Early English Christian Poetry, transl. Charles Kennedy

EARLY ENGLISH CHRISTIAN POETRY, Oxford 1952 rpr. 1963, 1972, Charles Kennedy

THE REBELLION AND FALL OF LUCIFER, (Genesis 1-91)

Never had He birth nor any beginning

Fraught with torment and filled with flame,
With freezing cold, red fire and smoke

…Behind them lay
In God’s fair kingdom far-stretching seats
Filled with abundance of growing gifts,
Verdant and sunny, vacant of dwellers,
After the evil angels were cast into hell

LAMENTATIONS OF THE FALLEN ANGELS (Christ and Satan, 1-364)

He Himself, God’s own Son,
May search out the sea, the depths of ocean,
And fully reckon the showers of rain,
Every drop.

By your lies you taught us not to serve the Lord.
To you alone it seemed you had power over all

In your glory you weened that you owned the world,
Had power over all things, and we angels with you.
Foul is your aspect!

…They had for their hope
The floors of hell and burning affliction

He spat out sparks beginning his speech,
Fire and poison

This terrible home is filled full with horror.
We have nowhere to hide our heads in the gloom of hell

…Now wretched and ruined
My ways shall be exile, my wanderings wide

That land more beauteous than this world can be.
There it is fair and lovely with fruits that shine
Bright o’er earth’s cities, a spacious realm

Sublime of speech rose the Shaper of angels
Before Whose splendour the saints bowed down.
Triumphant arose the Eternal Lord
High over us standing with His dear Son,
The Shaper of souls, showering blessing
Each day on the sinless.

Then are they blessed who come from earth
And bear in their bosoms fragrant blooms
And winsome herbs (which are words of God)


THE FALL OF MAN (Genesis 92-964) (Genesis B, translation of the Old English from the Old Saxon)

...earth-creatures in stead
Of the rebel host that He hurled from on high.
As yet was naught save shadows of darkness,
But the wide abyss stood deep and dim,
Alien to God, empty and idle.

Then shining in glory the spirit of God
Moved on the waters with wondrous might

In the midst of the waters the Lord of life
Formed the fair firmament; with mighty power
Raised up the heavens high above earth

…Nor shall ye know want,
Or dearth of good things…

…His handiwork
Dwelt together on earth, knew naught of grief
Nor any care, but only to cleave
To the will of the Lord…

He made one so strong, so mighty of mind;
Gave him such power next unto God
In the heavenly kingdom; shaped him so shining;
So fair the form God fashioned for him;
That his beauty was like to the blazing stars

Why must I slave? What need (quoth he)
That I serve a master?...

God cast him from favour and flung him to hell,
To the deep abyss where he was changed to a devil,
The Fiend and his followers…

If one of you can win them in any way
To forsake God’s law...

He had craft of speech and cunning of word

Therefore I can not hearken. Get you hence!

…Eat of this fruit!
Then your eyes shall have light to look afar
Over all the world, even unto the throne
Of your Lord in heaven, and have His favour

And so with lies and with luring wiles
He urged the woman…

…Nor will I upbraid
Or charge against him his graceless speech

Some she bore in her hands, some on her breast,
Of the fatal apples...

Holy God gave all men a heavenly home
And abundant blessings if they would but forgo
The fearful harvest, the bitter fruit,
Which that baleful tree bore on its branches.
Those were the boughs of death which the Lord forbade!

…I can see from here
Where He sits in splendour in the south and east,
Who shaped this world…

…Now hunger and thirst
Are bitter in my breast, whereof we both
From the first beginning have been always free

…and we stand bare,
Naked of raiment…

Sad of spirit they stole away
In the shade of the trees, shorn of their splendour

Because you have done this loathsome deed
The woman shall hate you, abhor under heaven.
She shall crush with her foot your unclean head;
You shall lurk in hiding to strike at her heel

Now you have learned, now you know,
Loathsome Tempter, how you shall live

ADVENT LYRICS (Selected from Christ 1)

…The work hath need
That the Craftsman come, the King Himself

The Maid was young, the Immaculate Virgin,
Whom He chose as Mother; without man’s love
The Bride grew great with the Son’s conception

…come Thyself
To illumine those who have long been sitting
Attired with darkness in eternal night,
Where clothed with sin and covered with shadows
They needs must endure Death’s dark shade

Then swift it ensued, as well it should,
That radiance shone for the sons of men,
Bright with stars, through the rolling seasons

We have need of Thy mercy. The dark Death-Shadow,
The Accursed Wolf, hath scattered Thy sheep
And widely dispersed them; what Thou, the Wielder,
Bought with Thy blood, that doth the Wicked One
Take into bondage, and smiteth sore
Against our desire. O Saviour Lord
In our inmost thoughts we eagerly beg:
Hasten to help us, miserable sinners,
That the Prince of torture may plunge to hall

…He granteth them grace,
Even the Hallowed One, the Healer Himself,
In a country whereto they came not before,
The land of the living, of angels’ delight,
Where their home shall be henceforth for ever
In bliss to all ages, world without end. Amen.

