CC 20220801
Us is riht micel ðæt we rodera weard, wereda wuldorcining, wordum herigen, modum lufien! He is mægna sped, heafod ealra heahgesceafta, 5\nfrea ælmihtig. Næs him fruma æfre, or geworden, ne nu ende cymþ ecean drihtnes, ac he bið a rice ofer heofenstolas. Heagum þrymmum soðfæst and swiðfeorm sweglbosmas heold, 10\nþa wæron gesette wide and side þurh geweald godes wuldres bearnum, gasta weardum. Hæfdon gleam and dream, and heora ordfruman, engla þreatas, beorhte blisse. Wæs heora blæd micel! 15\nþegnas þrymfæste þeoden heredon, sægdon lustum lof, heora liffrean demdon, drihtenes dugeþum wæron swiðe gesælige. Synna ne cuþon, firena fremman, ac hie on friðe lifdon, 20\nece mid heora aldor. Elles ne ongunnon ræran on roderum nymþe riht and soþ, ærðon engla weard for oferhygde dwæl on gedwilde. Noldan dreogan leng heora selfra ræd, ac hie of siblufan 25\ngodes ahwurfon. Hæfdon gielp micel þæt hie wið drihtne dælan meahton wuldorfæstan wic werodes þrymme, sid and swegltorht. Him þær sar gelamp, æfst and oferhygd, and þæs engles mod 30\nþe þone unræd ongan ærest fremman, wefan and weccean, þa he worde cwæð, niþes ofþyrsted, þæt he on norðdæle ham and heahsetl heofena rices agan wolde. þa wearð yrre god 35\nand þam werode wrað þe he ær wurðode wlite and wuldre. Sceop þam werlogan wræclicne ham weorce to leane, helleheafas, hearde niðas. Heht þæt witehus wræcna bidan, 40\ndeop, dreama leas, drihten ure, gasta weardas, þa he hit geare wiste, synnihte beseald, susle geinnod, geondfolen fyre and færcyle, rece and reade lege. Heht þa geond þæt rædlease hof 45\nweaxan witebrogan. Hæfdon hie wrohtgeteme grimme wið god gesomnod; him þæs grim lean becom! Cwædon þæt heo rice, reðemode, agan woldan, and swa eaðe meahtan. Him seo wen geleah, siððan waldend his, 50\nheofona heahcining, honda arærde, hehste wið þam herge. Ne mihton hygelease, mæne wið metode, mægyn bryttigan, ac him se mæra mod getwæfde, bælc forbigde. þa he gebolgen wearð, 55\nbesloh synsceaþan sigore and gewealde, dome and dugeðe, and dreame benam his feond, friðo and gefean ealle, torhte tire, and his torn gewræc on gesacum swiðe selfes mihtum 60\nstrengum stiepe. Hæfde styrne mod, gegremed grymme, grap on wraðe faum folmum, and him on fæðm gebræc yrre on mode; æðele bescyrede his wiðerbrecan wuldorgestealdum. 65\nSceof þa and scyrede scyppend ure oferhidig cyn engla of heofnum, wærleas werod. Waldend sende laðwendne here on langne sið, geomre gastas; wæs him gylp forod, 70\nbeot forborsten, and forbiged þrym, wlite gewemmed. Heo on wrace syððan seomodon swearte, siðe ne þorfton hlude hlihhan, ac heo helltregum werige wunodon and wean cuðon, 75\nsar and sorge, susl þrowedon þystrum beþeahte, þearl æfterlean þæs þe heo ongunnon wið gode winnan. þa wæs soð swa ær sibb on heofnum, fægre freoþoþeawas, frea eallum leof, 80\nþeoden his þegnum; þrymmas weoxon duguða mid drihtne, dreamhæbbendra. Wæron þa gesome, þa þe swegl buað, wuldres eðel. Wroht wæs asprungen, oht mid englum and orlegnið, 85\nsiððan herewosan heofon ofgæfon, leohte belorene. Him on laste setl, wuldorspedum welig, wide stodan gifum growende on godes rice, beorht and geblædfæst, buendra leas, 90\nsiððan wræcstowe werige gastas under hearmlocan heane geforan. þa þeahtode þeoden ure modgeþonce, hu he þa mæran gesceaft, eðelstaðolas eft gesette, 95\nswegltorhtan seld, selran werode, þa hie gielpsceaþan ofgifen hæfdon, heah on heofenum. Forþam halig god under roderas feng, ricum mihtum, wolde þæt him eorðe and uproder 100\nand sid wæter geseted wurde woruldgesceafte on wraðra gield, þara þe forhealdene of hleo sende. Ne wæs her þa giet nymþe heolstersceado wiht geworden, ac þes wida grund 105\nstod deop and dim, drihtne fremde, idel and unnyt. On þone eagum wlat stiðfrihþ cining, and þa stowe beheold, dreama lease, geseah deorc gesweorc semian sinnihte sweart under roderum, 110\nwonn and weste, oðþæt þeos woruldgesceaft þurh word gewearð wuldorcyninges. Her ærest gesceop ece drihten, helm eallwihta, heofon and eorðan, rodor arærde, and þis rume land 115\ngestaþelode strangum mihtum, frea ælmihtig. Folde wæs þa gyta græs ungrene; garsecg þeahte sweart synnihte, side and wide, wonne wægas. þa wæs wuldortorht 120\nheofonweardes gast ofer holm boren miclum spedum. Metod engla heht, lifes brytta, leoht forð cuman ofer rumne grund. Raþe wæs gefylled heahcininges hæs; him wæs halig leoht 125\nofer westenne, swa se wyrhta bebead. þa gesundrode sigora waldend ofer laguflode leoht wið þeostrum, sceade wið sciman. Sceop þa bam naman, lifes brytta. Leoht wæs ærest 130\nþurh drihtnes word dæg genemned, wlitebeorhte gesceaft. Wel licode frean æt frymðe forþbæro tid, dæg æresta; geseah deorc sceado sweart swiðrian geond sidne grund. 135\nþa seo tid gewat ofer timber sceacan middangeardes, metod æfter sceaf scirum sciman, scippend ure, æfen ærest. Him arn on last, þrang þystre genip, þam þe se þeoden self 140\nsceop nihte naman. Nergend ure hie gesundrode; siððan æfre drugon and dydon drihtnes willan, ece ofer eorðan. ða com oðer dæg, leoht æfter þeostrum. Heht þa lifes weard 145\non mereflode middum weorðan hyhtlic heofontimber. Holmas dælde waldend ure and geworhte þa roderas fæsten; þæt se rica ahof up from eorðan þurh his agen word, 150\nfrea ælmihtig. Flod wæs adæled under heahrodore halgum mihtum, wæter of wætrum, þam þe wuniað gyt under fæstenne folca hrofes. þa com ofer foldan fus siðian 155\nmære mergen þridda. Næron metode ða gyta widlond ne wegas nytte, ac stod bewrigen fæste folde mid flode. Frea engla heht þurh his word wesan wæter gemæne, þa nu under roderum heora ryne healdað, 160\nstowe gestefnde. ða stod hraðe holm under heofonum, swa se halga bebead, sid ætsomne, ða gesundrod wæs lago wið lande. Geseah þa lifes weard drige stowe, dugoða hyrde, 165\nwide æteowde, þa se wuldorcyning eorðan nemde. Gesette yðum heora onrihtne ryne, rumum flode, and gefetero... Ne þuhte þa gerysne rodora wearde, 170\nþæt Adam leng ana wære neorxnawonges, niwre gesceafte, hyrde and healdend. Forþon him heahcyning, frea ælmihtig fultum tiode; wif aweahte and þa wraðe sealde, 175\nlifes leohtfruma, leofum rince. He þæt andweorc of Adames lice aleoðode, and him listum ateah rib of sidan. He wæs reste fæst, and softe swæf, sar ne wiste, 180\nearfoða dæl, ne þær ænig com blod of benne, ac him brego engla of lice ateah liodende ban, wer unwundod, of þam worhte god freolice fæmnan. Feorh in gedyde, 185\nece saula. Heo wæron englum gelice, þa wæs Eue, Adames bryd, gaste gegearwod. Hie on geogoðe bu wlitebeorht wæron on woruld cenned meotodes mihtum. Man ne cuðon 190\ndon ne dreogan, ac him drihtnes wæs bam on breostum byrnende lufu. þa gebletsode bliðheort cyning, metod alwihta, monna cynnes ða forman twa, fæder and moder, 195\nwif and wæpned. He þa worde cwæð: "Temað nu and wexað, tudre fyllað eorðan ælgrene, incre cynne, sunum and dohtrum. Inc sceal sealt wæter wunian on gewealde and eall worulde gesceaft. 200\nBrucað blæddaga and brimhlæste and heofonfugla. Inc is halig feoh and wilde deor on geweald geseald, and lifigende, ða ðe land tredað, feorheaceno cynn, ða ðe flod wecceð 205\ngeond hronrade. Inc hyrað eall." þa sceawode scyppend ure his weorca wlite and his wæstma blæd, niwra gesceafta. Neorxnawong stod god and gastlic, gifena gefylled 210\nfremum forðweardum. Fægere leohte þæt liðe land lago yrnende, wylleburne. Nalles wolcnu ða giet ofer rumne grund regnas bæron, wann mid winde, hwæðre wæstmum stod 215\nfolde gefrætwod. Heoldon forðryne eastreamas heora æðele feower of þam niwan neorxnawonge. þa wæron adælede drihtnes mihtum ealle of anum, þa he þas eorðan gesceop, 220\nwætre wlitebeorhtum, and on woruld sende. þæra anne hatað ylde, eorðbuende, Fison folcweras; se foldan dæl brade bebugeð beorhtum streamum Hebeleac utan. On þære eðyltyrf 225\nniððas findað nean and feorran gold and gymcynn, gumþeoda bearn, ða selestan, þæs þe us secgað bec. þonne seo æftre Ethiopia land and liodgeard beligeð uton, 230\nginne rice, þære is Geon noma. þridda is Tigris, seo wið þeodscipe, ea inflede, Assiriæ belið. Swilce is seo feorðe, þa nu geond folc monig weras Eufraten wide nemnað. 235\n"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\nhwærf 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\nðenden heo his halige word healdan woldon. Hæfde se alwalda engelcynna þurh handmægen, halig drihten, tene getrimede, þæm he getruwode wel þæt hie his giongorscipe fyligan wolden, 250\nwyrcean 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\nswa 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\nwið 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\ncwæð 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\nþonne 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\nþæt 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\nwundra 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\nhæleþas 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\nþæt 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\ndollice 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\nhehsta 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\non 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\nnoldon 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\nþonne 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\nmid 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\nbrand 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\nwæron 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\nþæt 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\ndrihtne 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\nSatan 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\nhwit 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\nwraðlic 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\nromigan 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\nþæt 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\nwesan 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\nufan 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\nhanda 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\ngehæfted 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\ngrimme, 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\nHe 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\nonwendan 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\nþæt 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\ngeara 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\nþæt 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\nmid 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\nmonna 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\nGif 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\nSe 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\nunwurðlice wordum and dædum lare" Angan hine þa gyrwan godes andsaca, fus on frætwum, (hæfde