CC 20220801
Verse Indeterminate Unknown\nGefrægn ic Hebreos eadge lifgean in Hierusalem, goldhord dælan, cyningdom habban, swa him gecynde wæs, siððan þurh metodes mægen on Moyses hand 5\nwearð wig gifen, wigena mænieo, and hie of Egyptum ut aforon, mægene micle. þæt wæs modig cyn! þenden hie þy rice rædan moston, burgum wealdan, wæs him beorht wela. 10\nþenden þæt folc mid him hiera fæder wære healdan woldon, wæs him hyrde god, heofonrices weard, halig drihten, wuldres waldend. Se ðam werude geaf mod and mihte, metod alwihta, 15\nþæt hie oft fela folca feore gesceodon, heriges helmum, þara þe him hold ne wæs, oðþæt hie wlenco anwod æt winþege deofoldædum, druncne geðohtas. þa hie æcræftas ane forleton, 20\nmetodes mægenscipe, swa no man scyle his gastes lufan wið gode dælan. þa geseah ic þa gedriht in gedwolan hweorfan, Israhela cyn unriht don, wommas wyrcean. þæt wæs weorc gode! 25\nOft he þam leodum to lare sende, heofonrices weard, halige gastas, þa þam werude wisdom budon. Hie þære snytro soð gelyfdon lytle hwile, oðþæt hie langung beswac 30\neorðan dreamas eces rædes, þæt hie æt siðestan sylfe forleton drihtnes domas, curon deofles cræft. þa wearð reðemod rices ðeoden, unhold þeodum þam þe æhte geaf. 35\nWisde him æt frymðe, ða ðe on fruman ær ðon wæron mancynnes metode dyrust, dugoða dyrust, drihtne leofost; herepað tæhte to þære hean byrig, eorlum elðeodigum, on eðelland 40\nþær Salem stod searwum afæstnod, weallum geweorðod. To þæs witgan foron, Caldea cyn, to ceastre forð, þær Israela æhta wæron, bewrigene mid weorcum; to þam þæt werod gefor, 45\nmægenþreat mære, manbealwes georn. Awehte þone wælnið wera aldorfrea, Babilones brego, on his burhstede, Nabochodonossor, þurh niðhete, þæt he secan ongan sefan gehygdum 50\nhu he Israelum eaðost meahte þurh gromra gang guman oðþringan. Gesamnode þa suðan and norðan wælhreow werod, and west foran herige hæðencyninga to þære hean byrig. 55\nIsraela eðelweardas hæfdon lufan, lifwelan, þenden hie let metod. þa ic eðan gefrægn ealdfeonda cyn winburh wera. þa wigan ne gelyfdon, bereafodon þa receda wuldor readan golde, 60\nsince and seolfre, Salomones templ. Gestrudan gestreona under stanhliðum, swilc eall swa þa eorlas agan sceoldon, oðþæt hie burga gehwone abrocen hæfdon, þara þe þam folce to friðe stodon. 65\nGehlodon him to huðe hordwearda gestreon, feoh and frætwa, swilc þær funden wæs, and þa mid þam æhtum eft siðedon, and gelæddon eac on langne sið Israela cyn, on eastwegas 70\nto Babilonia, beorna unrim, under hand hæleð hæðenum deman. Nabochodonossor him on nyd dyde Israela bearn ofer ealle lufen, wæpna lafe to weorcþeowum. 75\nOnsende þa sinra þegna worn þæs werudes west toferan, þæt him þara leoda land geheolde, eðne eðel, æfter Ebreum. Het þa secan sine gerefan 80\ngeond Israela earme lafe, hwilc þære geogoðe gleawost wære boca bebodes, þe þær brungen wæs. Wolde þæt þa cnihtas cræft leornedon, þæt him snytro on sefan secgan mihte, 85\nnales ðy þe he þæt moste oððe gemunan wolde þæt he þara gifena gode þancode þe him þær to duguðe drihten scyrede. þa hie þær fundon þry freagleawe æðele cnihtas and æfæste, 90\nginge and gode in godsæde; an wæs Annanias, oðer Azarias, þridda Misael, metode gecorene. þa þry comon to þeodne foran, hearde and higeþancle, þær se hæðena sæt, 95\ncyning corðres georn, in Caldea byrig. þa hie þam wlancan wisdom sceoldon, weras Ebrea, wordum cyðan, higecræft heane, þurh halig mod, þa se