�st ellor hwearf under neowelne n�s ond ��r geny�erad w�s, susle ges�led sy��an �fre, 115\nwyrmum bewunden, witum gebunden, hearde geh�fted in hellebryne �fter hinsi�e. Ne �earf he hopian no, �ystrum for�ylmed, ��t he �onan mote of �am wyrmsele, ac ��r wunian sceal 120\nawa to aldre butan ende for� in �am heolstran ham, hyhtwynna leas. H�fde �a gefohten forem�rne bl�d Iudith �t gu�e, swa hyre god u�e, swegles ealdor, �e hyre sigores onleah. 125\n�a seo snotere m�g� snude gebrohte ��s herew��an heafod swa blodig on �am f�telse �e hyre foregenga, blachleor ides, hyra begea nest, �eawum ge�ungen, �yder on l�dde, 130\nond hit �a swa heolfrig hyre on hond ageaf, hige�oncolre, ham to berenne, Iudith gingran sinre. Eodon �a gegnum �anonne �a idesa ba ellen�riste, o���t hie becomon, collenferh�e, 135\neadhre�ige m�g�, ut of �am herige, ��t hie sweotollice geseon mihten ��re wlitegan byrig weallas blican, Bethuliam. Hie �a beahhrodene fe�elaste for� onettan, 140\no� hie gl�dmode gegan h�fdon to �am wealgate. Wiggend s�ton, weras w�ccende wearde heoldon in �am f�stenne, swa �am folce �r geomormodum Iudith bebead, 145\nsearo�oncol m�g�, �a heo on si� gewat, ides ellenrof. W�s �a eft cumen leof to leodum, ond �a lungre het gleawhydig wif gumena sumne of ��re ginnan byrig hyre togeanes gan, 150\nond hi ofostlice in forl�ton �urh ��s wealles geat, ond ��t word acw�� to �am sigefolce: "Ic eow secgan m�g �oncwyr�e �ing, ��t ge ne �yrfen leng murnan on mode. Eow ys metod bli�e, 155\ncyninga wuldor; ��t gecy�ed wear� geond woruld wide, ��t eow ys wuldorbl�d torhtlic toweard ond tir gife�e �ara l���a �e ge lange drugon." �a wurdon bli�e burhsittende, 160\nsy��an hi gehyrdon hu seo halige spr�c ofer heanne weall. Here w�s on lustum. Wi� ��s f�stengeates folc onette, weras wif somod, wornum ond heapum, �reatum ond �rymmum �rungon ond urnon 165\nongean �a �eodnes m�g� �usendm�lum, ealde ge geonge. �ghwylcum wear� men on ��re medobyrig mod areted, sy��an hie ongeaton ��t w�s Iudith cumen eft to e�le, ond �a ofostlice 170\nhie mid ea�medum in forleton. �a seo gleawe het, golde gefr�tewod, hyre �inenne �ancolmode ��s herew��an heafod onwri�an ond hyt to beh�e blodig �tywan 175\n�am burhleodum, hu hyre �t beaduwe gespeow. Spr�c �a seo ��ele to eallum �am folce: "Her ge magon sweotole, sigerofe h�le�, leoda r�swan, on ��s la�estan h��enes hea�orinces heafod starian, 180\nHolofernus unlyfigendes, �e us monna m�st mor�ra gefremede, sarra sorga, ond ��t swy�or gyt ycan wolde, ac him ne u�e god lengran lifes, ��t he mid l���um us 185\neglan moste; ic him ealdor o��rong �urh godes fultum. Nu ic gumena gehw�ne �yssa burgleoda biddan wylle, randwiggendra, ��t ge recene eow fysan to gefeohte. Sy��an frym�a god, 190\narf�st cyning, eastan sende leohtne leoman, bera� linde for�, bord for breostum ond byrnhomas, scire helmas in scea�ena gemong, fyllan folctogan fagum sweordum, 195\nf�ge frumgaras. Fynd syndon eowere gedemed to dea�e, ond ge dom agon, tir �t tohtan, swa eow getacnod hafa� mihtig dryhten �urh mine hand." �a wear� snelra werod snude gegearewod, 200\ncenra to campe. Stopon cynerofe secgas ond gesi�as, b�ron sige�ufas, foron to gefeohte for� on gerihte, h�le� under helmum, of ��re haligan byrig on ��t d�gred sylf. Dynedan scildas, 205\nhlude hlummon. ��s se hlanca gefeah wulf in walde, ond se wanna hrefn, w�lgifre fugel. Wistan begen ��t him �a �eodguman �ohton tilian fylle on f�gum; ac him fleah on last 210\nearn �tes georn, urigfe�era, salowigpada sang hildeleo�, hyrnednebba. Stopon hea�orincas, beornas to beadowe, bordum be�eahte, hwealfum lindum, �a �e hwile �r 215\nel�eodigra edwit �oledon, h��enra hosp. Him ��t hearde wear� �t �am �scplegan eallum forgolden, Assyrium, sy��an Ebreas under gu�fanum gegan h�fdon 220\nto �am fyrdwicum. Hie �a fromlice leton for� fleogan flana scuras, hilden�dran, of hornbogan, str�las stedehearde; styrmdon hlude grame gu�frecan, garas sendon 225\nin heardra gemang. H�le� w�ron yrre, landbuende, la�um cynne, stopon styrnmode, stercedferh�e, wrehton unsofte ealdgeni�lan medowerige; mundum brugdon 230\nscealcas of scea�um scirm�led swyrd, ecgum gecoste, slogon eornoste Assiria oretm�cgas, ni�hycgende, nanne ne sparedon ��s herefolces, heanne