fæcne hyge), hæleðhelm on heafod asette and þone full hearde geband, 445\nspenn 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\nwolde 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\ngodes 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\nAnd 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\ngodes 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\nwesan 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\nhabban 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\nylda 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\ndreamas 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\ndyrne 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\nOngon 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\nhet 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\nhyldo 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\nhis 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\ngumena 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\nwæstm 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\nstrangre 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\nhealdan 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\nsiðes 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\nne 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\nher 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\neallum 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\nhwilc 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\nwif 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\nþæt 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\nGif 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\nan 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\nAdam 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\nþæt 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\nweallan 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\nmonnum 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\nword 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\nmicel 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\nþurh 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\nglædlic 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\nþæs 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\nbetan 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\nforlæd 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\nþe 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\nþæt 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\non 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\nlæstan 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\n"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\nto 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\nhe 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\nmid 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\nofer 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\nbroht 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\non 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\nofer 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\ngearwe 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\nto 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\nful 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\nmonna 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\noðþæt 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\nhit 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\nboda 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\nwaldendes 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\nmurnan 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\ngodlice 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\nForþon 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\nmonna 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\nmodsorg 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\nlaðes 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\nsimon 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\nhis 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\nþæt 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\nheofones 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\nsælða 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\nAdam 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\ngelic 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\nsorgian 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\nHu 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\nHwilum 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\nwaldend 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\næfre to aldre þæt ic þe minum eagum geseah." ða 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\nwordum 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\nne 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\nwillan 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\non 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\nþa 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\nand him gewisade waldend se goda, hu hie on þam leohte forð libban sceolden. þa com feran frea ælmihtig ofer midne dæg, mære þeoden, on neorxnawang neode sine; 855\nwolde neosian nergend usser, bilwit fæder, hwæt his bearn dyde; wiste forworhte þam he ær wlite sealde. Gewitan him þa gangan geomermode under beamsceade blæde bereafod, 860\nhyddon hie on heolstre, þa hie halig word drihtnes gehyrdon, and ondredon him. þa sona ongann swegles aldor weard ahsian woruldgesceafta, het him recene to rice þeoden 865\nhis sunu gangan. Him þa sylfa oncwæð, hean hleoðrade hrægles þearfa: "Ic wreo me her wæda leasne, liffrea min, leafum þecce. Scyldfull mine sceaðen is me sare, 870\nfrecne on ferhðe; ne dear nu forð gan for ðe andweardne. Ic eom eall eall nacod." Him ða ædre god andswarede: "Saga me þæt, sunu min, for hwon secest ðu sceade sceomiende? þu sceonde æt me 875\nfurðum ne anfenge, ac gefean eallum. For hwon wast þu wean and wrihst sceome, gesyhst sorge, and þin sylf þecest lic mid leafum, sagast lifceare hean hygegeomor, þæt þe sie hrægles þearf, 880\nnymþe ðu æppel ænne byrgde of ðam wudubeame þe ic þe wordum forbead?" Him þa Adam eft andswarode: "Me ða blæda on hand bryd gesealde, freolucu fæmne, freadrihten min, 885\nðe ic þe on teonan geþah. Nu ic þæs tacen wege sweotol on me selfum. Wat ic sorga ðy ma." ða ðæs Euan frægn ælmihtig god: "Hwæt druge þu, dohtor, dugeþa genohra, niwra gesceafta neorxnawanges, 890\ngrowendra gifa, þa þu gitsiende on beam gripe, blæda name on treowes telgum, and me on teonan æte þa unfreme, Adame sealdest wæstme þa inc wæron wordum minum 895\nfæste forbodene?" Him þa freolecu mæg, ides æwiscmod andswarode: "Me nædre beswac and me neodlice to forsceape scyhte and to scyldfrece, fah wyrm þurh fægir word, oðþæt ic fracoðlice 900\nfeondræs gefremede, fæhðe geworhte, and þa reafode, swa hit riht ne wæs, beam on bearwe and þa blæda æt." þa nædran sceop nergend usser, frea ælmihtig fagum wyrme 905\nwide siðas and þa worde cwæð: "þu scealt wideferhð werig þinum breostum bearm tredan bradre eorðan, faran feðeleas, þenden þe feorh wunað, gast on innan. þu scealt greot etan 910\nþine lifdagas. Swa þu laðlice wrohte onstealdest, þe þæt wif feoð, hatað under heofnum and þin heafod tredeð fah mid fotum sinum. þu scealt fiersna sætan tohtan niwre; tuddor bið gemæne 915\nincrum orlegnið a þenden standeð woruld under wolcnum. Nu þu wast and canst, lað leodsceaða, hu þu lifian scealt." ða to Euan god yrringa spræc: "Wend þe from wynne! þu scealt wæpnedmen 920\nwesan on gewealde, mid weres egsan hearde genearwad, hean þrowian þinra dæda gedwild, deaðes bidan, and þurh wop and heaf on woruld cennan þurh sar micel sunu and dohtor." 925\nAbead eac Adame ece drihten, lifes leohtfruma, lað ærende: "þu scealt oðerne eðel secean, wynleasran wic, and on wræc hweorfan nacod niedwædla, neorxnawanges 930\ndugeðum bedæled; þe is gedal witod lices and sawle. Hwæt, þu laðlice wrohte onstealdest; forþon þu winnan scealt and on eorðan þe þine andlifne selfa geræcan, wegan swatig hleor, 935\nþinne hlaf etan, þenden þu her leofast, oðþæt þe to heortan hearde gripeð adl unliðe þe þu on æple ær selfa forswulge; forþon þu sweltan scealt." Hwæt, we nu gehyrað hwær us hearmstafas 940\nwraðe onwocan and woruldyrmðo. Hie þa wuldres weard wædum gyrede, scyppend usser; het heora sceome þeccan frea frumhrægle; het hie from hweorfan neorxnawange on nearore lif. 945\nHim on laste beleac liðsa and wynna hihtfulne ham halig engel be frean hæse fyrene sweorde; ne mæg þær inwitfull ænig geferan womscyldig mon, ac se weard hafað 950\nmiht and strengðo, se þæt mære lif dugeðum deore drihtne healdeð. No hwæðre ælmihtig ealra wolde Adame and Euan arna ofteon, fæder æt frymðe, þeah þe hie him from swice, 955\nac he him to frofre let hwæðere forð wesan hyrstedne hrof halgum tunglum and him grundwelan ginne sealde; het þam sinhiwum sæs and eorðan tuddorteondra teohha gehwilcre 960\nto woruldnytte wæstmas fedan. Gesæton þa æfter synne sorgfulre land, eard and eðyl unspedigran fremena gehwilcre þonne se frumstol wæs þe hie æfter dæde of adrifen wurdon. 965\nOngunnon hie þa be godes hæse bearn astrienan, swa him metod bebead. Adames and Euan aforan wæron freolicu twa frumbearn cenned, Cain and Abel. Us cyðað bec, 970\nhu þa dædfruman dugeþa stryndon, welan and wiste, willgebroðor. Oðer his to eorðan elnes tilode, se wæs ærboren; oðer æhte heold fæder on fultum, oðþæt forð gewat 975\ndægrimes worn. Hie þa drihtne lac begen brohton. Brego engla beseah on Abeles gield eagum sinum, cyning eallwihta, Caines ne wolde tiber sceawian. þæt wæs torn were 980\nhefig æt heortan. Hygewælm asteah beorne on breostum, blatende nið, yrre for æfstum. He þa unræden folmum gefremede, freomæg ofsloh, broðor sinne, and his blod ageat, 985\nCain Abeles. Cwealmdreore swealh þæs middangeard, monnes swate. æfter wælswenge wea wæs aræred, tregena tuddor. Of ðam twige siððan ludon laðwende leng swa swiðor 990\nreðe wæstme. Ræhton wide geond werþeoda wrohtes telgan, hrinon hearmtanas hearde and sare drihta bearnum, (doð gieta swa), of þam brad blado bealwa gehwilces 995\nsprytan ongunnon. We þæt spell magon, wælgrimme wyrd, wope cwiðan, nales holunge; ac us hearde sceod freolecu fæmne þurh forman gylt þe wið metod æfre men gefremeden, 1000\neorðbuende, siððan Adam wearð of godes muðe gaste eacen. ða worde frægn wuldres aldor Cain, hwær Abel eorðan wære. Him ða se cystleasa cwealmes wyrhta 1005\nædre æfter þon andswarode: "Ne can ic Abeles or ne fore, hleomæges sið, ne ic hyrde wæs broðer mines." Him þa brego engla, godspedig gast gean þingade: 1010\n"Hwæt, befealdest þu folmum þinum wraðum on wælbedd wærfæstne rinc, broðor þinne, and his blod to me cleopað and cigeð. þu þæs cwealmes scealt wite winnan and on wræc hweorfan, 1015\nawyrged to widan aldre. Ne seleð þe wæstmas eorðe wlitige to woruldnytte, ac heo wældreore swealh halge of handum þinum; forþon heo þe hroðra oftihð, glæmes grene folde. þu scealt geomor hweorfan, arleas of earde þinum, swa þu Abele wurde 1020\nto feorhbanan; forþon þu flema scealt widlast wrecan, winemagum lað." Him þa ædre Cain andswarode: "Ne þearf ic ænigre are wenan on woruldrice, ac ic forworht hæbbe, 1025\nheofona heahcyning, hyldo þine, lufan and freode; forþon ic lastas sceal wean on wenum wide lecgan, hwonne me gemitte manscyldigne, se me feor oððe neah fæhðe gemonige, 1030\nbroðorcwealmes. Ic his blod ageat, dreor on eorðan. þu to dæge þissum ademest me fram duguðe and adrifest from earde minum. Me to aldorbanan weorðeð wraðra sum. Ic awyrged sceal, 1035\nþeoden, of gesyhðe þinre hweorfan." Him þa selfa oncwæð sigora drihten: "Ne þearft ðu þe ondrædan deaðes brogan, feorhcwealm nu giet, þeah þu from scyle freomagum feor fah gewitan. 