beorn bebead, Babilone weard, 100\nswiðmod cyning, sinum þegnum, þæt þa frumgaras be feore dæde, þæt þam gengum þrym gad ne wære wiste ne wæde in woruldlife. þa wæs breme Babilone weard, 105\nmære and modig ofer middangeard, egesful ylda bearnum. No he æ fremede, ac in oferhygde æghwæs lifde. þa þam folctogan on frumslæpe, siððan to reste gehwearf rice þeoden, 110\ncom on sefan hwurfan swefnes woma, hu woruld wære wundrum geteod, ungelic yldum oð edsceafte. Wearð him on slæpe soð gecyðed, þætte rices gehwæs reðe sceolde gelimpan, 115\neorðan dreamas, ende wurðan. þa onwoc wulfheort, se ær wingal swæf, Babilone weard. Næs him bliðe hige, ac him sorh astah, swefnes woma. No he gemunde þæt him meted wæs. 120\nHet þa tosomne sinra leoda þa wiccungdom widost bæron, frægn þa ða mænigeo hwæt hine gemætte, þenden reordberend reste wunode. Wearð he on þam egesan acol worden, 125\nþa he ne wisse word ne angin swefnes sines; het him secgan þeah. þa him unbliðe andswaredon deofolwitgan (næs him dom gearu to asecganne swefen cyninge): 130\n"Hu magon we swa dygle, drihten, ahicgan on sefan þinne, hu ðe swefnede, oððe wyrda gesceaft wisdom bude, gif þu his ærest ne meaht or areccan?" þa him unbliðe andswarode 135\nwulfheort cyning, witgum sinum: "Næron ge swa eacne ofer ealle men modgeþances swa ge me sægdon, and þæt gecwædon, þæt ge cuðon mine aldorlege, swa me æfter wearð, 140\noððe ic furðor findan sceolde. Nu ge mætinge mine ne cunnon, þa þe me for werode wisdom berað. Ge sweltað deaðe, nymþe ic dom wite soðan swefnes, þæs min sefa myndgað." 145\nNe meahte þa seo mænigeo on þam meðelstede þurh witigdom wihte aþencean ne ahicgan, þa hit forhæfed gewearð þætte hie sædon swefn cyninge, wyrda gerynu, oðþæt witga cwom, 150\nDaniel to dome, se wæs drihtne gecoren, snotor and soðfæst, in þæt seld gangan. Se wæs ordfruma earmre lafe þære þe þam hæðenan hyran sceolde. Him god sealde gife of heofnum 155\nþurh hleoðorcwyde haliges gastes, þæt him engel godes eall asægde swa his mandrihten gemæted wearð. ða eode Daniel, þa dæg lyhte, swefen reccan sinum frean, 160\nsægde him wislice wereda gesceafte, þætte sona ongeat swiðmod cyning ord and ende þæs þe him ywed wæs. ða hæfde Daniel dom micelne, blæd in Babilonia mid bocerum, 165\nsiððan he gesæde swefen cyninge, þæt he ær for fyrenum onfon ne meahte, Babilonie weard, in his breostlocan. No hwæðere þæt Daniel gedon mihte þæt he wolde metodes mihte gelyfan, 170\nac he wyrcan ongan weoh on felda þam þe deormode Diran heton, se wæs on ðære ðeode ðe swa hatte, bresne Babilonige. þære burge weard anne manlican ofer metodes est, 175\ngyld of golde, gumum arærde, for þam þe gleaw ne wæs, gumrices weard, reðe and rædleas, riht ...... þa wearð hæleða hlyst þa hleoðor cwom byman stefne ofer burhware. 180\nþa hie for þam cumble on cneowum sæton, onhnigon to þam herige hæðne þeode, wurðedon wihgyld, ne wiston wræstran ræd, efndon unrihtdom, swa hyra aldor dyde, mane gemenged, mode gefrecnod. 185\nFremde folcmægen, swa hyra frea ærest, unræd efnde, (him þæs æfter becwom yfel endelean), unriht dyde. þær þry wæron on þæs þeodnes byrig, eorlas Israela, þæt hie a noldon 190\nhyra þeodnes dom þafigan onginnan, þæt hie to þam beacne gebedu rærde, ðeah ðe ðær on herige byman sungon. ða wæron æðelum god Abrahames bearn, wæron wærfæste, wiston drihten 195\necne uppe, ælmihtigne. Cnihtas cynegode cuð gedydon, þæt hie him þæt gold to gode noldon habban ne healdan, ac þone hean cyning, gasta hyrde, ðe him gife sealde. 