24 January 2012

Caedmon's Hymn



Now scaling here again heaven-reich's ward,
Majesty, might, and his wisdom,
Work elder-father so he under gives,
Each draft or after laid,
His first scope old [those who] live in barns,
Heaven to roof holy stems,
Then Midgard mankind's ward,
Each drafting after to-day,
For them in fold, free, almighty.

First sang Caedmon, this song.

// Cædmon (A.D. 658-680)
Cædmon's Hymn

1 Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard
2 metudæs maecti end his modgidanc
3 uerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuaes
4 eci dryctin or astelidæ
5 he aerist scop aelda barnum
6 heben til hrofe haleg scepen.
7 tha middungeard moncynnæs uard
8 eci dryctin æfter tiadæ
9 firum foldu frea allmectig

Primo cantauit Cædmon istud carmen.