1040\nGif þe monna hwelc mundum sinum aldre beneoteð, hine on cymeð æfter þære synne seofonfeald wracu, wite æfter weorce." Hine waldend on, tirfæst metod, tacen sette, 1045\nfreoðobeacen frea, þy læs hine feonda hwilc mid guðþræce gretan dorste feorran oððe nean. Heht þa from hweorfan meder and magum manscyldigne, cnosle sinum. Him þa Cain gewat 1050\ngongan geomormod gode of gesyhðe, wineleas wrecca, and him þa wic geceas eastlandum on, eðelstowe fædergeardum feor, þær him freolecu mæg, ides æfter æðelum eaforan fedde. 1055\nSe æresta wæs Enos haten, frumbearn Caines. Siððan fæsten ongon mid þam cneomagum ceastre timbran; þæt wæs under wolcnum weallfæstenna ærest ealra þara þe æðelingas, 1060\nsweordberende, settan heton. þanon his eaforan ærest wocan, bearn from bryde, on þam burhstede. Se yldesta wæs Iared haten, sunu Enoses. Siððan wocan, 1065\nþa þæs cynnes cneowrim icton, mægburg Caines. Malalehel wæs æfter Iarede yrfes hyrde fæder on laste, oðþæt he forð gewat. Siððan Mathusal magum dælde, 1070\nbearn æfter bearne broðrum sinum æðelinga gestreon, oðþæt aldorgedal frod fyrndagum fremman sceolde, lif oflætan. Lameh onfeng æfter fæder dæge fletgestealdum, 1075\nbotlgestreonum. Him bryda twa, idesa on eðle eaforan feddon, Ada and Sella; þara anum wæs Iabal noma, se þurh gleawne geþanc herbuendra hearpan ærest 1080\nhandum sinum hlyn awehte, swinsigende sweg, sunu Lamehes. Swylce on ðære mægðe maga wæs haten on þa ilcan tid Tubalcain, se þurh snytro sped smiðcræftega wæs, 1085\nand þurh modes gemynd monna ærest, sunu Lamehes, sulhgeweorces fruma wæs ofer foldan, siððan folca bearn æres cuðon and isernes, burhsittende, brucan wide. 1090\nþa his wifum twæm wordum sægde Lameh seolfa, leofum gebeddum, Adan and Sellan unarlic spel: "Ic on morðor ofsloh minra sumne hyldemaga; honda gewemde 1095\non Caines cwealme mine, fylde mid folmum fæder Enoses, ordbanan Abeles, eorðan sealde wældreor weres. Wat ic gearwe þæt þam lichryre on last cymeð 1100\nsoðcyninges seofonfeald wracu, micel æfter mane. Min sceal swiðor mid grimme gryre golden wurðan fyll and feorhcwealm, þonne ic forð scio." þa wearð Adame on Abeles gyld 1105\neafora on eðle oþer feded, soðfæst sunu, þam wæs Seth noma. Se wæs eadig and his yldrum ðah freolic to frofre, fæder and meder, Adames and Euan, wæs Abeles gield 1110\non woruldrice. þa word acwæð ord moncynnes: "Me ece sunu sealde selfa sigora waldend, lifes aldor on leofes stæl, þæs þe Cain ofsloh, and me cearsorge 1115\nmid þys magotimbre of mode asceaf þeoden usser. Him þæs þanc sie!" Adam hæfde, þa he eft ongan him to eðelstæfe oðres strienan bearnes be bryde, beorn ellenrof, 1120\nXXX and C þisses lifes, wintra on worulde. Us gewritu secgað þæt her eahtahund iecte siððan mægðum and mæcgum mægburg sine Adam on eorðan; ealra hæfde 1125\nnigenhund wintra and XXX eac, þa he þas woruld þurh gastgedal ofgyfan sceolde. Him on laste Seth leod weardode, eafora æfter yldrum; eþelstol heold 1130\nand wif begeat. Wintra hæfde fif and hundteontig þa he furðum ongan his mægburge men geicean sunum and dohtrum. Sethes eafora se yldesta wæs Enos haten; 1135\nse nemde god niðþa bearna ærest ealra, siððan Adam stop on grene græs gaste geweorðad. Seth wæs gesælig; siððan strynde seofon winter her suna and dohtra 1140\nond eahtahund. Ealra hæfde XII and nigonhund, þa seo tid gewearð þæt he friðgedal fremman sceolde. Him æfter heold, þa he of worulde gewat, Enos yrfe, siððan eorðe swealh 1145\nsædberendes Sethes lice. He wæs leof gode and lifde her wintra hundnigontig ær he be wife her þurh gebedscipe bearn astrynde; him þa cenned wearð Cainan ærest 1150\neafora on eðle. Siððan eahtahund and fiftyno on friðo drihtnes gleawferhð hæleð geogoðe strynde, suna and dohtra; swealt, þa he hæfde, frod fyrnwita, V and nigonhund. 1155\nþære cneorisse wæs Cainan siððan æfter Enose aldordema, weard and wisa. Wintra hæfde efne hundseofontig ær him sunu woce. þa wearð on eðle eafora feded, 1160\nmago Cainanes, Malalehel wæs haten. Siððan eahtahund æðelinga rim and feowertig eac feorum geicte Enoses sunu. Ealra nigonhund wintra hæfde þa he woruld ofgeaf 1165\nand tyne eac, þa his tiddæge under rodera rum rim wæs gefylled. Him on laste heold land and yrfe Malalehel siððan missera worn. Se frumgara fif and sixtig 1170\nwintra hæfde þa he be wife ongann bearna strynan. Him bryd sunu meowle to monnum brohte. Se maga wæs on his mægðe, mine gefræge, guma on geogoðe, Iared haten. 1175\nLifde siððan and lissa breac Malalehel lange, mondreama her, woruldgestreona. Wintra hæfde fif and hundnigontig, þa he forð gewat, and eahtahund; eaforan læfde 1180\nland and leodweard. Longe siððan Geared gumum gold brittade. Se eorl wæs æðele, æfæst hæleð, and se frumgar his freomagum leof. Fif and hundteontig on fyore lifde 1185\nwintra gebidenra on woruldrice and syxtig eac þa seo sæl gewearð þæt his wif sunu on woruld brohte; se eafora wæs Enoc haten, freolic frumbearn. Fæder her þa gyt 1190\nhis cynnes forð cneorim icte, eaforan eahtahund; ealra hæfde V and syxtig, þa he forð gewat, and nigonhund eac nihtgerimes, wine frod wintres, þa he þas woruld ofgeaf 1195\nond Geared þa gleawum læfde land and leodweard, leofum rince. Enoch siððan ealdordom ahof, freoðosped folces wisa, nalles feallan let dom and drihtscipe, 1200\nþenden he hyrde wæs heafodmaga. Breac blæddaga, bearna strynde þreohund wintra. Him wæs þeoden hold, rodera waldend. Se rinc heonon on lichoman lisse sohte, 1205\ndrihtnes duguðe, nales deaðe swealt middangeardes, swa her men doþ, geonge and ealde, þonne him god heora æhta and ætwist eorðan gestreona on genimeð and heora aldor somed, 1210\nac he cwic gewat mid cyning engla of þyssum lænan life feran on þam gearwum þe his gast onfeng ær hine to monnum modor brohte. He þam yldestan eaforan læfde 1215\nfolc, frumbearne; V and syxtig wintra hæfde þa he woruld ofgeaf, and eac III hund. þrage siððan Mathusal heold maga yrfe, se on lichoman lengest þissa 1220\nworulddreama breac. Worn gestrynde ær his swyltdæge suna and dohtra; hæfde frod hæle, þa he from sceolde niþþum hweorfan, nigonhund wintra and hundseofontig to. Sunu æfter heold, 1225\nLamech leodgeard, lange siððan woruld bryttade. Wintra hæfde twa and hundteontig þa seo tid gewearð þæt se eorl ongan æðele cennan, sunu and dohtor. Siððan lifde 1230\nfif and hundnigontig, frea moniges breac wintra under wolcnum, werodes aldor, and V hund eac; heold þæt folc teala, bearna strynde, him byras wocan, eaforan and idesa. He þone yldestan 1235\nNoæ nemde, se niððum ær land bryttade siððan Lamech gewat. Hæfde æðelinga aldorwisa V hund wintra þa he furðum ongan bearna strynan, þæs þe bec cweðaþ. 1240\nSem wæs haten sunu Noes, se yldesta, oðer Cham, þridda Iafeth. þeoda tymdon rume under roderum, rim miclade monna mægðe geond middangeard 1245\nsunum and dohtrum. ða giet wæs Sethes cynn, leofes leodfruman on lufan swiðe drihtne dyre and domeadig, oðþæt bearn godes bryda ongunnon on Caines cynne secan, 1250\nwergum folce, and him þær wif curon ofer metodes est monna eaforan, scyldfulra mægð scyne and fægere. þa reordade rodora waldend wrað moncynne and þa worde cwæð: 1255\n"Ne syndon me on ferhðe freo from gewitene cneorisn Caines, ac me þæt cynn hafað sare abolgen. Nu me Sethes bearn torn niwiað and him to nimað mægeð to gemæccum minra feonda; 1260\nþær wifa wlite onwod grome, idesa ansien, and ece feond folcdriht wera, þa ær on friðe wæron." Siððan hundtwelftig geteled rime wintra on worulde wræce bisgodon 1265\nfæge þeoda, hwonne frea wolde on wærlogan wite settan and on deað slean dædum scyldige gigantmæcgas, gode unleofe, micle mansceaðan, metode laðe. 1270\nþa geseah selfa sigoro waldend hwæt wæs monna manes on eorðan and þæt hie wæron womma ðriste, inwitfulle. He þæt unfægere wera cneorissum gewrecan þohte, 1275\nforgripan gumcynne grimme and sare, heardum mihtum. Hreaw hine swiðe þæt he folcmægþa fruman aweahte, æðelinga ord, þa he Adam sceop, cwæð þæt he wolde for wera synnum 1280\neall aæðan þæt on eorðan wæs, forleosan lica gehwilc þara þe lifes gast fæðmum þeahte. Eall þæt frea wolde on ðære toweardan tide acwellan þe þa nealæhte niðða bearnum. 1285\nNoe wæs god, nergende leof, swiðe gesælig, sunu Lameches, domfæst and gedefe. Drihten wiste þæt þæs æðelinges ellen dohte breostgehygdum; forðon him brego sægde, 1290\nhalig æt hleoðre, helm allwihta, hwæt he fah werum fremman wolde; geseah unrihte eorðan fulle, side sælwongas synnum gehladene, widlum gewemde. þa waldend spræc, 1295\nnergend usser, and to Noe cwæð: "Ic wille mid flode folc acwellan and cynna gehwilc cucra wuhta, þara þe lyft and flod lædað and fedað, feoh and fuglas. þu scealt frið habban 1300\nmid sunum þinum, ðonne sweart wæter, wonne wælstreamas werodum swelgað, sceaðum scyldfullum. Ongyn þe scip wyrcan, merehus micel. On þam þu monegum scealt reste geryman, and rihte setl 1305\nælcum æfter agenum eorðan tudre. Gescype scylfan on scipes bosme. þu þæt fær gewyrc fiftiges wid, ðrittiges heah and þreohund lang elngemeta, and wið yða gewyrc 1310\ngefeg fæste. þær sceal fæsl wesan cwiclifigendra cynna gehwilces on þæt wudufæsten wocor gelæded eorðan tudres; earc sceal þy mare." Noe fremede swa hine nergend heht, 1315\nhyrde þam halgan heofoncyninge, ongan ofostlice þæt hof wyrcan, micle merecieste. Magum sægde þæt wæs þrealic þing þeodum toweard, reðe wite. Hie ne rohton þæs! 1320\nGeseah þa ymb wintra worn wærfæst metod geofonhusa mæst gearo hlifigean, innan and utan eorðan lime gefæstnod wið flode, fær Noes, þy selestan. þæt is syndrig cynn; 1325\nsymle bið þy heardra þe hit hreoh wæter, swearte sæstreamas swiðor beatað. ða to Noe cwæð nergend usser: "Ic þe þæs mine, monna leofost, wære gesylle, þæt þu weg nimest 1330\nand feora fæsl þe þu ferian scealt geond deop wæter dægrimes worn on lides bosme. Læd, swa ic þe hate, under earce bord eaforan þine, frumgaran þry, and eower feower wif. 1335\nOnd þu seofone genim on þæt sundreced tudra gehwilces geteled rimes, þara þe to mete mannum lifige, and þara oðerra ælces twa. Swilce þu of eallum eorðan wæstmum 1340\nwiste under wægbord werodum gelæde, þam þe mid sceolon mereflod nesan. Fed freolice feora wocre oð ic þære lafe lagosiða eft reorde under roderum ryman wille. 