A DREAM OF THE CROSS (Dream of the Rood)

Jewels adorned it fair at the foot,
Five on the shoulder-beam, blazing in splendour.
Through all creation the angels of God
Beheld it shining— no cross of shame!

Saddened and rueful, smitten with terror
At the wondrous Vision, I saw the Cross
Swiftly varying vesture and hue,
Now wet and stained with the Blood outwelling,
Now fairly jeweled with gold and gems

And then will He judge, Who has power of judgment,
To each man according as here on earth
In this fleeting life he shall win reward

Then with ardent spirit and earnest zeal,
Companionless, lonely, I prayed to the Cross.
My soul was fain of death. I had endured
Many an hour of longing

THE ASCENSION (Christ 440-866)

He had fulfilled what was formerly spoken,
The words of the prophets through all the world,
By His Cross and Passion

Destroy their idols, break and abolish;

…Plainly you know
Who is the Lord that leads this band

Dew falls and rain bringing forth plenty
To sustain the lives of the sons of men,
Enlarging abundance

Of Him sang Job, who well could sing,
Adoring the Prince and praising the Saviour

…For the flight of that Fowl
Was concealed and secret from its foes on earth

…Winsomeness of earth’s treasures
Shall be departed. Our portion of life’s joy
Was long washed with floods, all wealth on earth

But He shall be grim when He comes again

ST ANDREW’S MISSION TO MERMEDONIA (Andreas)

All that district and dwelling of men
Was compassed with death and the crime of the foe.
No bread for food was found in that country,
No draught of water. The dwellers there
Ate blood and skin, the bodies of any
Who came from afar…

…By craft their magicians
Blended a bitter and deadly drink
Perverting the reason, the minds, of men.
Their hearts were altered; for human joys
They grieved no longer but fiercely greedy
And plagued with hunger ate grass and hay

And Thee I beg, Bright Giver of bliss,
Father of angels and Judge of all,
To assign me not among savage foes,
Vile workers of sin, to the worst of deaths

Daylight came and the stir of dawn

How can I fare on so far a course
Over the deep ocean so soon as Thou sayest?
But this Thine angel may easily do.
From heaven he sees the ocean-stretches,
All the swan-road and the salt sea-streams,
The tumult of waves, the water-terror,
The ways that lengthen across wide lands

…Slight were the task
For God Almighty to command on earth,
Under the sun, that this city be moved
Unto this country

…In performing this errand
Can be no delay. You shall risk your life;
The path shall lead to the power of the foe
Where the crash of battle shall come upon you

…His native land, the lovely home
Where the souls of the righteous after death’s ruin
Long may rejoice…

He saw there waiting three stately sailors
Geared for the voyage, great-hearted men
In their wave-boat sitting as if come from over sea.
‘Twas the Lord Himself, the Leader of men,
Almighty, Eternal, with His angels twain.

Whence have the sea-streams brought your ship
O’er the tossing main?...

If we desert you whither shall we wander
Lordless and lonely, lacking all good?
We shall be loathed in every land

You all had purposed when you put to sea
To lead your life mid a hostile folk

They besought the Master for safety and help.
All the ship’s company cried in terror

Sage of counsel he began to speak,
Wise of wit he unlocked his word-hoard

…Over every folk
He rules by right Who raised up the heavens

The billows abated, the tumult of breakers

Thy name is hallowed near and far,
Clothed with splendour among mankind,
For mercies magnified

False and cruel, they had no faith
In the Lord of life that He was God

Many He wakened by His word from death

So of old it befell that the Judge Triumphant,
The Lord Almighty, went on His way

Let this wondrous image step down from the wall
To the ground, and tell in truthful words
What My lineage is, that men may belive

…Sin blossomed
In the bosoms of men…

But there shall be misery, punishment meted

…now later I know
Who it was ferried me over the floods
With wealth of honour in that wooden boat

I will hold you safe that savage foemen,
Fierce workers of sin, may not harm your soul

He beheld Matthew in the house of torture
Constrained in darkness but stout of heart

Two hundred forty from bonds set free,
Saved from affliction. Fast in the dungeon
He left no one.