200\nOft hie to bote balde gecwædon þæt hie þæs wiges wihte ne rohton, ne hie to þam gebede mihte gebædon hæðen heriges wisa, þæt hie þider hweorfan wolden, guman to þam gyldnan gylde, þe he him to gode geteode. 205\nþegnas þeodne sægdon þæt hie þære geþeahte wæron, hæftas hearan, in þisse hean byrig, þa þis hegan ne willað, ne þysne wig wurðigean, þe ðu þe to wuldre wundrum teodest. ða him bolgenmod Babilone weard 210\nyrre andswarode, eorlum onmælde grimme þam gingum, and geocre oncwæð, þæt hie gegnunga gyldan sceolde oððe þrowigean þreanied micel, frecne fyres wylm, nymðe hie friðes wolde 215\nwilnian to þam wyrrestan, weras Ebrea, guman to þam golde, þe he him to gode teode. Noldon þeah þa hyssas hyran larum in hige hæðnum. Hogedon georne þæt æ godes ealle gelæste, 220\nand ne awacodon wereda drihtne, ne þan mæ gehwurfe in hæðendom, ne hie to facne freoðo wilnedan, þeah þe him se bitera deað geboden wære. þa wearð yrre anmod cyning, het he ofn onhætan 225\nto cwale cnihta feorum forðam þe hie his cræftas onsocon. þa he wæs gegleded, swa he grimmost mihte, frecne fyres lige, þa he þyder folc samnode, and gebindan het, Babilone weard, grim and gealhmod, godes spelbodan. 230\nHet þa his scealcas scufan þa hyssas in bælblyse, beornas geonge. Gearo wæs se him geoce gefremede; þeah þe hie swa grome nydde in fæðm fyres lige, hwæðere heora feorh generede mihtig metodes weard. Swa þæt mænige gefrunon, 235\nhalige him þær help geteode, sende him of hean rodore god, gumena weard, gast þone halgan. Engel in þone ofn innan becwom þær hie þæt aglac drugon, freobearn fæðmum beþeahte under þam fyrenan hrofe. Ne mihte þeah heora wlite gewemman owiht 240\nwylm þæs wæfran liges, þa hie se waldend nerede. Hreohmod wæs se hæðena þeoden, het hie hraðe bærnan. æled wæs ungescead micel. þa wæs se ofen onhæted, isen eall ðurhgleded. Hine ðær esnas mænige wurpon wudu on innan, swa him wæs on wordum gedemed; 245\nbæron brandas on bryne blacan fyres, (wolde wulfheort cyning wall onsteallan, iserne ymb æfæste), oðþæt up gewat lig ofer leofum and þurh lust gesloh micle mare þonne gemet wære. 250\nða se lig gewand on laðe men, hæðne of halgum. Hyssas wæron bliðemode, burnon scealcas ymb ofn utan, alet gehwearf teonfullum on teso. ðær to geseah 255\nBabilone brego. Bliðe wæron eorlas Ebrea, ofestum heredon drihten on dreame, dydon swa hie cuðon ofne on innan, aldre generede. Guman glædmode god wurðedon, 260\nunder þæs fæðme þe geflymed wearð frecne fyres hæto. Freobearn wurdon alæten liges gange, ne hie him þær lað gedydon. Næs him se sweg to sorge ðon ma þe sunnan scima, ne se bryne beot mæcgum þe in þam beote wæron, 265\nac þæt fyr fyr scyde to ðam þe ða scylde worhton, hwearf on þa hæðenan hæftas fram þam halgan cnihton, werigra wlite minsode, þa ðe ðy worce gefægon. Geseah ða swiðmod cyning, ða he his sefan ontreowde, wundor on wite agangen; him þæt wræclic þuhte. 