1345\nGewit þu nu mid hiwum on þæt hof gangan, gasta werode. Ic þe godne wat, fæsthydigne; þu eart freoðo wyrðe, ara mid eaforum. Ic on andwlitan nu ofor seofon niht sigan læte 1350\nwællregn ufan widre eorðan. Feowertig daga fæhðe ic wille on weras stælan and mid wægþreate æhta and agend eall acwellan þa beutan beoð earce bordum 1355\nþonne sweart racu stigan onginneð." Him þa Noe gewat, swa hine nergend het, under earce bord eaforan lædan, weras on wægþæl and heora wif somed; and eall þæt to fæsle frea ælmihtig 1360\nhabban wolde under hrof gefor to heora ætgifan, swa him ælmihtig weroda drihten þurh his word abead. Him on hoh beleac heofonrices weard merehuses muð mundum sinum, 1365\nsigora waldend, and segnade earce innan agenum spedum nergend usser. Noe hæfde, sunu Lameches, syxhund wintra þa he mid bearnum under bord gestah, 1370\ngleaw mid geogoðe, be godes hæse, dugeðum dyrum. Drihten sende regn from roderum and eac rume let willeburnan on woruld þringan of ædra gehwære, egorstreamas 1375\nswearte swogan. Sæs up stigon ofer stæðweallas. Strang wæs and reðe se ðe wætrum weold; wreah and þeahte manfæhðu bearn middangeardes wonnan wæge, wera eðelland; 1380\nhof hergode, hygeteonan wræc metod on monnum. Mere swiðe grap on fæge folc feowertig daga, nihta oðer swilc. Nið wæs reðe, wællgrim werum; wuldorcyninges 1385\nyða wræcon arleasra feorh of flæschoman. Flod ealle wreah, hreoh under heofonum hea beorgas geond sidne grund and on sund ahof earce from eorðan and þa æðelo mid, 1390\nþa segnade selfa drihten, scyppend usser, þa he þæt scip beleac. Siððan wide rad wolcnum under ofer holmes hrincg hof seleste, for mid fearme. Fære ne moston 1395\nwægliðendum wætres brogan hæste hrinon, ac hie halig god ferede and nerede. Fiftena stod deop ofer dunum se drenceflod monnes elna; þæt is mæro wyrd! 1400\nþam æt niehstan wæs nan to gedale, nymþe heof wæs ahafen on þa hean lyft, þa se egorhere eorðan tuddor eall acwealde, buton þæt earce bord heold heofona frea, þa hine halig god 1405\nece upp forlet edmodne flod streamum stigan, stiðferhð cyning. þa gemunde god mereliðende, sigora waldend sunu Lameches and ealle þa wocre þe he wið wætre beleac, 1410\nlifes leohtfruma, on lides bosme. Gelædde þa wigend weroda drihten worde ofer widland. Willflod ongan lytligan eft. Lago ebbade, sweart under swegle. Hæfde soð metod 1415\neaforum egstream eft gecyrred, torhtne ryne, regn gestilled. For famig scip L and C nihta under roderum, siððan nægledbord, fær seleste, flod up ahof, 1420\noðþæt rimgetæl reðre þrage daga forð gewat. ða on dunum gesæt heah mid hlæste holmærna mæst, earc Noes, þe Armenia hatene syndon. þær se halga bad, 1425\nsunu Lameches, soðra gehata lange þrage, hwonne him lifes weard frea ælmihtig frecenra siða reste ageafe, þæra he rume dreah þa hine on sunde geond sidne grund 1430\nwonne yða wide bæron. Holm wæs heononweard; hæleð langode, wægliðende, swilce wif heora, hwonne hie of nearwe ofer nægledbord ofer streamstaðe stæppan mosten 1435\nand of enge ut æhta lædan. þa fandode forðweard scipes, hwæðer sincende sæflod þa gyt wære under wolcnum. Let þa ymb worn daga þæs þe heah hlioðo horde onfengon 1440\nand æðelum eac eorðan tudres sunu Lameches sweartne fleogan hrefn ofer heahflod of huse ut. Noe tealde þæt he on neod hine, gif he on þære lade land ne funde, 1445\nofer sid wæter secan wolde on wægþele. Eft him seo wen geleah, ac se feonde gespearn fleotende hreaw; salwigfeðera secan nolde. He þa ymb seofon niht sweartum hrefne 1450\nof earce forlet æfter fleogan ofer heah wæter haswe culufran on fandunga hwæðer famig sæ deop þa gyta dæl ænigne grenre eorðan ofgifen hæfde. 1455\nHeo wide hire willan sohte and rume fleah. Nohweðere reste fand, þæt heo for flode fotum ne meahte land gespornan ne on leaf treowes steppan for streamum, ac wæron steap hleoðo 1460\nbewrigen mid wætrum. Gewat se wilda fugel on æfenne earce secan ofer wonne wæg, werig sigan, hungri to handa halgum rince. ða wæs culufre eft of cofan sended 1465\nymb wucan wilde. Seo wide fleah oðþæt heo rumgal restestowe fægere funde and þa fotum stop on beam hyre; gefeah bliðemod þæs þe heo gesittan swiðe werig 1470\non treowes telgum torhtum moste. Heo feðera onsceoc, gewat fleogan eft mid lacum hire, liðend brohte elebeames twig an to handa, grene blædæ. þa ongeat hraðe 1475\nflotmonna frea þæt wæs frofor cumen, earfoðsiða bot. þa gyt se eadega wer ymb wucan þriddan wilde culufran ane sende. Seo eft ne com to lide fleogan, ac heo land begeat, 1480\ngrene bearwas; nolde gladu æfre under salwed bord syððan ætywan on þellfæstenne, þa hire þearf ne wæs. þa to Noe spræc nergend usser, heofonrices weard, halgan reorde: 1485\n"þe is eðelstol eft gerymed, lisse on lande, lagosiða rest fæger on foldan. Gewit on freðo gangan ut of earce, and on eorðan bearm of þam hean hofe hiwan læd þu 1490\nand ealle þa wocre þe ic wægþrea on liðe nerede þenden lago hæfde þrymme geþeahtne þriddan eðyl." He fremede swa and frean hyrde, stah ofer streamweall, swa him seo stefn bebead, 1495\nlustum miclum, and alædde þa of wægþele wraðra lafe. þa Noe ongan nergende lac rædfæst reðran, and recene genam on eallum dæl æhtum sinum, 1500\nðam ðe him to dugeðum drihten sealde, gleaw to þam gielde, and þa gode selfum torhtmod hæle tiber onsægde, cyninge engla. Huru cuð dyde nergend usser, þa he Noe 1505\ngebletsade and his bearn somed, þæt he þæt gyld on þanc agifen hæfde and on geogoðhade godum dædum ær geearnod þæt him ealra wæs ara este ælmihtig god, 1510\ndomfæst dugeþa. þa gyt drihten cwæð, wuldris aldor word to Noe: "Tymað nu and tiedrað, tires brucað, mid gefean fryðo; fyllað eorðan, eall geiceað. Eow is eðelstol 1515\nand holmes hlæst and heofonfuglas and wildu deor on geweald geseald, eorðe ælgrene and eacen feoh. Næfre ge mid blode beodgereordu unarlice eowre þicgeað, 1520\nbesmiten mid synne sawldreore. ælc hine selfa ærest begrindeð gastes dugeðum þæra þe mid gares orde oðrum aldor oðþringeð. Ne ðearf he þy edleane gefeon modgeþance, ac ic monnes feorh 1525\nto slagan sece swiðor micle, and to broðor banan, þæs þe blodgyte, wællfyll weres wæpnum gespedeð, morð mid mundum. Monn wæs to godes anlicnesse ærest gesceapen. 1530\nælc hafað magwlite metodes and engla þara þe healdan wile halige þeawas. Weaxað and wridað, wilna brucað, ara on eorðan; æðelum fyllað eowre fromcynne foldan sceatas, 1535\nteamum and tudre. Ic eow treowa þæs mine selle, þæt ic on middangeard næfre egorhere eft gelæde, wæter ofer widland. Ge on wolcnum þæs oft and gelome andgiettacen 1540\nmagon sceawigan, þonne ic scurbogan minne iewe, þæt ic monnum þas wære gelæste, þenden woruld standeð." ða wæs se snotra sunu Lamehes of fere acumen flode on laste 1545\nmid his eaforum þrim, yrfes hyrde (and heora feower wif; nemde wæron Percoba, Olla, Olliua, Olliuani), wærfæst metode, wætra lafe. 1550\nHæleð hygerofe hatene wæron, suna Noes Sem and Cham, Iafeð þridda. From þam gumrincum folc geludon and gefylled wearð eall þes middangeard monna bearnum. 1555\nða Noe ongan niwan stefne mid hleomagum ham staðelian and to eorðan him ætes tilian; won and worhte, wingeard sette, seow sæda fela, sohte georne 1560\nþa him wlitebeorhte wæstmas brohte, geartorhte gife, grene folde. ða þæt geeode, þæt se eadega wer on his wicum wearð wine druncen, swæf symbelwerig, and him selfa sceaf 1565\nreaf of lice. Swa gerysne ne wæs, læg þa limnacod. He lyt ongeat þæt him on his inne swa earme gelamp, þa him on hreðre heafodswima on þæs halgan hofe heortan clypte. 1570\nSwiðe on slæpe sefa nearwode þæt he ne mihte on gemynd drepen hine handum self mid hrægle wryon and sceome þeccan, swa gesceapu wæron werum and wifum, siððan wuldres þegn 1575\nussum fæder and meder fyrene sweorde on laste beleac lifes eðel. þa com ærest Cam in siðian, eafora Noes, þær his aldor læg, ferhðe forstolen. þær he freondlice 1580\non his agenum fæder are ne wolde gesceawian, ne þa sceonde huru hleomagum helan, ac he hlihende broðrum sægde, hu se beorn hine reste on recede. Hie þa raðe stopon, 1585\nheora andwlitan in bewrigenum under loðum listum, þæt hie leofum men geoce gefremede; gode wæron begen, Sem and Iafeð. ða of slæpe onbrægd sunu Lamehes, and þa sona ongeat 1590\nþæt him cynegodum Cham ne wolde, þa him wæs are þearf, ænige cyðan hyldo and treowa. þæt þam halgan wæs sar on mode, ongan þa his selfes bearn wordum wyrgean, cwæð, he wesan sceolde 1595\nhean under heofnum, hleomaga þeow, Cham on eorþan; him þa cwyde syððan and his fromcynne frecne scodon. þa nyttade Noe siððan mid sunum sinum sidan rices 1600\nðreohund wintra þisses lifes, freomen æfter flode, and fiftig eac, þa he forð gewat. Siððan his eaforan ead bryttedon, bearna stryndon; him wæs beorht wela. þa wearð Iafeðe geogoð afeded, 1605\nhyhtlic heorðwerod heafodmaga, sunu and dohtra. He wæs selfa til, heold a rice, eðeldreamas, blæd mid bearnum, oðþæt breosta hord, gast ellorfus gangan sceolde 1610\nto godes dome. Geomor siððan fæder flettgesteald freondum dælde, swæsum and gesibbum, sunu Iafeðes; þæs teames wæs tuddor gefylled unlytel dæl eorðan gesceafta. 1615\nSwilce Chames suno cende wurdon, eaforan on eðle; þa yldestan Chus and Chanan hatene wæron, ful freolice feorh, frumbearn Chames. Chus wæs æðelum heafodwisa, 1620\nwilna brytta and worulddugeða broðrum sinum, botlgestreona, fæder on laste, siððan forð gewat Cham of lice, þa him cwealm gesceod. Se magoræswa mægðe sinre 1625\ndomas sægde, oðþæt his dogora wæs rim aurnen. þa se rinc ageaf eorðcunde ead, sohte oðer lif, fæder Nebroðes. Frumbearn siððan eafora Chuses yrfestole weold, 1630\nwidmære wer, swa us gewritu secgeað, þæt he moncynnes mæste hæfde on þam mældagum mægen and strengo. Se wæs Babylones bregorices fruma, ærest æðelinga; eðelðrym onhof, 1635\nrymde and rærde. Reord wæs þa gieta eorðbuendum an gemæne. Swilce of Cames cneorisse woc wermægða fela; of þam widfolce cneorim micel cenned wæron. 1640\nþa wearð Seme suna and dohtra on woruldrice worn afeded, freora bearna, ær ðon frod cure wintrum wælreste werodes aldor. On þære mægðe wæron men tile, 1645\nþara an wæs Eber haten, eafora Semes; of þam eorle woc unrim þeoda, þa nu æðelingas, ealle eorðbuend, Ebrei hatað. Gewiton him þa eastan æhta lædan, 1650\nfeoh and feorme. Folc wæs anmod; rofe rincas sohton rumre land, oðþæt hie becomon corðrum miclum, folc ferende, þær hie fæstlice æðelinga bearn, eard genamon. 