ne ricne, 235\ncwicera manna �e hie ofercuman mihton. Swa �a mago�egnas on �a morgentid ehton el�eoda ealle �rage, o���t ongeaton �a �e grame w�ron, ��s herefolces heafodweardas, 240\n��t him swyrdgeswing swi�lic eowdon weras Ebrisce. Hie wordum ��t �am yldestan ealdor�egnum cy�an eodon, wrehton cumbolwigan ond him forhtlice f�rspel bodedon, 245\nmedowerigum morgencollan, atolne ecgplegan. �a ic �dre gefr�gn slegef�ge h�le� sl�pe tobredon ond wi� ��s bealofullan burgeteldes werigferh�e hwearfum �ringan, 250\nHolofernus. Hogedon aninga hyra hlaforde hilde bodian, �r�on �e him se egesa on ufan s�te, m�gen Ebrea. Mynton ealle ��t se beorna brego ond seo beorhte m�g� 255\nin �am wlitegan tr�fe w�ron �tsomne, Iudith seo ��ele ond se galmoda, egesfull ond afor. N�s �eah eorla nan �e �one wiggend aweccan dorste o��e gecunnian hu �one cumbolwigan 260\nwi� �a halgan m�g� h�fde geworden, metodes meowlan. M�gen neal�hte, folc Ebrea, fuhton �earle heardum heoruw�pnum, h�fte guldon hyra fyrngeflitu, fagum swyrdum, 265\nealde �f�oncan; Assyria wear� on �am d�geweorce dom geswi�rod, b�lc forbiged. Beornas stodon ymbe hyra �eodnes tr�f �earle gebylde, sweorcendferh�e. Hi �a somod ealle 270\nongunnon cohhetan, cirman hlude ond gristbitian, gode orfeorme, mid to�on torn �oligende. �a w�s hyra tires �t ende, eades ond ellend�da. Hogedon �a eorlas aweccan hyra winedryhten; him wiht ne speow. 275\n�a wear� si� ond late sum to �am arod �ara beadorinca, ��t he in ��t burgeteld ni�heard ne�de, swa hyne nyd fordraf. Funde �a on bedde blacne licgan his goldgifan g�stes gesne, 280\nlifes belidenne. He �a lungre gefeoll freorig to foldan, ongan his feax teran, hreoh on mode, ond his hr�gl somod, ond ��t word acw�� to �am wiggendum �e ��r unrote ute w�ron: 285\n"Her ys geswutelod ure sylfra forwyrd, toweard getacnod ��t ��re tide ys mid ni�um neah ge�rungen, �e we sculon nyde losian, somod �t s�cce forweor�an. Her li� sweorde geheawen, beheafdod healdend ure." Hi �a hreowigmode 290\nwurpon hyra w�pen of dune, gewitan him werigferh�e on fleam sceacan. Him mon feaht on last, m�geneacen folc, o� se m�sta d�l ��s heriges l�g hilde ges�ged on �am sigewonge, sweordum geheawen, 295\nwulfum to willan ond eac w�lgifrum fuglum to frofre. Flugon �a �e lyfdon, la�ra lindwerod. Him on laste for sweot Ebrea sigore geweor�od, dome gedyrsod; him feng dryhten god 300\nf�gre on fultum, frea �lmihtig. Hi �a fromlice fagum swyrdum, h�le� higerofe, herpa� worhton �urh la�ra gemong, linde heowon, scildburh sc�ron. Sceotend w�ron 305\ngu�e gegremede, guman Ebrisce; �egnas on �a tid �earle gelyste gargewinnes. ��r on greot gefeoll se hyhsta d�l heafodgerimes Assiria ealdordugu�e, 310\nla�an cynnes. Lythwon becom cwicera to cy��e. Cirdon cynerofe, wiggend on wi�ertrod, w�lscel on innan, reocende hr�w. Rum w�s to nimanne londbuendum on �am la�estan, 315\nhyra ealdfeondum unlyfigendum heolfrig herereaf, hyrsta scyne, bord ond bradswyrd, brune helmas, dyre madmas. H�fdon domlice on �am folcstede fynd oferwunnen 320\ne�elweardas, ealdhettende swyrdum aswefede. Hie on swa�e reston, �a �e him to life la�ost w�ron cwicera cynna. �a seo cneoris eall, m�g�a m�rost, anes mon�es fyrst, 325\nwlanc, wundenlocc, wagon ond l�ddon to ��re beorhtan byrig, Bethuliam, helmas ond hupseax, hare byrnan, gu�sceorp gumena golde gefr�tewod, m�rra madma �onne mon �nig 330\nasecgan m�ge searo�oncelra; eal ��t �a �eodguman �rymme geeodon, cene under cumblum on compwige �urh Iudithe gleawe lare, m�g� modigre. Hi to mede hyre 335\nof �am si�fate sylfre brohton, eorlas �scrofe, Holofernes sweord ond swatigne helm, swylce eac side byrnan gerenode readum golde, ond eal ��t se rinca baldor swi�mod sinces ahte o��e sundoryrfes, 340\nbeaga ond beorhtra ma�ma, hi ��t ��re beorhtan idese ageafon gearo�oncolre. Ealles ��s Iudith s�gde wuldor weroda dryhtne, �e hyre weor�mynde geaf, m�r�e on moldan rice, swylce eac mede on heofonum, sigorlean in swegles wuldre, ��s �e heo ahte so�ne geleafan 345\nto �am �lmihtigan; huru �t �am ende ne tweode ��s leanes �e heo lange gyrnde. ��s sy �am leofan drihtne wuldor to widan aldre, �e gesceop wind ond lyfte, roderas ond rume grundas, swylce eac re�e streamas ond swegles dreamas, �urh his sylfes miltse.