270\nHyssas hale hwurfon in þam hatan ofne, ealle æfæste ðry; him eac þær wæs an on gesyhðe, engel ælmihtiges. Him þær on ofne owiht ne derede, ac wæs þær inne ealles gelicost 275\nefne þonne on sumera sunne scineð, and deaw dryge on dæge weorðeð, winde geondsawen. þæt wæs wuldres god þe hie generede wið þam niðhete. ða Azarias ingeþancum 280\nhleoðrade halig þurh hatne lig, dreag dæda georn, drihten herede, wer womma leas, and þa word acwæð: "Metod alwihta, hwæt! þu eart mihtum swið niðas to nergenne. Is þin nama mære, 285\nwlitig and wuldorfæst ofer werðeode. Siendon þine domas in daga gehwam soðe and geswiðde and gesigefæste, swa þu eac sylfa eart. Syndon þine willan on woruldspedum 290\nrihte and gerume, rodora waldend. Geoca user georne nu, gasta scyppend, and þurh hyldo help, halig drihten, nu we þec for þreaum and for ðeonydum and for eaðmedum arna biddað, 295\nlige belegde. We ðæs lifgende worhton on worulde, eac ðon wom dyde user yldran; for oferhygdum bræcon bebodo burhsittende, had oferhogedon halgan lifes. 300\nSiendon we towrecene geond widne grund, heapum tohworfene, hyldelease; is user lif geond landa fela fracoð and gefræge folca manegum, þa usic bewræcon to þæs wyrrestan 305\neorðcyninga æhta gewealde, on hæft heorugrimra, and we nu hæðenra þeowned þoliað. þæs þe þanc sie, wereda wuldorcyning, þæt þu us þas wrace teodest. Ne forlet þu usic ane, ece drihten, 310\nfor ðam miltsum ðe ðec men hligað, and for ðam treowum þe þu, tirum fæst, niða nergend, genumen hæfdest to Abrahame and to Isaace and to Iacobe, gasta scyppend. 315\nþu him þæt gehete þurh hleoðorcwyde, þæt þu hyra frumcyn in fyrndagum ican wolde, þætte æfter him on cneorissum cenned wurde, and seo mænigeo mære wære, 320\nhad to hebbanne swa heofonsteorran bebugað bradne hwyrft, oððe brimfaroþes, sæfaroða sand, geond sealtne wæg in eare gryndeð, þæt his unrim a in wintra worn wurðan sceolde. 325\nFyl nu frumspræce, ðeah heora fea lifigen! Wlitiga þinne wordcwyde and þin wuldor on us! Gecyð cræft and miht þæt þa Caldeas and folca fela gefrigen habbað, ða þe under heofenum hæðene lifigeað, 330\nand þæt þu ana eart ece drihten, weroda waldend, woruldgesceafta, sigora settend, soðfæst metod!" Swa se halga wer hergende wæs metodes miltse and his mihta sped 335\nrehte þurh reorde. ða of roderum wæs engel ælbeorht ufan onsended, wlitescyne wer on his wuldorhaman, se him cwom to frofre and to feorhnere mid lufan and mid lisse. Se ðone lig tosceaf, 340\nhalig and heofonbeorht, hatan fyres, tosweop hine and toswende þurh þa swiðan miht, ligges leoman, þæt hyra lice ne wæs owiht geegled, ac he on andan sloh fyr on feondas for fyrendædum. 345\nþa wæs on þam ofne, þær se engel becwom, windig and wynsum, wedere gelicost þonne hit on sumeres tid sended weorðeð dropena drearung on dæges hwile, wearmlic wolcna scur. Swylc bið wedera cyst, 350\nswylc wæs on þam fyre frean mihtum halgum to helpe. Wearð se hata lig todrifen and todwæsced þær þa dædhwatan geond þone ofen eodon, and se engel mid, feorh nerigende, se ðær feorða wæs, 355\nAnnanias and Azarias and Misael. þær þa modhwatan þry on geðancum ðeoden heredon, bædon bletsian bearn Israela eall landgesceaft ecne drihten, 360\nðeoda waldend. Swa hie þry cwædon, modum horsce, þurh gemæne word: "ðe gebletsige, bylywit fæder, woruldcræfta wlite and weorca gehwilc! Heofonas and englas, and hluttor wæter, 365\nþa ðe ofer roderum on rihtne gesceaft wuniað in wuldre, ða þec wurðiað! And þec, ælmihtig, ealle gesceafte, rodorbeorhtan tunglu, þa þe ryne healdað, sunna and mona, sundor anra gehwilc 370\nherige in hade! And heofonsteorran, deaw and deor scur, ða ðec domige! And þec, mihtig god, gastas lofige! Byrnende fyr and beorht sumor nergend hergað! Niht somod and dæg, 375\nand þec landa gehwilc, leoht and þeostro, herige on hade, somod hat and ceald! And þec, frea mihtig, forstas and snawas, winterbiter weder and wolcenfaru, lofige on lyfte! And þec ligetu, 380\nblace, berhtmhwate, þa þec bletsige! Eall eorðan grund, ece drihten, hyllas and hrusan and hea beorgas, sealte sæwægas, soðfæst metod, eastream yða and upcyme, 385\nwætersprync wylla, ða ðec wurðiað! Hwalas ðec herigað, and hefonfugolas, lyftlacende, þa ðe lagostreamas, wæterscipe wecgað! And wildu deor and neata gehwilc naman bletsie! 