The valiant comrades, faithful friends,
Held counsel together ere they went their ways;
Each cheered the other with hope of heaven
Defending their souls from the fiends of hell

With hellish arts and heathen rites

Harden your spirit, make steadfast your heart
That men may perceive My strength in you

Upraised His body upon the Rood,
And there on the gallows He gave up the ghost.
Even so I command my mighty thanes,
Loyal in battle, that they abase you!
Let point of spear and poisoned arrow
Drive home deep in the doomed flesh.
Go boldly now; break the warrior’s boast

Fain would they flee from the dark flood
And save their lives, seek out shelter
And find a housing in the hill ravines.
But an angel withstood, overspreading the city
With gleaming fire, hot surge of flame.
Fierce through the town the flood-tide swept

With one accord all cried aloud

…The herald of God
Established a wise man sage of word
To rule as Bishop in the radiant city.
Through his power as Apostle he hallowed him there
Before the assembly to serve their need

For all the host it was hard to bear
That their leader no longer would tarry among them

And so the saint destroyed the shrines,
Dispelled idolatry and ended error

ST HELENA FINDS THE TRUE CROSS (Elene)

Bold men were they and ready for battle

The wolf in the wood sang his song of war,
Hid not his hope of carnage to come

The host was cut down, the hated horde

There might he see who beheld that sailing
Sea-wood scud under swelling sails,
Sea-steeds plunge and break through the billows,
Wave-ships skim. The waters bold
Were blithe, and the queen had joy of the journey

…nor would they confess
Aught of the mystery or make answer
Of the things she sought

From its place of concealment let a smoke arise
Under compass of heaven curling in air,
O Lord of life!

In Nazareth nurtured and nourished to manhood
He stripped me for ever of all my store.
I may not prosper. His dominion is wide
Over all the earth

Then the heart of the king was happy within him

…shining from darkness like heavenly stars
Or golden jewels, deep in the ground
The nails covered over

All was fulfilled, all the will of the woman
As the excellent queen had asked of him

To what service she might most meetly and best
Devote the nails

…fasten the nails
On his horse’s bridle for a bit to the steed.
Among many nations its fame shall be known
Over all the earth, when in strife thereby
He shall beat down the foe

So was the bishopric was fairly founded

Soiled by past deeds and shackled with sin
I was vexed with sorrows, bitterly bound,
Burdened with cares, till the King of might
Through His radiant grace granted me knowledge
To comfort old age, a glorious gift;
Instilled it in mind, made steadfast its light,
Made it more ample, unfastened the flesh,
Unlocked the spirit, gave the gift of song
Which I’ve used in the world with gladness and glee

A death-bound soul he suffered sorrow,
Secret fear, while his horse before him
Measured the mile-paths, proudly prancing,
Decked with jewels. Joy has fled,
Mirth, with the years. Youth has vanished
And olden pride. Our portion was once
The splendour of youth; now the days of our years
After time appointed have passed away

Uppermost in the fire shall be faithful souls,
The army of blessed ones eager for glory;
But this they may sustain, suffering lightly
Free from torture, a valiant train.
For them the flame of the fire shall be tempered
As may be mildest and most easy to bear

They shall be purified, and purged of sin
Like to fine gold that in fire is cleansed
Of every blemish, in the oven’s flame
Refined and molten. Those men shall all
Be shorn and severed of every evil,
Of all foul faults by the Judgment flames.
They shall then know peace and perpetual blessing

THE PANTHER (Physiologus 1-74)

Many are the creatures, the manifold kinds,
Throughout the earth whose natures we may not
Fully interpret, or tell their numbers,
So wide-spread are they over the world

After each meal in the mountain caverns
He seeks his rest in a secret spot.
There the Great Warrior a three days’ while
Heavy with sleep sinks into slumber;
And on the third day endowed with glory
The Mighty One wakens straightway from sleep.
Out of the beast’s mouth melody cometh,
Loveliest music; and after that strain
A fragrance rises from the fields of earth,
A breath more winsome, sweeter and stronger
Than any savour, than flowering spice
Or fruits of the forest; more excellent far
Than all earthly treasures. Then out from the towns,
From kingly dwellings and castle halls,
Men in multitudes throng the roads
Hurrying onward in crowding hosts,
Warriors in battle-gear; even the beasts
After that sweet strain fare towards the fragrance.
/So is the Lord God, Giver of joys,
Kindly to every creature of earth
With all loving gifts