1655\nGesetton þa Sennar sidne and widne leoda ræswan; leofum mannum heora geardagum grene wongas, fægre foldan, him forðwearde on ðære dægtide duguðe wæron, 1660\nwilna gehwilces weaxende sped. ða þær mon mænig be his mægwine, æðeling anmod, oðerne bæd þæs hie him to mærðe, ær seo mengeo eft geond foldan bearm tofaran sceolde, 1665\nleoda mægðe on landsocne burh geworhte and to beacne torr up arærde to rodortunglum. þæs þe hie gesohton Sennera feld, swa þa foremeahtige folces ræswan, 1670\nþa yldestan oft and gelome liðsum gewunedon; larum sohton weras to weorce and to wrohtscipe, oðþæt for wlence and for wonhygdum cyðdon cræft heora, ceastre worhton 1675\nand to heofnum up hlædræ rærdon, strengum stepton stænenne weall ofer monna gemet, mærða georne, hæleð mid honda. þa com halig god wera cneorissa weorc sceawigan, 1680\nbeorna burhfæsten, and þæt beacen somed, þe to roderum up ræran ongunnon Adames eaforan, and þæs unrædes stiðferhð cyning steore gefremede, þa he reðemod reorde gesette 1685\neorðbuendum ungelice, þæt hie þære spæce sped ne ahton. þa hie gemitton mihtum spedge, teoche æt torre, getalum myclum, weorces wisan, ne þær wermægða 1690\nænig wiste hwæt oðer cwæð. Ne meahte hie gewurðan weall stænenne up forð timbran, ac hie earmlice heapum tohlocon, hleoðrum gedælde; wæs oðerre æghwilc worden 1695\nmægburh fremde, siððan metod tobræd þurh his mihta sped monna spræce. Toforan þa on feower wegas æðelinga bearn ungeþeode on landsocne. Him on laste bu 1700\nstiðlic stantorr and seo steape burh samod samworht on Sennar stod. Weox þa under wolcnum and wriðade mægburh Semes, oðþæt mon awoc on þære cneorisse, cynebearna rim, 1705\nþancolmod wer, þeawum hydig. Wurdon þam æðelinge eaforan acende, in Babilone bearn afeded freolicu tu, and þa frumgaran, hæleð higerofe, hatene wæron 1710\nAbraham and Aaron; þam eorlum wæs frea engla bam freond and aldor. ða wearð Aarone eafora feded, leoflic on life, ðam wæs Loth noma. ða magorincas metode geþungon, 1715\nAbraham and Loth, unforcuðlice, swa him from yldrum æðelu wæron on woruldrice; forðon hie wide nu dugeðum demað drihtfolca bearn. þa þæs mæles wæs mearc agongen 1720\nþæt him Abraham idese brohte, wif to hame, þær he wic ahte, fæger and freolic. Seo fæmne wæs Sarra haten, þæs þe us secgeað bec. Hie þa wintra fela woruld bryttedon, 1725\nsinc ætsomne, sibbe heoldon geara mengeo. Nohwæðre gifeðe wearð Abrahame þa gyt þæt him yrfeweard wlitebeorht ides on woruld brohte, Sarra Abrahame, suna and dohtra. 1730\nGewat him þa mid cnosle ofer Caldea folc feran mid feorme fæder Abrahames; snotor mid gesibbum secean wolde Cananea land. Hine cneowmægas, metode gecorene mid siðedon 1735\nof þære eðeltyrf, Abraham and Loth. Him þa cynegode on Carran æðelinga bearn eard genamon, weras mid wifum. On þam wicum his fæder Abrahames feorh gesealde, 1740\nwærfæst hæle; wintra hæfde twa hundteontig, geteled rime, and fife eac, þa he forð gewat misserum frod metodsceaft seon. ða se halga spræc, heofonrices weard, 1745\nto Abrahame, ece drihten: "Gewit þu nu feran and þine fare lædan, ceapas to cnosle. Carran ofgif, fæder eðelstol. Far, swa ic þe hate, monna leofost, and þu minum wel 1750\nlarum hyre, and þæt land gesec þe ic þe ælgrene ywan wille, brade foldan. þu gebletsad scealt on mundbyrde minre lifigan. Gif ðe ænig eorðbuendra 1755\nmid wean greteð, ic hine wergðo on mine sette and modhete, longsumne nið; lisse selle, wilna wæstme þam þe wurðiað. þurh þe eorðbuende ealle onfoð, 1760\nfolcbearn freoðo and freondscipe, blisse minre and bletsunge on woruldrice. Wriðende sceal mægðe þinre monrim wesan swiðe under swegle sunum and dohtrum, 1765\noðþæt fromcyme folde weorðeð, þeodlond monig þine gefylled." Him þa Abraham gewat æhte lædan of Egipta eðelmearce, gumcystum god, golde and seolfre 1770\nswiðfeorm and gesælig, swa him sigora weard, waldend usser þurh his word abead, ceapas from Carran; sohton Cananea lond and leodgeard. þa com leof gode on þa eðelturf idesa lædan, 1775\nswæse gebeddan and his suhtrian wif on willan. Wintra hæfde fif and hundseofontig ða he faran sceolde, Carran ofgifan and cneowmagas. Him þa feran gewat fæder ælmihtiges 1780\nlare gemyndig land sceawian geond þa folcsceare be frean hæse Abraham wide, oðþæt ellenrof to Sicem com siðe spedig, cynne Cananeis. þa hine cyning engla 1785\nAbrahame iewde selfa, domfæst wereda and drihten cwæð: "þis is seo eorðe þe ic ælgrene tudre þinum torhte wille wæstmum gewlo on geweald don, 1790\nrume rice." þa se rinc gode wibed worhte and þa waldende lifes leohtfruman lac onsægde gasta helme. Him þa gyt gewat Abraham eastan eagum wlitan 1795\non landa cyst, (lisse gemunde heofonweardes gehat, þa him þurh halig word sigora selfcyning soð gecyðde), oðþæt drihtweras duguþum geforan þær is botlwela Bethlem haten. 1800\nBeorn bliðemod and his broðor sunu forð oferforan folcmæro land eastan mid æhtum, æfæste men weallsteapan hleoðu, and him þa wic curon þær him wlitebeorhte wongas geþuhton. 1805\nAbraham þa oðere siðe wibed worhte. He þær wordum god torhtum cigde, tiber onsægde his liffrean, (him þæs lean ageaf nalles hneawlice þurh his hand metend), 1810\non þam gledstyde gumcystum til. ðær ræsbora þrage siððan wicum wunode and wilna breac, beorn mid bryde, oðþæt brohþrea Cananea wearð cynne getenge, 1815\nhunger se hearda, hamsittendum, wælgrim werum. Him þa wishydig Abraham gewat on Egypte, drihtne gecoren, drohtað secan, fleah wærfæst wean; wæs þæt wite to strang. 1820\nAbraham maðelode, geseah Egypta hornsele hwite and hea byrig beorhte blican; ongan þa his bryd frea, wishydig wer, wordum læran: "Siððan Egypte eagum moton 1825\non þinne wlite wlitan wlance monige, þonne æðelinga eorlas wenað, mæg ælfscieno, þæt þu min sie beorht gebedda, þe wile beorna sum him geagnian. Ic me onegan mæg 1830\nþæt me wraðra sum wæpnes ecge for freondmynde feore beneote. Saga þu, Sarra, þæt þu sie sweostor min, lices mæge, þonne þe leodweras fremde fricgen hwæt sie freondlufu 1835\nellðeodigra uncer twega, feorren cumenra. þu him fæste hel soðan spræce; swa þu minum scealt feore gebeorgan, gif me freoðo drihten on woruldrice, waldend usser, 1840\nan ælmihtig, swa he ær dyde, lengran lifes. Se us þas lade sceop, þæt we on Egiptum are sceolde fremena friclan and us fremu secan." þa com ellenrof eorl siðian, 1845\nAbraham mid æhtum on Egypte, þær him folcweras fremde wæron, wine uncuðe. Wordum spræcon ymb þæs wifes wlite wlonce monige, dugeðum dealle; him drihtlicu mæg, 1850\non wlite modgum mænegum ðuhte, cyninges þegnum. Hie þæt cuð dydon heora folcfrean þæt fægerro lyt for æðelinge idesa sunnon, ac hie Sarran swiðor micle, 1855\nwynsumne wlite wordum heredon, oðþæt he lædan heht leoflic wif to his selfes sele. Sinces brytta, æðelinga helm heht Abrahame duguðum stepan. Hwæðere drihten wearð, 1860\nfrea Faraone fah and yrre for wifmyne; þæs wraðe ongeald hearde mid hiwum hægstealdra wyn. Ongæt hwæðere gumena aldor hwæt him waldend wræc witeswingum; 1865\nheht him Abraham to egesum geðreadne brego Egipto, and his bryd ageaf, wif to gewealde; heht him wine ceosan, ellor æðelingas, oðre dugeðe. Abead þa þeodcyning þegnum sinum, 1870\nombihtscealcum, þæt hie hine arlice ealles onsundne eft gebrohten of þære folcsceare, þæt he on friðe wære. ða Abraham æhte lædde of Egypta eðelmearce; 1875\nhie ellenrofe idese feredon, bryd and begas, þæt hie to Bethlem on cuðe wic ceapas læddon, eadge eorðwelan oðre siðe, wif on willan and heora woruldgestreon. 1880\nOngunnon him þa bytlian and heora burh ræran, and sele settan, salo niwian. Weras on wonge wibed setton neah þam þe Abraham æror rærde his waldende þa westan com. 1885\nþær se eadga eft ecan drihtnes niwan stefne noman weorðade; tilmodig eorl tiber onsægde þeodne engla, þancode swiðe lifes leohtfruman lisse and ara. 1890\nWunedon on þam wicum, hæfdon wilna geniht Abraham and Loth. Ead bryttedon, oðþæt hie on þam lande ne meahton leng somed blædes brucan and heora begra þær æhte habban, ac sceoldon arfæste, 1895\nþa rincas þy rumor secan ellor eðelseld. Oft wæron teonan wærfæstra wera weredum gemæne, heardum hearmplega. þa se halga ongan ara gemyndig Abraham sprecan 1900\nfægre to Lothe: "Ic eom fædera þin sibgebyrdum, þu min suhterga. Ne sceolon unc betweonan teonan weaxan, wroht wriðian-- ne þæt wille god! Ac wit synt gemagas; unc gemæne ne sceal 1905\nelles awiht, nymþe eall tela lufu langsumu. Nu þu, Loth, geþenc, þæt unc modige ymb mearce sittað, þeoda þrymfæste þegnum and gesiððum, folc Cananea and Feretia, 1910\nrofum rincum. Ne willað rumor unc landriht heora; forðon wit lædan sculon, teon of þisse stowe, and unc staðolwangas rumor secan. Ic ræd sprece, bearn Arones, begra uncer, 1915\nsoðne secge. Ic þe selfes dom life, leofa. Leorna þe seolfa and geþancmeta þine mode on hwilce healfe þu wille hwyrft don, cyrran mid ceape, nu ic þe cyst abead." 1920\nHim þa Loth gewat land sceawigan be Iordane, grene eorðan. Seo wæs wætrum weaht and wæstmum þeaht, lagostreamum leoht, and gelic godes neorxnawange, oðþæt nergend god 1925\nfor wera synnum wylme gesealde Sodoman and Gomorran, sweartan lige. Him þa eard geceas and eðelsetl sunu Arones on Sodoma byrig; æhte sine ealle lædde, 1930\nbeagas from Bethlem and botlgestreon, welan, wunden gold. Wunode siððan be Iordane geara mænego. þær folcstede fægre wæron, men arlease, metode laðe. 1935\nWæron Sodomisc cynn synnum þriste, dædum gedwolene; drugon heora selfra ecne unræd. æfre ne wolde þam leodþeawum Loth onfon, ac he þære mægðe monwisan fleah, 1940\nþeah þe he on þam lande lifian sceolde, facen and fyrene, and hine fægre heold, þeawfæst and geþyldig on þam þeodscipe, emne þon gelicost, lara gemyndig, þe he ne cuðe hwæt þa cynn dydon. 