390\nAnd manna bearn modum lufiað, and þec Israela, æhta scyppend, herigað in hade, herran sinne! And þec haligra heortan cræftas, soðfæstra gehwæs sawle and gastas, 395\nlofiað liffrean, lean sellende eallum eadmodum, ece drihten! Annanias ðec and Adzarias and Misael metod domige breostgeðancum! We þec bletsiað, 400\nfrea folca gehwæs, fæder ælmihtig, soð sunu metodes, sawla nergend, hæleða helpend, and þec, halig gast, wurðiað in wuldre, witig drihten! We ðec herigað, halig drihten, 405\nand gebedum bremað! þu gebletsad eart, gewurðad wideferhð ofer worulde hrof, heahcyning heofones, halgum mihtum, lifes leohtfruma, ofer landa gehwilc!" ða þæt ehtode ealdor þeode, 410\nNabochodonossor, wið þam nehstum folcgesiðum: "þæt eower fela geseah, þeode mine, þæt we þry sendon, geboden to bæle in byrnende fyres leoman. Nu ic þær feower men 415\ngeseo to soðe, nales me sefa leogeð." ða cwæð se ðe wæs cyninges ræswa, wis and wordgleaw: "þæt is wundra sum þæt we ðær eagum on lociað. Geðenc, ðeoden min, þine gerysna! 420\nOngyt georne hwa þa gyfe sealde gingum gædelingum! Hie god herigað, anne ecne, and ealles him be naman gehwam on neod sprecað, þanciað þrymmes þristum wordum, 425\ncweðað he sie ana ælmihtig god, witig wuldorcyning, worlde and heofona. Aban þu þa beornas, brego Caldea, ut of ofne. Nis hit owihtes god þæt hie sien on þam laðe leng þonne þu þurfe." 430\nHet þa se cyning to him cnihtas gangan. Hyssas hearde hyrdon lare, cyrdon cynegode swa hie gecyðde wæron, hwurfon hæleð geonge to þam hæðenan foran. Wæron þa bende forburnene þe him on banum lagon, 435\nlaðsearo leoda cyninges, and hyra lice geborgen. Næs hyra wlite gewemmed, ne nænig wroht on hrægle, ne feax fyre beswæled, ac hie on friðe drihtnes of ðam grimman gryre glade treddedon, gleawmode guman, on gastes hyld. 440\nða gewat se engel up secan him ece dreamas on heanne hrof heofona rices, heh þegn and hold halgum metode. Hæfde on þam wundre gewurðod ðe þa gewyrhto ahton. Hyssas heredon drihten for þam hæðenan folce, 445\nsepton hie soðcwidum and him sædon fela soðra tacna, oðþæt he sylfa gelyfde þæt se wære mihta waldend se ðe hie of ðam mirce generede. Gebead þa se bræsna Babilone weard swiðmod sinum leodum, þæt se wære his aldre scyldig, 450\nse ðæs onsoce þætte soð wære mære mihta waldend, se hie of þam morðre alysde. Agæf him þa his leoda lafe þe þær gelædde wæron on æht ealdfeondum, þæt hie are hæfdon. Wæs heora blæd in Babilone, siððan hie þone bryne fandedon, 455\ndom wearð æfter duguðe gecyðed, siððan hie drihtne gehyrdon. Wæron hyra rædas rice, siððan hie rodera waldend, halig heofonrices weard, wið þone hearm gescylde. þa ic secan gefrægn soðum wordum, siððan he wundor onget, 460\nBabilone weard, þurh fyres bryne, hu þa hyssas þry hatan ofnes, færgryre fyres, oferfaren hæfdon. Wylm þurhwodon, swa him wiht ne sceod grim gleda nið, godes spelbodan, 465\nfrecnan fyres, ac him frið drihtnes wið þæs egesan gryre aldor gescylde. ða se ðeoden ongan geðinges wyrcan; het þa tosomne sine leode, and þa on þam meðle ofer menigo bebead 470\nwyrd gewordene and wundor