THE WHALE (Physiologus, 75-162)

There they encamp, the sea-weary sailors,
Fearing no danger. They kindle a fire;
High on the island the hot flames blaze
And joy returns to travel-worn hearts
Eager for rest. Then, crafty in evil,
When the Whale feels the sailors are fully set
And firmly lodged, enjoying fair weather,
Suddenly with his prey Ocean’s Guest plunges
Down in the salt wave seeking the depths,
In the hall of death drowning sailors and ships.
/Such is the manner of demons

…Seizing them suddenly
Shrouded in darkness, estranged from good,
He seeks out hell, the bottomless abyss
In the misty gloom; even as the Great Whale
Who drowns the mariners, sea-steeds and men

…Then swiftly the Whale
Over his sea-prey snaps his grim jaws

THE PHOENIX (Phoenix)

…No rain or snow,
Or breath of frost or blast of fire,
Or freezing hail or fall of rime,
Or blaze of sun or bitter-long cold,
Or scorching summer or winter storm
Work harm a whit, but the plain endures
Sound and unscathed. The lovely land
Is rich with blossoms. No mountains rise,
No lofty hills, as here with us;
No high rock-cliffs, no dales or hollows,
No mountain gorges, no caves or crags,
Naught rough or rugged; but the pleasant plain
Basks under heaven laden with bloom.

Winter and summer the woods alike
Are hung with blossoms; under heaven no leaf
Withers…

From the midst of the wood a winsome water
Each month breaks out from the turf of earth,
Cold as the sea-stream, coursing sweetly
Through all the grove. by the bidding of God
The flood streams forth through the glorious land
Twelve times yearly

The stars are hid in the western wave,
Dimmed at dawn

So he hymns and carols with joyous heart
Until the sun in the southern sky
Sinks to its setting. Then in silence he listens;
Thrice the wise-hearted lifts his head,
Thrice shakes his feathers strong in flight,
Then broods in silence. Twelve times the bird
Notes the hours of night and day.

…Then shadowy Death
By the grace of God shall end for the blessed.
The good shall gather in hurrying hosts

DOOMSDAY (Be Domes Daege)

The trees of the wood were tossing and sighing
In a storm of wind; the heavens were stirred,
And my sad spirit was sorely troubled

What doest thou, O flesh, what performest thou here?
What pangs in that hour shalt thou deplore?
Woe to thee now that servest this world,
That livest here gladly in wanton delights
Goading thyself with sensual spurs!

THE LAST JUDGMENT (Christ 867-1664)

From the four regions of earth’s realm,
From the uttermost corners of earth’s kingdom,
All-shining angels in unison sounding
Shall blow their trumpets in a great blast

…With His angel host
The Lord of kings shall come to the Judgment,
The glorious Ruler; His gladsome thanes,
The hosts of the holy, shall attend their Lord
When the Prince of men amid pangs of terror
Himself shall seek out the peoples of earth

If that hour shall burn in a bath of fire
All the fishes cut off from the sea;
All beasts of the deep shall wretchedly die

He shall bid them depart, the band of the sinful,
On His left; unmasked they shall tremble and moan
In terror before Him as foul as goats,
An unclean host without hope of mercy

Old English Elegies, Charles W. Kennedy

The Wanderer

…For, woe of heart
Withstandeth not Fate; a failing spirit
Earneth no help

When the dark earth covered my dear lord’s face

But gone is that gladness, and never again

In rapture he greets them; in gladness he scans
Old comrades remembered. But they melt into air
With no word of greeting to gladden his heart

How one by one proud warriors vanish
From the halls that knew them, and day by day

Here wealth is fleeting, friends are fleeting,
Man is fleeting, maid is fleeting;
All the foundation of earth shall fail!

The Seafarer

In my ears no sound but the roar of the sea,
The icy combers, the cry of the swan;
In place of the mead-hall and laughter of men
My only singing the sea-mew’s call

Truly earth’s blessings are never abiding

And the flesh at last, when the life has fled,
Savors not sweet, suffers not pain;
The hand does not strive, the mind does not stir.
Though one strew with gold the grave of his brother,
With manifold treasure endowing the dead,
It will not go with him…