1945\nAbraham wunode eðeleardum Cananea forð. Hine cyning engla, metod moncynnes mundbyrde heold, wilna wæstmum and worulddugeðum, lufum and lissum; forþon his lof secgað 1950\nwide under wolcnum wera cneorisse, foldwonga bearn. He frean hyrde estum on eðle, ðenden he eardes breac, halig and higefrod; næfre hleowlora æt edwihtan æfre weorðeð 1955\nfeorhberendra forht and acol, mon for metode, þe him æfter a þurh gemynda sped mode and dædum, worde and gewitte, wise þance, oð his ealdorgedal oleccan wile. 1960\nða ic aldor gefrægn Elamitarna fromne folctogan, fyrd gebeodan, Orlahomar; him Ambrafel of Sennar side worulde for on fultum. Gewiton hie feower þa 1965\nþeodcyningas þrymme micle secan suð ðanon Sodoman and Gomorran. þa wæs guðhergum be Iordane wera eðelland wide geondsended, folde feondum. Sceolde forht monig 1970\nblachleor ides bifiende gan on fremdes fæðm; feollon wergend bryda and beaga, bennum seoce. Him þa togeanes mid guðþræce fife foran folccyningas 1975\nsweotum suðon, woldon Sodome burh wraðum werian; þa wintra XII norðmonnum ær niede sceoldon gombon gieldan and gafol sellan, oðþæt þa leode leng ne woldon 1980\nElamitarna aldor swiðan folcgestreonum, ac him from swicon. Foron þa tosomne (francan wæron hlude), wraðe wælherigas. Sang se wanna fugel under deoreðsceaftum, deawigfeðera, 1985\nhræs on wenan. Hæleð onetton on mægencorðrum, modum þryðge, oðþæt folcgetrume gefaren hæfdon sid tosomne suðan and norðan, helmum þeahte. þær wæs heard plega, 1990\nwælgara wrixl, wigcyrm micel, hlud hildesweg. Handum brugdon hæleð of scæðum hringmæled sweord, ecgum dihtig. þær wæs eaðfynde eorle orlegceap, se ðe ær ne wæs 1995\nniðes genihtsum. Norðmen wæron suðfolcum swice; wurdon Sodomware and Gomorre, goldes bryttan, æt þæm lindcrodan leofum bedrorene, fyrdgesteallum. Gewiton feorh heora 2000\nfram þam folcstyde fleame nergan, secgum ofslegene; him on swaðe feollon æðelinga bearn, ecgum ofþegde, willgesiððas. Hæfde wigsigor Elamitarna ordes wisa, 2005\nweold wælstowe. Gewat seo wæpna laf fæsten secan. Fynd gold strudon, ahyðdan þa mid herge hordburh wera, Sodoman and Gomorran, þa sæl ageald, mære ceastra. Mægð siðedon, 2010\nfæmnan and wuduwan, freondum beslægene, from hleowstole. Hettend læddon ut mid æhtum Abrahames mæg of Sodoma byrig. We þæt soð magon secgan furður, hwelc siððan wearð 2015\næfter þæm gehnæste herewulfa sið, þara þe læddon Loth and leoda god, suðmonna sinc, sigore gulpon. Him þa secg hraðe gewat siðian, an gara laf, se ða guðe genæs, 2020\nAbraham secan. Se þæt orlegweorc þam Ebriscan eorle gecyðde, forslegen swiðe Sodoma folc, leoda duguðe and Lothes sið. þa þæt inwitspell Abraham sægde 2025\nfreondum sinum; bæd him fultumes wærfæst hæleð willgeðoftan, Aner and Manre, Escol þriddan, cwæð þæt him wære weorce on mode, sorga sarost, þæt his suhtriga 2030\nþeownyd þolode; bæd him þræcrofe þa rincas þæs ræd ahicgan, þæt his hyldemæg ahreded wurde, beorn mid bryde. Him þa broðor þry æt spræce þære spedum miclum 2035\nhældon hygesorge heardum wordum, ellenrofe, and Abrahame treowa sealdon, þæt hie his torn mid him gewræcon on wraðum, oððe on wæl feollan. þa se halga heht his heorðwerod 2040\nwæpna onfon. He þær wigena fand, æscberendra, XVIII and CCC eac þeodenholdra, þara þe he wiste þæt meahte wel æghwylc on fyrd wegan fealwe linde. 2045\nHim þa Abraham gewat and þa eorlas þry þe him ær treowe sealdon mid heora folcgetrume; wolde his mæg huru, Loth alynnan of laðscipe. Rincas wæron rofe, randas wægon 2050\nforð fromlice on foldwege. Hildewulfas herewicum neh gefaren hæfdon. þa he his frumgaran, wishydig wer, wordum sægde, þares afera, him wæs þearf micel 2055\nþæt hie on twa healfe grimme guðgemot gystum eowdon heardne handplegan; cwæð þæt him se halga, ece drihten, eaðe mihte æt þam spereniðe spede lænan. 2060\nþa ic neðan gefrægn under nihtscuwan hæleð to hilde. Hlyn wearð on wicum scylda and sceafta, sceotendra fyll, guðflana gegrind; gripon unfægre under sceat werum scearpe garas, 2065\nand feonda feorh feollon ðicce, þær hlihende huðe feredon secgas and gesiððas. Sigor eft ahwearf of norðmonna niðgeteone, æsctir wera. Abraham sealde 2070\nwig to wedde, nalles wunden gold, for his suhtrigan, sloh and fylde feond on fitte. Him on fultum grap heofonrices weard. Hergas wurdon feower on fleame, folccyningas, 2075\nleode ræswan. Him on laste stod hihtlic heorðwerod, and hæleð lagon, on swaðe sæton, þa þe Sodoma and Gomorra golde berofan, bestrudon stigwitum. Him þæt stiðe geald 2080\nfædera Lothes. Fleonde wæron Elamitarna aldorduguðe dome bedrorene, oðþæt hie Domasco unfeor wæron. Gewat him Abraham ða on þa wigrode wiðertrod seon 2085\nlaðra monna. Loth wæs ahreded, eorl mid æhtum, idesa hwurfon, wif on willan. Wide gesawon freora feorhbanan fuglas slitan on ecgwale. Abraham ferede 2090\nsuðmonna eft sinc and bryda, æðelinga bearn, oðle nior, mægeð heora magum. Næfre mon ealra lifigendra her lytle werede þon wurðlicor wigsið ateah, 2095\nþara þe wið swa miclum mægne geræsde. þa wæs suð þanon Sodoma folce guðspell wegen, hwelc gromra wearð feonda fromlad. Gewat him frea leoda, eorlum bedroren, Abraham secan, 2100\nfreonda feasceaft. Him ferede mid Solomia sinces hyrde; þæt wæs se mæra Melchisedec, leoda bisceop. Se mid lacum com fyrdrinca fruman fægre gretan, 2105\nAbraham arlice, and him on sette godes bletsunge, and swa gyddode: "Wæs ðu gewurðod on wera rime for þæs eagum þe ðe æsca tir æt guðe forgeaf! þæt is god selfa, 2110\nse ðe hettendra herga þrymmas on geweald gebræc, and þe wæpnum læt rancstræte forð rume wyrcan, huðe ahreddan and hæleð fyllan. On swaðe sæton; ne meahton siðwerod 2115\nguðe spowan, ac hie god flymde, se ðe æt feohtan mid frumgarum wið ofermægnes egsan sceolde handum sinum, and halegu treow, seo þu wið rodora weard rihte healdest." 2120\nHim þa se beorn bletsunga lean þurh hand ageaf, and þæs hereteames ealles teoðan sceat Abraham sealde godes bisceope. þa spræc guðcyning, Sodoma aldor, secgum befylled, 2125\nto Abrahame (him wæs ara þearf). "Forgif me mennen minra leoda, þe þu ahreddest herges cræftum wera wælclommum! Hafa þe wunden gold þæt ær agen wæs ussum folce, 2130\nfeoh and frætwa! Læt me freo lædan eft on eðel æðelinga bearn, on weste wic wif and cnihtas, earme wydewan! Eaforan syndon deade, folcgesiðas, nymðe fea ane, 2135\nþe me mid sceoldon mearce healdan." Him þa Abraham andswarode ædre for eorlum, elne gewurðod, dome and sigore, drihtlice spræc: "Ic þe gehate, hæleða waldend, 2140\nfor þam halgan, þe heofona is and þisse eorðan agendfrea, wordum minum, nis woruldfeoh, þe ic me agan wille, sceat ne scilling, þæs ic on sceotendum, 2145\nþeoden mæra, þines ahredde, æðelinga helm, þy læs þu eft cweðe þæt ic wurde, willgesteallum, eadig on eorðan ærgestreonum Sodoma rices; ac þu selfa most heonon 2150\nhuðe lædan, þe ic þe æt hilde gesloh, ealle buton dæle þissa drihtwera, Aneres and Mamres and Escoles. Nelle ic þa rincas rihte benæman, ac hie me fulleodon æt æscþræce, 2155\nfuhton þe æfter frofre. Gewit þu ferian nu ham hyrsted gold and healsmægeð, leoda idesa. þu þe laðra ne þearft hæleða hildþræce hwile onsittan, norðmanna wig; ac nefuglas 2160\nunder beorhhleoþum blodige sittað, þeodherga wæle þicce gefylled." Gewat him þa se healdend ham siðian mid þy hereteame þe him se halga forgeaf, Ebrea leod arna gemyndig. 2165\nþa gen Abrahame eowde selfa heofona heahcyning halige spræce, trymede tilmodigne and him to reordode: "Meda syndon micla þina! Ne læt þu þe þin mod asealcan, wærfæst willan mines! Ne þearft þu þe wiht ondrædan, 2170\nþenden þu mine lare læstest, ac ic þe lifigende her wið weana gehwam wreo and scylde folmum minum; ne þearft þu forht wesan." Abraham þa andswarode, dædrof drihtne sinum, frægn hine dægrime frod: 2175\n"Hwæt gifest þu me, gasta waldend, freomanna to frofre, nu ic þus feasceaft eom? Ne þearf ic yrfestol eaforan bytlian ænegum minra, ac me æfter sculon mine woruldmagas welan bryttian. 2180\nNe sealdest þu me sunu; forðon mec sorg dreceð on sefan swiðe. Ic sylf ne mæg ræd ahycgan. Gæð gerefa min fægen freobearnum; fæste mynteð ingeþancum þæt me æfter sie 2185\neaforan sine yrfeweardas. Geseoð þæt me of bryde bearn ne wocon." Him þa ædre god andswarode: "Næfre gerefan rædað þine eafora yrfe, ac þin agen bearn 2190\nfrætwa healdeð, þonne þin flæsc ligeð. Sceawa heofon, and hyrste gerim, rodores tungel, þa nu rume heora wuldorfæstne wlite wide dælað ofer brad brymu beorhte scinan. 2195\nSwilc bið mægburge menigo þinre folcbearnum frome. Ne læt þu þin ferhð wesan sorgum asæled. Gien þe sunu weorðeð, bearn of bryde þurh gebyrd cumen, se ðe æfter bið yrfes hyrde, 2200\ngode mære. Ne geomra þu! Ic eom se waldend se þe for wintra fela of Caldea ceastre alædde, feowera sumne, gehet þe folcstede wide to gewealde. Ic þe wære nu, 2205\nmago Ebrea, mine selle, þæt sceal fromcynne folde þine, sidland manig, geseted wurðan, eorðan sceatas oð Eufraten, and from Egypta eðelmearce 2210\nswa mid niðas swa Nilus sceadeð and eft Wendelsæ wide rice. Eall þæt sculon agan eaforan þine, þeodlanda gehwilc, swa þa þreo wæter steape stanbyrig streamum bewindað, 2215\nfamige flodas folcmægða byht." þa wæs Sarran sar on mode, þæt him Abrahame ænig ne wearð þurh gebedscipe bearn gemæne, freolic to frofre. Ongann þa ferhðcearig 2220\nto were sinum wordum mæðlan: "Me þæs forwyrnde waldend heofona, þæt ic mægburge moste þinre rim miclian roderum under eaforum þinum. Nu ic eom orwena 2225\nþæt unc se eðylstæf æfre weorðe gifeðe ætgædere. Ic eom geomorfrod! Drihten min, do swa ic þe bidde! Her is fæmne, freolecu mæg, ides Egyptisc, an on gewealde. 2230\nHat þe þa recene reste gestigan, and afanda hwæðer frea wille ænigne þe yrfewearda on woruld lætan þurh þæt wif cuman." þa se eadega wer idese larum 2235\ngeðafode, heht him þeowmennen on bedd gan bryde larum. Hire mod astah þa heo wæs magotimbre be Abrahame eacen worden. Ongan æfþancum agendfrean 2240\nhalsfæst herian, higeþryðe wæg, wæs laðwendo, lustum ne wolde þeowdom þolian, ac heo þriste ongan wið Sarran swiðe winnan. þa ic þæt wif gefrægn wordum cyðan 2245\nhire mandrihtne modes sorge, sarferhð sægde and swiðe cwæð: "Ne fremest þu gerysnu and riht wið me. þafodest þu gena þæt me þeowmennen, siððan Agar ðe, idese laste, 2250\nbeddreste gestah, swa ic bena wæs, drehte dogora gehwam dædum and wordum unarlice. þæt Agar sceal ongieldan, gif ic mot for þe mine wealdan, Abraham leofa. þæs sie ælmihtig, 2255\ndrihtna drihten, dema mid unc twih." Hire þa ædre andswarode wishidig wer wordum sinum: "Ne forlæte ic þe, þenden wit lifiað bu, arna lease, ac þu þin agen most 2260\nmennen ateon, swa þin mod freoð." ða wearð unbliðe Abrahames cwen, hire worcþeowe wrað on mode, heard and hreðe, higeteonan spræc fræcne on fæmnan. Heo þa fleon gewat 2265\nþrea and þeowdom; þolian ne wolde yfel and ondlean, þæs ðe ær dyde to Sarran, ac heo on sið gewat westen secan. þær hie wuldres þegn, engel drihtnes an gemitte 2270\ngeomormode, se hie georne frægn: "Hwider fundast þu, feasceaft ides, siðas dreogan? þec Sarre ah." Heo him ædre andswarode: "Ic fleah wean, wana wilna gehwilces, 2275\nhlæfdigan hete, hean of wicum, tregan and teonan. Nu sceal tearighleor on westenne witodes bidan, hwonne of heortan hunger oððe wulf sawle and sorge somed abregde." 2280\nHire þa se engel andswarode: "Ne ceara þu feor heonon fleame dælan somwist incre, ac þu sece eft, earna þe ara, eaðmod ongin dreogan æfter dugeðum, wes drihtenhold. 