godes, þætte on þam cnihtum gecyðed wæs: "Onhicgað nu halige mihte, wise wundor godes! We gesawon þæt he wið cwealme gebearh cnihtum on ofne, 475\nlacende lig, þam þe his lof bæron; forþam he is ana ece drihten, dema ælmihtig, se ðe him dom forgeaf, spowende sped, þam þe his spel berað. Forðon witigað þurh wundor monig 480\nhalgum gastum þe his hyld curon. Cuð is þæt me Daniel dyglan swefnes soð gesæde, þæt ær swiðe oðstod manegum on mode minra leoda, forþam ælmihtig eacenne gast 485\nin sefan sende, snyttro cræftas." Swa wordum spræc werodes ræswa, Babilone weard, siððan he beacen onget, swutol tacen godes. No þy sel dyde, ac þam æðelinge oferhygd gesceod, 490\nwearð him hyrra hyge and on heortan geðanc mara on modsefan þonne gemet wære, oðþæt hine mid nyde nyðor asette metod ælmihtig, swa he manegum deð þara þe þurh oferhyd up astigeð. 495\nþa him wearð on slæpe swefen ætywed, Nabochodonossor; him þæt neh gewearð. þuhte him þæt on foldan fægre stode wudubeam wlitig, se wæs wyrtum fæst, beorht on blædum. Næs he bearwe gelic, 500\nac he hlifode to heofontunglum, swilce he oferfæðmde foldan sceatas, ealne middangeard, oð merestreamas, twigum and telgum. ðær he to geseah, þuhte him þæt se wudubeam wilddeor scylde, 505\nane æte eallum heolde, swylce fuglas eac heora feorhnere on þæs beames bledum name. ðuhte him þæt engel ufan of roderum stigan cwome and stefne abead, 510\ntorhtan reorde. Het þæt treow ceorfan and þa wildan deor on weg fleon, swylce eac þa fugolas, þonne his fyll come. Het þonne besnædan seolfes blædum, twigum and telgum, and þeh tacen wesan, 515\nwunian wyrtruman þæs wudubeames eorðan fæstne, oðþæt eft cyme grene bleda, þonne god sylle. Het eac gebindan beam þone miclan ærenum clammum and isernum, 520\nand gesæledne in susl don, þæt his mod wite þæt migtigra wite wealdeð þonne he him wið mæge. þa of slæpe onwoc, (swefn wæs æt ende), eorðlic æðeling, him þæs egesa stod, 525\ngryre fram ðam gaste ðe þyder god sende. Het þa tosomne sine leode, folctogan feran, frægn ofer ealle swiðmod cyning hwæt þæt swefen bude, nalles þy he wende þæt hie hit wiston, 530\nac he cunnode hu hie cweðan woldon. ða wæs to ðam dome Daniel haten, godes spelboda. Him wæs gæst geseald, halig of heofonum, se his hyge trymede. On þam drihtenweard deopne wisse 535\nsefan sidne geþanc and snytro cræft, wisne wordcwide. Oft he wundor manig, metodes mihta, for men ætbær. þa he secgan ongan swefnes woman, heahheort and hæðen heriges wisa, 540\nealne þone egesan þe him eowed wæs. Bæd hine areccan hwæt seo run bude, hofe haligu word and in hige funde to gesecganne soðum wordum hwæt se beam bude þe he blican geseah, 545\nand him witgode wyrda geþingu. He ða swigode, hwæðere soð ongeat, Daniel æt þam dome, þæt his drihten wæs, gumena aldor, wið god scyldig. Wandode se wisa, hwæðre he worde cwæð, 550\næcræftig ar, to þam æðelinge: "þæt is, weredes weard, wundor unlytel, þæt þu gesawe þurh swefen cuman, heofonheane beam and þa halgan word, yrre and egeslicu, þa se engel cwæð, 555\nþæt þæt treow sceolde, telgum besnæded, foran afeallan, þæt ær fæste stod, and þonne mid deorum dreamleas beon, westen wunian, and his wyrtruman foldan befolen, fyrstmearc wesan 560\nstille on staðole, swa seo stefn gecwæð, ymb seofon tida sæde eft onfon. Swa þin blæd lið. Swa se beam geweox, heah to heofonum, swa þu hæleðum eart ana eallum eorðbuendum 565\nweard and wisa. Nis þe wiðerbreca, man on moldan, nymðe metod ana. Se ðec aceorfeð of cyningdome, and ðec wineleasne on wræc sendeð, and þonne onhweorfeð heortan þine, 570\nþæt þu ne gemyndgast æfter mandreame, ne gewittes wast butan wildeora þeaw, ac þu lifgende lange þrage heorta hlypum geond holt wunast. Ne bið þec mælmete nymþe mores græs, 575\nne rest witod, ac þec regna scur weceð and wreceð swa wildu deor, oðþæt þu ymb seofon winter soð gelyfest, þæt sie an metod eallum mannum, reccend and rice, se on roderum is. 580\nIs me swa þeah willa þæt se wyrtruma stille wæs on staðole, swa seo stefn gecwæð, and ymbe seofan tide sæde onfenge. Swa þin rice restende bið, anwalh for eorlum, oðþæt þu eft cymst. 585\nGehyge þu, frea min, fæstlicne ræd. Syle ælmyssan, wes earmra hleo, þinga for ðeodne, ær ðam seo þrah cyme þæt he þec aworpe of woruldrice. Oft metod alæt monige ðeode 590\nwyrcan bote, þonne hie woldon sylfe, fyrene fæstan, ær him fær godes þurh egesan gryre aldre gesceode." No þæs fela Daniel to his drihtne gespræc soðra worda þurh snytro cræft, 595\nþæt þæs a se rica reccan wolde, middangeardes weard, ac his mod astah, heah fram heortan; he þæs hearde ongeald. Ongan ða gyddigan þurh gylp micel Caldea cyning þa he ceastergeweorc, 600\nBabilone burh, on his blæde geseah, Sennera feld sidne bewindan, heah hlifigan; þæt se heretyma werede geworhte þurh wundor micel, wearð ða anhydig ofer ealle men, 605\nswiðmod in sefan, for ðære sundorgife þe him god sealde, gumena rice, world to gewealde in wera life: "ðu eart seo micle and min seo mære burh þe ic geworhte to wurðmyndum, 610\nrume rice. Ic reste on þe, eard and eðel, agan wille." ða for ðam gylpe gumena drihten forfangen wearð and on fleam gewat, ana on oferhyd ofer ealle men. 615\nSwa wod wera on gewindagum geocrostne sið in godes wite, ðara þe eft lifigende leode begete, Nabochodonossor, siððan him nið godes, hreð of heofonum, hete gesceode. 620\nSeofon winter samod susl þrowode, wildeora westen, winburge cyning. ða se earfoðmæcg up locode, wilddeora gewita, þurh wolcna gang. Gemunde þa on mode þæt metod wære, 625\nheofona heahcyning, hæleða bearnum ana ece gast. þa he eft onhwearf wodan gewittes, þær þe he ær wide bær herewosan hige, heortan getenge. þa his gast ahwearf in godes gemynd, 630\nmod to mannum, siððan he metod onget. Gewat þa earmsceapen eft siðian, nacod nydgenga, nið geðafian, wundorlic wræcca and wæda leas, mætra on modgeðanc, to mancynne, 635\nðonne gumena weard in gylpe wæs. Stod middangeard æfter mandrihtne, eard and eðel æfter þam æðelinge, seofon winter samod, swa no swiðrode rice under roderum oðþæt se ræswa com. 640\nþa wæs eft geseted in aldordom Babilone weard, hæfde beteran ðeaw, leohtran geleafan in liffruman, þætte god sealde gumena gehwilcum welan swa wite, swa he wolde sylf. 645\nNe lengde þa leoda aldor witegena wordcwyde, ac he wide bead metodes mihte þær he meld ahte, siðfæt sægde sinum leodum, wide waðe þe he mid wilddeorum ateah, 650\noðþæt him frean godes in gast becwom rædfæst sefa, ða he to roderum beseah. Wyrd wæs geworden, wundor gecyðed, swefn geseðed, susl awunnen, dom gedemed, swa ær Daniel cwæð, 655\nþæt se folctoga findan sceolde earfoðsiðas for his ofermedlan. Swa he ofstlice godspellode metodes mihtum for mancynne, siððan in Babilone burhsittendum 660\nlange hwile lare sægde, Daniel domas. Siððan deora gesið, wildra wærgenga, of waðe cwom, Nabochodonossor of niðwracum, siððan weardode wide rice, 665\nheold hæleða gestreon and þa hean burh, frod, foremihtig folca ræswa, Caldea cyning, oðþæt him cwelm gesceod, swa him ofer eorðan andsaca ne wæs gumena ænig oðþæt him god wolde 670\nþurh hryre hreddan hea rice. Siððan þær his aferan ead bryttedon, welan, wunden gold, in þære widan byrig, ealhstede eorla, unwaclice, heah hordmægen, þa hyra hlaford læg. 675\nða in ðære ðeode awoc his þæt þridde cneow. Wæs Baldazar burga aldor, weold wera rices, oðþæt him wlenco gesceod, oferhyd egle. ða wæs endedæg ðæs ðe Caldeas cyningdom ahton. 