2285\nþu scealt, Agar, Abrahame sunu on woruld bringan. Ic þe wordum nu minum secge, þæt se magorinc sceal mid yldum wesan Ismahel haten. Se bið unhyre, orlæggifre, 2290\nand wiðerbreca wera cneorissum, magum sinum; hine monige on wraðe winnað mid wæpenþræce. Of þam frumgaran folc awæcniað, þeod unmæte. Gewit þu þinne eft 2295\nwaldend secan; wuna þæm þe agon!" Heo þa ædre gewat engles larum hire hlafordum, swa se halga bebead, godes ærendgast, gleawan spræce. þa wearð Abrahame Ismael geboren, 2300\nefne þa he on worulde wintra hæfde VI and LXXX. Sunu weox and ðah, swa se engel ær þurh his agen word, fæle freoðoscealc, fæmnan sægde. þa se ðeoden ymb XIII gear, 2305\nece drihten, wið Abrahame spræc: "Leofa, swa ic þe lære, læst uncre wel treowrædenne! Ic þe on tida gehwone duguðum stepe. Wes þu dædum from willan mines! Ic þa wære forð 2310\nsoðe gelæste, þe ic þe sealde geo frofre to wedde, þæs þin ferhð bemearn. þu scealt halgian hired þinne. Sete sigores tacn soð on gehwilcne wæpnedcynnes, gif þu wille on me 2315\nhlaford habban oððe holdne freond þinum fromcynne. Ic þæs folces beo hyrde and healdend, gif ge hyrað me breostgehygdum and bebodu willað min fullian. Sceal monna gehwilc 2320\nþære cneorisse cildisc wesan wæpnedcynnes, þæs þe on woruld cymð, ymb seofon niht sigores tacne geagnod me, oððe of eorðan þurh feondscipe feor adæled, 2325\nadrifen from duguðum. Doð swa ic hate! Ic eow treowige, gif ge þæt tacen gegaþ soðgeleafan. þu scealt sunu agan, bearn be bryde þinre, þone sculon burhsittende ealle Isaac hatan. Ne þearf þe þæs eaforan sceomigan, 2330\nac ic þam magorince mine sylle godcunde gife gastes mihtum, freondsped fremum. He onfon sceal blisse minre and bletsunge, lufan and lisse. Of þam leodfruman 2335\nbrad folc cumað, bregowearda fela rofe arisað, rices hyrdas, woruldcyningas wide mære." Abraham ða ofestum legde hleor on eorðan, and mid hucse bewand 2340\nþa hleoðorcwydas on hige sinum, modgeðance. He þæs mældæges self ne wende þæt him Sarra, bryd blondenfeax bringan meahte on woruld sunu; wiste gearwe 2345\nþæt þæt wif huru wintra hæfde efne C, geteled rimes. He þa metode oncwæð missarum frod: "Lifge Ismael larum swilce, þeoden, þinum, and þe þanc wege, 2350\nheardrædne hyge, heortan strange, to dreoganne dæges and nihtes wordum and dædum willan þinne." Him þa fægere frea ælmihtig, ece drihten, andswarode: 2355\n"þe sceal wintrum frod on woruld bringan Sarra sunu, soð forð gan wyrd æfter þissum wordgemearcum. Ic Ismael estum wille bletsian nu, swa þu bena eart 2360\nþinum frumbearne, þæt feorhdaga on woruldrice worn gebide, tanum tudre. þu þæs tiða beo! Hwæðre ic Isace, eaforan þinum, geongum bearne, þam þe gen nis 2365\non woruld cumen, willa spedum dugeða gehwilcre on dagum wille swiðor stepan and him soðe to modes wære mine gelæstan, halige higetreowa, and him hold wesan." 2370\nAbraham fremede swa him se eca bebead, sette friðotacen be frean hæse on his selfes sunu, heht þæt segn wegan heah gehwilcne, þe his hina wæs wæpnedcynnes, wære gemyndig, 2375\ngleaw on mode, ða him god sealde soðe treowa, and þa seolf onfeng torhtum tacne. A his tir metod, domfæst cyning, dugeðum iecte on woruldrice; he him þæs worhte to, 2380\nsiððan he on fære furðum meahte his waldendes willan fremman. þa þæt wif ahloh wereda drihtnes nalles glædlice, ac heo gearum frod þone hleoðorcwyde husce belegde 2385\non sefan swiðe. Soð ne gelyfde, þæt þære spræce sped folgode. þa þæt gehyrde heofona waldend, þæt on bure ahof bryd Abrahames hihtleasne hleahtor, þa cwæð halig god: 2390\n"Ne wile Sarran soð gelyfan wordum minum. Sceal seo wyrd swa þeah forð steallian swa ic þe æt frymðe gehet. Soð ic þe secge, on þas sylfan tid of idese bið eafora wæcned. 2395\nþonne ic þas ilcan oðre siðe wic gesece, þe beoð wordgehat min gelæsted. þu on magan wlitest, þin agen bearn, Abraham leofa!" Gewiton him þa ædre ellorfuse 2400\næfter þære spræce spedum feran of þam hleoðorstede, halige gastas, lastas legdon, (him wæs Lothes mæg sylfa on gesiððe), oðþæt hie on Sodoman, weallsteape burg, wlitan meahton. 2405\nGesawon ofer since salo hlifian, reced ofer readum golde. Ongan þa rodera waldend, arfæst wið Abraham sprecan, sægde him unlytel spell: "Ic on þisse byrig bearhtm gehyre, synnigra cyrm swiðe hludne, 2410\nealogalra gylp, yfele spræce werod under weallum habban; forþon wærlogona sint, folces firena hefige. Ic wille fandigan nu, mago Ebrea, hwæt þa men don, gif hie swa swiðe synna fremmað 2415\nþeawum and geþancum, swa hie on þweorh sprecað facen and inwit; þæt sceal fyr wrecan, swefyl and sweart lig sare and grimme, hat and hæste hæðnum folce." Weras basnedon witelaces, 2420\nwean under weallum, and heora wif somed. Duguðum wlance drihtne guldon god mid gnyrne, oðþæt gasta helm, lifes leohtfruma leng ne wolde torn þrowigean, ac him to sende 2425\nstiðmod cyning strange twegen aras sine, þa on æfentid siðe gesohton Sodoma ceastre. Hie þa æt burhgeate beorn gemitton sylfne sittan sunu Arones, 2430\nþæt þam gleawan were geonge þuhton men for his eagum. Aras þa metodes þeow gastum togeanes, gretan eode cuman cuðlice, cynna gemunde riht and gerisno, and þam rincum bead 2435\nnihtfeormunge. Him þa nergendes æðele ærendracan andswarodon: "Hafa arna þanc, þara þe þu unc bude! Wit be þisse stræte stille þencað sæles bidan, siððan sunnan eft 2440\nforð to morgen metod up forlæt." þa to fotum Loth þam giestum hnah, and him georne bead reste and gereorda and his recedes hleow and þegnunge. Hie on þanc curon 2445\næðelinges est, eodon sona, swa him se Ebrisca eorl wisade, in undor edoras. þær him se æðela geaf, gleawferhð hæle, giestliðnysse fægre on flette, oðþæt forð gewat 2450\næfenscima. þa com æfter niht on last dæge. Lagustreamas wreah, þrym mid þystro þisses lifes, sæs and sidland. Comon Sodomware, geonge and ealde, gode unleofe 2455\ncorðrum miclum cuman acsian, þæt hie behæfdon herges mægne Loth mid giestum. Heton lædan ut of þam hean hofe halige aras, weras to gewealde, wordum cwædon 2460\nþæt mid þam hæleðum hæman wolden unscomlice, arna ne gymden. þa aras hraðe, se ðe oft ræd ongeat, Loth on recede, eode lungre ut, spræc þa ofer ealle æðelinga gedriht 2465\nsunu Arones, snytra gemyndig: "Her syndon inne unwemme twa dohtor mine. Doð, swa ic eow bidde (ne can þara idesa owðer gieta þurh gebedscipe beorna neawest) 2470\nand geswicað þære synne. Ic eow sylle þa, ær ge sceonde wið gesceapu fremmen, ungifre yfel ylda bearnum. Onfoð þæm fæmnum, lætað frið agon gistas mine, þa ic for gode wille 2475\ngemundbyrdan, gif ic mot, for eow." Him þa seo mænigeo þurh gemæne word, arlease cyn, andswarode: "þis þinceð gerisne and riht micel, þæt þu ðe aferige of þisse folcsceare. 2480\nþu þas werðeode wræccan laste freonda feasceaft feorran gesohtest, wineþearfende. Wilt ðu, gif þu most, wesan usser her aldordema, leodum lareow?" þa ic on Lothe gefrægn 2485\nhæðne heremæcgas handum gripan, faum folmum. Him fylston wel gystas sine, and hine of gromra þa, cuman arfæste, clommum abrugdon in under edoras, and þa ofstlice 2490\nanra gehwilcum ymbstandendra folces Sodoma fæste forsæton heafodsiena. Wearð eal here sona burhwarena blind. Abrecan ne meahton reðemode reced æfter gistum, 2495\nswa hie fundedon, ac þær frome wæron godes spellbodan. Hæfde gistmægen stiðe strengeo, styrnde swiðe werode mid wite. Spræcon wordum þa fæle freoðoscealcas fægre to Lothe: 2500\n"Gif þu sunu age oððe swæsne mæg, oððe on þissum folcum freond ænigne eac þissum idesum þe we her on wlitað, alæde of þysse leodbyrig, þa ðe leofe sien, ofestum miclum, and þin ealdor nere, 2505\nþy læs þu forweorðe mid þyssum wærlogan. Unc hit waldend heht for wera synnum Sodoma and Gomorra sweartan lige, fyre gesyllan and þas folc slean, cynn on ceastrum mid cwealmþrea 2510\nand his torn wrecan. þære tide is neah geþrungen. Gewit þu nergean þin feorh foldwege. þe is frea milde." Him þa ædre Loth andswarode: "Ne mæg ic mid idesum aldornere mine 2515\nswa feor heonon feðegange siðe gesecan. Git me sibblufan and freondscipe fægre cyðað, treowe and hyldo tiðiað me. Ic wat hea burh her ane neah, 2520\nlytle ceastre. Lyfað me þær are and reste, þæt we aldornere on Sigor up secan moten. Gif git þæt fæsten fyre willað steape forstandan, on þære stowe we 2525\ngesunde magon sæles bidan, feorh generigan." Him þa freondlice englas arfæste andswaredon: "þu scealt þære bene, nu þu ymb þa burh sprycest, tiða weorðan. Teng recene to 2530\nþam fæstenne; wit þe friðe healdað and mundbyrde. Ne moton wyt on wærlogum wrecan torn godes, swebban synnig cynn, ær ðon þu on Sægor þin bearn gelæde and bryd somed." 2535\nþa onette Abrahames mæg to þam fæstenne. Feðe ne sparode eorl mid idesum, ac he ofstum forð lastas legde, oðþæt he gelædde bryd mid bearnum under burhlocan 2540\nin Sægor his. þa sunne up, folca friðcandel, furðum eode, þa ic sendan gefrægn swegles aldor swefl of heofnum and sweartne lig werum to wite, weallende fyr, 2545\nþæs hie on ærdagum drihten tyndon lange þrage. Him þæs lean forgeald gasta waldend! Grap heahþrea on hæðencynn. Hlynn wearð on ceastrum, cirm arleasra cwealmes on ore, 2550\nlaðan cynnes. Lig eall fornam þæt he grenes fond goldburgum in, swylce þær ymbutan unlytel dæl sidre foldan geondsended wæs bryne and brogan. Bearwas wurdon 2555\nto axan and to yslan, eorðan wæstma, efne swa wide swa ða witelac reðe geræhton rum land wera. Strudende fyr steapes and geapes, swogende leg, forswealh eall geador 2560\nþæt on Sodoma byrig secgas ahton and on Gomorra. Eall þæt god spilde, frea mid þy folce. þa þæt fyrgebræc, leoda lifgedal, Lothes gehyrde bryd on burgum, under bæc beseah 2565\nwið þæs wælfylles. Us gewritu secgað þæt heo on sealtstanes sona wurde anlicnesse. æfre siððan se monlica (þæt is mære spell) stille wunode, þær hie strang begeat 2570\nwite, þæs heo wordum wuldres þegna hyran ne wolde. Nu sceal heard and steap on þam wicum wyrde bidan, drihtnes domes, hwonne dogora rim, woruld gewite. þæt is wundra sum, 2575\nþara ðe geworhte wuldres aldor. Him þa Abraham gewat ana gangan mid ærdæge þæt he eft gestod þær wordum ær wið his waldend spræc frod frumgara. He geseah from foldan up 2580\nwide fleogan wælgrimne rec. Hie þæs wlenco onwod and wingedrync þæt hie firendæda to frece wurdon, synna þriste, soð ofergeaton, drihtnes domas, and hwa him dugeða forgeaf, 2585\nblæd on burgum. Forþon him brego engla wylmhatne lig to wræce sende. Waldend usser gemunde wærfæst þa Abraham arlice, swa he oft dyde leofne mannan. Loth generede, 2590\nmæg þæs oðres, þa seo mænegeo forwearð. Ne dorste þa dædrof hæle for frean egesan on þam fæstenne leng eardigean, ac him Loth gewat of byrig gangan and his bearn somed 2595\nwælstowe fyrr wic sceawian, oðþæt hie be hliðe heare dune eorðscræf fundon. þær se eadega Loth wærfæst wunode, waldende leof, dægrimes worn and his dohtor twa. 2600\nHie dydon swa; druncnum eode seo yldre to ær on reste heora bega fæder. Ne wiste blondenfeax hwonne him fæmnan to bryde him bu wæron, on ferhðcofan fæste genearwod 2605\nmode and gemynde, þæt he mægða sið wine druncen gewitan ne meahte. Idesa wurdon eacne, eaforan brohtan willgesweostor on woruld sunu heora ealdan fæder. þara æðelinga 2610\nmodor oðerne Moab nemde, Lothes dohter, seo on life wæs wintrum yldre. Us gewritu secgeað, godcunde bec, þæt seo gingre hire agen bearn Ammon hete. 2615\nOf þam frumgarum folces unrim, þrymfæste twa þeoda awocon. Oðre þara mægða Moabitare eorðbuende ealle hatað, widmære cynn, oðre weras nemnað, 2620\næðelinga bearn, Ammonitare. Gewat him þa mid bryde broðor Arones under Abimelech æhte lædan mid his hiwum. Hæleðum sægde þæt Sarra his sweostor wære, 2625\nAbraham wordum (bearh his aldre), þy he wiste gearwe þæt he winemaga, on folce lyt freonda hæfde. þa se þeoden his þegnas sende, heht hie bringan to him selfum. 