680\nða metod onlah Medum and Persum aldordomes ymb lytel fæc, let Babilone blæd swiðrian, þone þa hæleð healdan sceoldon. Wiste he ealdormen in unrihtum, 685\nða ðe ðy rice rædan sceoldon. ða þæt gehogode hamsittende, Meda aldor, þæt ær man ne ongan, þæt he Babilone abrecan wolde, alhstede eorla, þær æðelingas 690\nunder wealla hleo welan brytnedon. þæt wæs þara fæstna folcum cuðost, mæst and mærost þara þe men bun, Babilon burga, oðþæt Baldazar þurh gylp grome godes frasade. 695\nSæton him æt wine wealle belocene, ne onegdon na orlegra nið, þeah ðe feonda folc feran cwome herega gerædum to þære heahbyrig þæt hie Babilone abrecan mihton. 700\nGesæt þa to symble siðestan dæge Caldea cyning mid cneomagum, þær medugal wearð mægenes wisa. Het þam æðelum beran Israela gestreon, huslfatu halegu, on hand werum, 705\nþa ær Caldeas mid cyneðrymme, cempan in ceastre, clæne genamon, gold in Gerusalem, ða hie Iudea blæd forbræcon billa ecgum, and þurh hleoðorcyme, herige genamon 710\nbeorhte frætwe. ða hie tempel strudon, Salomanes seld, swiðe gulpon. ða wearð bliðemod burga aldor, gealp gramlice gode on andan, cwæð þæt his hergas hyrran wæron 715\nand mihtigran mannum to friðe þonne Israela ece drihten. Him þæt tacen wearð þær he to starude, egeslic for eorlum innan healle, þæt he for leodum ligeword gecwæð, 720\nþa þær in egesan engel drihtnes let his hand cuman in þæt hea seld, wrat þa in wage worda gerynu, baswe bocstafas, burhsittendum. ða wearð folctoga forht on mode, 725\nacul for þam egesan. Geseah he engles hand in sele writan Sennera wite. þæt gyddedon gumena mænigeo, hæleð in healle, hwæt seo hand write to þam beacne burhsittendum. 730\nWerede comon on þæt wundor seon. Sohton þa swiðe in sefan gehydum, hwæt seo hand write haliges gastes. Ne mihton arædan runcræftige men engles ærendbec, æðelinga cyn, 735\noðþæt Daniel com, drihtne gecoren, snotor and soðfæst, in þæt seld gangan. ðam wæs on gaste godes cræft micel, to þam ic georne gefrægn gyfum ceapian burhge weardas þæt he him bocstafas 740\narædde and arehte, hwæt seo run bude. Him æcræftig andswarode, godes spelboda, gleaw geðances: "No ic wið feohsceattum ofer folc bere drihtnes domas, ne ðe dugeðe can, 745\nac þe unceapunga orlæg secge, worda gerynu, þa þu wendan ne miht. þu for anmedlan in æht bere huslfatu halegu, on hand werum. On þam ge deoflu drincan ongunnon, 750\nða ær Israela in æ hæfdon æt godes earce, oðþæt hie gylp beswac, windruncen gewit, swa þe wurðan sceal. No þæt þin aldor æfre wolde godes goldfatu in gylp beran, 755\nne ðy hraðor hremde, ðeah ðe here brohte Israela gestreon in his æhte geweald, ac þæt oftor gecwæð aldor ðeoda soðum wordum ofer sin mægen, siððan him wuldres weard wundor gecyðde, 760\nþæt he wære ana ealra gesceafta drihten and waldend, se him dom forgeaf, unscyndne blæd eorðan rices, and þu lignest nu þæt sie lifgende, se ofer deoflum dugeþum wealdeð." Index | Previous page | Next page