2630\nþa wæs ellþeodig oðre siðe wif Abrahames from were læded on fremdes fæðm. Him þær fylste þa ece drihten, swa he oft dyde, nergend usser. Com nihtes self, 2635\nþær se waldend læg wine druncen. Ongan þa soðcyning þurh swefn sprecan to þam æðelinge and him yrre hweop: "þu Abrahames idese gename, bryde æt beorne. þe abregdan sceal 2640\nfor þære dæde deað of breostum sawle þine." Him symbelwerig sinces brytta þurh slæp oncwæð: "Hwæt, þu æfre, engla þeoden, þurh þin yrre wilt aldre lætan, 2645\nheah beheowan, þæne þe her leofað rihtum þeawum, bið on ræde fæst, modgeþance, and him miltse to þe seceð? Me sægde ær þæt wif hire wordum selfa 2650\nunfricgendum, þæt heo Abrahames sweostor wære. Næbbe ic synne wið hie, facna ænig gefremed gena." Him þa ædre eft ece drihten, soðfæst metod, þurh þæt swefn oncwæð: 2655\n"Agif Abrahame idese sine, wif to gewealde, gif þu on worulde leng, æðelinga helm, aldres recce. He is god and gleaw, mæg self wið god sprecan, geseon sweglcyning. þu sweltan scealt 2660\nmid feo and mid feorme, gif ðu þam frumgaran bryde wyrnest. He abiddan mæg, gif he ofstum me ærendu wile þeawfæst and geþyldig þin abeodan, þæt ic þe lissa lifigendum giet 2665\non dagum læte duguþa brucan sinces gesundne." þa slæpe tobrægd forht folces weard. Heht him fetigean to gesprecan sine, spedum sægde eorlum Abimeleh, egesan geðread, 2670\nwaldendes word. Weras him ondredon for þære dæde drihtnes handa sweng æfter swefne. Heht sylf cyning him þa Abraham to ofstum miclum. þa reordode rice þeoden: 2675\n"Mago Ebrea, þæs þu me wylle wordum secgean, hu geworhte ic þæt, siððan þu usic under, Abraham, þine on þas eðelturf æhta læddest, þæt þu me þus swiðe searo renodest? 2680\nþu ellþeodig usic woldest on þisse folcsceare facne besyrwan, synnum besmitan, sægdest wordum þæt Sarra þin sweostor wære, lices mæge, woldest laðlice 2685\nþurh þæt wif on me wrohte alecgean, ormæte yfel. We þe arlice gefeormedon, and þe freondlice on þisse werþeode wic getæhton, land to lissum. þu us leanast nu, 2690\nunfreondlice fremena þancast!" Abraham þa andswarode: "Ne dyde ic for facne ne for feondscipe ne for wihte þæs ic þe wean uðe. Ac ic me, gumena baldor, guðbordes sweng 2695\nleodmagum feor lare gebearh, siððan me se halga of hyrde frean, mines fæder fyrn alædde. Ic fela siððan folca gesohte, wina uncuðra, and þis wif mid me, 2700\nfreonda feasceaft. Ic þæs færes a on wenum sæt hwonne me wraðra sum ellþeodigne aldre beheowe, se ðe him þas idese eft agan wolde. Forðon ic wigsmiðum wordum sægde 2705\nþæt Sarra min sweostor wære æghwær eorðan þær wit earda leas mid wealandum winnan sceoldon. Ic þæt ilce dreah on þisse eðyltyrf, siððan ic þina, þeoden mæra, 2710\nmundbyrde geceas. Ne wæs me on mode cuð, hwæðer on þyssum folce frean ælmihtiges egesa wære, þa ic her ærest com. Forþon ic þegnum þinum dyrnde and sylfum þe swiðost micle 2715\nsoðan spræce, þæt me Sarra bryde laste beddreste gestah." þa ongan Abimæleh Abraham swiðan woruldgestreonum and him his wif ageaf. Sealde him to bote, þæs þe he his bryd genam, 2720\ngangende feoh and glæd seolfor and weorcþeos. Spræc þa wordum eac to Abrahame æðelinga helm: "wuna mid usic and þe wic geceos on þissum lande þær þe leofost sie, 2725\neðelstowe, þe ic agan sceal. Wes us fæle freond, we ðe feoh syllað!" Cwæð þa eft raðe oðre worde to Sarran sinces brytta: "Ne þearf ðe on edwit Abraham settan, 2730\nðin freadrihten, þæt þu flettpaðas, mæg ælfscieno, mine træde, ac him hygeteonan hwitan seolfre deope bete. Ne ceara incit duguða of ðisse eðyltyrf ellor secan, 2735\nwinas uncuðe, ac wuniað her." Abraham fremede swa hine his aldor heht, onfeng freondscipe be frean hæse, lufum and lissum. He wæs leof gode. Forðon he sibbe gesælig dreah 2740\nand his scippende under sceade gefor, hleowfeðrum þeaht, her þenden lifde. þa gien wæs yrre god Abimelehe for þære synne þe he wið Sarrai and wið Abrahame ær gefremede, 2745\nþa he gedælde him deore twa, wif and wæpned. He þæs weorc gehleat, frecne wite. Ne meahton freo ne þeowe heora bregoweardas bearnum ecan monrim mægeð, ac him þæt metod forstod, 2750\noðþæt se halga his hlaforde Abraham ongan arna biddan ecne drihten. Him engla helm getigðode, tuddorsped onleac folccyninge freora and þeowra, 2755\nwera and wifa; let weaxan eft heora rimgetel rodora waldend, ead and æhta. ælmihtig wearð milde on mode, moncynnes weard, Abimeleche, swa hine Abraham bæd. 2760\nþa com feran frea ælmihtig to Sarrai, swa he self gecwæð, waldend usser, hæfde wordbeot leofum gelæsted, lifes aldor eaforan and idese. Abrahame woc 2765\nbearn of bryde, þone brego engla, ær ðy magotudre modor wære eacen be eorle, Isaac nemde. Hine Abraham on mid his agene hand beacen sette, swa him bebead metod, 2770\nwuldortorht ymb wucan, þæs þe hine on woruld to moncynne modor brohte. Cniht weox and þag, swa him cynde wæron æðele from yldrum. Abraham hæfde wintra hundteontig þa him wif sunu 2775\non þanc gebær. He þæs ðrage bad, siððan him ærest þurh his agen word þone dægwillan drihten bodode. þa seo wyrd gewearð þæt þæt wif geseah for Abrahame Ismael plegan, 2780\nðær hie æt swæsendum sæton bu tu, halig on hige, and heora hiwan eall, druncon and drymdon. þa cwæð drihtlecu mæg, bryd to beorne: "Forgif me, beaga weard, min swæs frea, hat siðian 2785\nAgar ellor and Ismael lædan mid hie! Ne beoð we leng somed willum minum, gif ic wealdan mot. Næfre Ismael wið Isace, wið min agen bearn yrfe dæleð 2790\non laste þe, þonne þu of lice aldor asendest." þa wæs Abrahame weorce on mode þæt he on wræc drife his selfes sunu, þa com soð metod freom on fultum, wiste ferhð guman 2795\ncearum on clommum. Cyning engla spræc to Abrahame, ece drihten: "Læt þe aslupan sorge of breostum, modgewinnan, and mægeð hire, bryde þinre! Hat bu tu aweg 2800\nAgar feran and Ismael, cniht of cyððe! Ic his cynn gedo brad and bresne bearna tudre, wæstmum spedig, swa ic þe wordum gehet." þa se wer hyrde his waldende, 2805\ndraf of wicum dreorigmod tu, idese of earde and his agen bearn. "Sweotol is and gesene þæt þe soð metod on gesiððe is, swegles aldor, se ðe sigor seleð snytru mihtum 2810\nand þin mod trymeð, godcundum gifum. Forðon ðe giena speow, þæs þu wið freond oððe feond fremman ongunne wordum oððe dædum. Waldend scufeð, frea on forðwegas folmum sinum 2815\nwillan þinne. þæt is wide cuð burhsittendum. Ic þe bidde nu, wine Ebrea, wordum minum, þæt þu tilmodig treowa selle, wæra þina, þæt þu wille me 2820\nwesan fæle freond fremena to leane, þara þe ic to duguðum ðe gedon hæbbe, siððan ðu feasceaft feorran come on þas werþeode wræccan laste. Gyld me mid hyldo, þæt ic þe hneaw ne wæs 2825\nlandes and lissa. Wes þissum leodum nu and mægburge minre arfæst, gif þe alwalda, ure drihten, scirian wille, se ðe gesceapu healdeð, þæt þu randwigum rumor mote 2830\non ðisse folcsceare frætwa dælan, modigra gestreon, mearce settan." ða Abraham Abimelehe wære sealde þæt he wolde swa. Siððan wæs se eadega eafora þares 2835\nin Filistea folce eardfæst, leod Ebrea lange þrage, feasceaft mid fremdum. Him frea engla wic getæhte þæt weras hatað burhsittende Bersabea lond. 2840\nðær se halga heahsteap reced, burh timbrede and bearo sette, weobedd worhte, and his waldende on þam glædstede gild onsægde, lac geneahe, þam þe lif forgeaf, 2845\ngesæliglic swegle under. þa þæs rinces se rica ongan cyning costigan, cunnode georne hwilc þæs æðelinges ellen wære, stiðum wordum spræc him stefne to: 2850\n"Gewit þu ofestlice, Abraham, feran, lastas lecgan and þe læde mid þin agen bearn. þu scealt Isaac me onsecgan, sunu ðinne, sylf to tibre. Siððan þu gestigest steape dune, 2855\nhrincg þæs hean landes, þe ic þe heonon getæce, up þinum agnum fotum, þær þu scealt ad gegærwan, bælfyr bearne þinum, and blotan sylf sunu mid sweordes ecge, and þonne sweartan lige leofes lic forbærnan and me lac bebeodan." 2860\nNe forsæt he þy siðe, ac sona ongann fysan to fore. Him wæs frean engla word ondrysne and his waldend leof. þa se eadga Abraham sine nihtreste ofgeaf. Nalles nergendes 2865\nhæse wiðhogode, ac hine se halga wer gyrde grægan sweorde, cyðde þæt him gasta weardes egesa on breostum wunode. Ongan þa his esolas bætan gamolferhð goldes brytta, heht hine geonge twegen men mid siðian. Mæg wæs his agen þridda 2870\nand he feorða sylf. þa he fus gewat from his agenum hofe Isaac lædan, bearn unweaxen, swa him bebead metod. Efste þa swiðe and onette forð foldwege, swa him frea tæhte 2875\nwegas ofer westen, oðþæt wuldortorht, dæges þriddan up ofer deop wæter ord aræmde. þa se eadega wer geseah hlifigan hea dune swa him sægde ær swegles aldor. 2880\nða Abraham spræc to his ombihtum: "Rincas mine, restað incit her on þissum wicum. Wit eft cumað, siððan wit ærende uncer twega gastcyninge agifen habbað." 2885\nGewat him þa se æðeling and his agen sunu to þæs gemearces þe him metod tæhte, wadan ofer wealdas. Wudu bær sunu, fæder fyr and sweord. ða þæs fricgean ongann wer wintrum geong wordum Abraham: 2890\n"Wit her fyr and sweord, frea min, habbað; hwær is þæt tiber, þæt þu torht gode to þam brynegielde bringan þencest?" Abraham maðelode (hæfde on an gehogod þæt he gedæde swa hine drihten het): 2895\n"Him þæt soðcyning sylfa findeð, moncynnes weard, swa him gemet þinceð." Gestah þa stiðhydig steape dune up mid his eaforan, swa him se eca bebead, þæt he on hrofe gestod hean landes 2900\non þære stowe þe him se stranga to, wærfæst metod wordum tæhte. Ongan þa ad hladan, æled weccan, and gefeterode fet and honda bearne sinum and þa on bæl ahof 2905\nIsaac geongne, and þa ædre gegrap sweord be gehiltum, wolde his sunu cwellan folmum sinum, fyre scencan mæges dreore. þa metodes ðegn, ufan engla sum, Abraham hlude 2910\nstefne cygde. He stille gebad ares spræce and þam engle oncwæð. Him þa ofstum to ufan of roderum wuldorgast godes wordum mælde: "Abraham leofa, ne sleah þin agen bearn, 2915\nac þu cwicne abregd cniht of ade, eaforan þinne! Him an wuldres god! Mago Ebrea, þu medum scealt þurh þæs halgan hand, heofoncyninges, soðum sigorleanum selfa onfon, 2920\nginfæstum gifum. þe wile gasta weard lissum gyldan þæt þe wæs leofre his sibb and hyldo þonne þin sylfes bearn." Ad stod onæled. Hæfde Abrahame metod moncynnes, mæge Lothes, 2925\nbreost geblissad, þa he him his bearn forgeaf, Isaac cwicne. ða se eadega bewlat, rinc ofer exle, and him þær rom geseah unfeor þanon ænne standan, broðor Arones, brembrum fæstne. 2930\nþone Abraham genam and hine on ad ahof ofestum miclum for his agen bearn. Abrægd þa mid þy bille, brynegield onhread, reccendne weg rommes blode, onbleot þæt lac gode, sægde leana þanc 2935\nand ealra þara sælða þe he him sið and ær, gifena drihten, forgifen hæfde.