Seek thou earnestly, O illustrious man, that thou mayst truly understand by the wisdom of thy soul,deep searchings of spirit, how it came to pass that the angels did not appear in robes of white when the Almighty was born in pure nativity, what time the Hero, the Prince, came to Bethlehem, having chosen the sanctuary of Mary, flower of maidens, the virgin renowned. Heralds were at hand who spake unto the shepherds and proclaimed in words the true joy—that the Son of God was born into the world in Bethlehem. Yet it saith not in Scripture that at that great tide they appeared in robes of white, as they afterwards did when the glorious Prince, the Lord triumphant, summoned to Bethany His band of disciples, that company beloved. On that joyful day they despised not the words of their Master, the Bestower of goodly gifts. Soon were they ready, the heroes with their Lord, [to go] unto the holy city, where the Dispenser of glory, the King of heaven, revealed many signs unto them in parables, before the only-begotten Son, co-eternal with His own Father, ascended on high, forty days after He arose from the
dust of death. Thus through His passion had He fulfilled the words of the prophets as of old they had sung throughout the world. The disciples magnified Him, and gratefully adored the Lord of life, the Father of all created things. Wherefore to His beloved comrades gave He a noble reward, and these words spake
the Prince of angels, the mighty Ruler, as He was about to depart to His Father's kingdom: 'Rejoice in spirit; never will I forsake you, but will for aye continue my love toward you, granting you strength, and abiding with you for ever and ever, so that through my grace ye shall know the lack of no good thing. Go
forth now over all the spacious earth, far-reaching ways; declare unto the multitudes, preach and proclaim the bright faith; baptize the peoples beneath the welkin, turning them to the skies; destroy the shrines of idols, overthrow them, abhor them; blot out enmity, and in the fulness of power sow peace within men's souls. Henceforth I will abide with you for your comfort, and will everywhere keep you in peace, in strength unfailing.'
Then on a sudden loud music was heard in the sky; a throng of heavenly angels, a radiant host,
messengers from glory, in legion came. Our King departed through the temple's roof while they looked
on—those chosen retainers who were still watching in that place of conference the footprints of their
beloved Lord. They saw their Master, the Son of God, ascend from earth to heaven. Sad were their souls,
hot their sorrowing hearts within their breasts, since now no longer might they behold beneath heaven
the One so dear. The heavenly messengers raised a song; they praised the Lord, magnified the Author of
life, rejoicing in the light that shone from the Savior's head. Then saw they two glistening angels, fair
shining in their splendor round that first-born Son, the Glory of kings. From on high they called with
wondrous words, with ringing speech, over the multitude of men: 'Ye men of Galilee, why wait ye thus
about? Ye plainly see the righteous King, the Lord of victory, ascending unto heaven; the First of princes,
the Creator of all peoples, will go up hence with this angel-band to His dwelling-place, the Father's royal
seat. With such a throng, with this joyful host, shall we bear the Lord—the noblest and best of all the
sons of glory—far up through heaven's vault unto that beautiful city, Him1 whom ye now gaze upon and
with joy behold shining in splendor; yet shall He once again visit the nations of earth with a host
innumerable, and then shall He judge every deed performed by mortals beneath the skies.'
Then was the Lord of glory, King of archangels, Protector of saints, encompassed with clouds far
above the dwellings [of men]. Joy and gladness were renewed throughout the [celestial] habitations at
the coming of the Prince. The eternal Source of joy sat down at the right hand of the Father, rejoicing in
His victory.
To Jerusalem, the holy city, went the valiant heroes sad of heart from the place where with their eyes
they had but now beheld their God ascending, the Giver of joy. A fountain of tears2 gushed forth; their
constant love was overwhelmed with sorrow, hot within their breasts; their hearts were stirred, their souls
burned within them. For full ten days the illustrious disciples awaited in that bright city the promises of
the Lord, as Himself commanded, the King of heaven, the Ruler of all, ere He ascended into the far
recesses of the skies.
Shining angels came to meet the Giver of bliss to men. True it is, as the Scripture relates, that at that
holy tide angels resplendent descending from the sky came unto Him in legions. Then arose great
rejoicing in heaven. It was indeed fitting that liegemen, a radiant host, brightly clad, should come unto
that feast in the city of the Lord; welcome was He whom they saw [sitting] on His throne, the King of
heaven, Giver of life to men, ruling in splendor the whole earth and the angelic host.
'Now3 hath the Holy One despoiled hell of all the tribute which of old it wrongfully swallowed up into
that place of strife. Vanquished now are the devils' warriors, brought low and bound in living torments,
bereft of glory in the abyss of hell. His adversaries4 could not prevail in battle, in the hurling of weapons,
what time the King of glory, Guardian of heaven's realm, waged war against His ancient foes by His sole
might, when He led forth from bondage, from the city of fiends, the greatest of spoils, a countless
multitude of people, even the host which ye here gaze upon. And now after the conflict the Savior of
souls, God's own Son, is minded to seek the throne of spiritual grace. Thus ye may understand who is the
Lord that leadeth this host.—Now go ye forth boldly to meet your friends, joyful in spirit. Open, ye gates;5
through you the King, the Ruler of all, the Author of creation, will lead into the city, unto the joy of joys,
the mighty host which He hath wrested from the demons by His victory. There shall be fellowship
between angels and men from this time forth and for evermore. There is now a covenant between God
and man, a sacred pledge—love, hope of life, and joy in perfect light.'
Lo! we have heard how the Christ-child by His advent brought again salvation; how He, the Creator's
noble Son, freed and kept men beneath the clouds, so that now each mortal, while he dwelleth here in
life, may choose either the shame of hell or the fame of heaven, the shining day or the loathsome night,
the power of glory or the pain of darkness, joy with the Lord or wailing with demons, bliss6 with angels or
torment with fiends, either life or death, whichsoever he preferreth to achieve while body and soul abide
in the world. Wherefore let blessing and eternal thanks be unto the glory of the Trinity!
It is meet and right that all nations should give thanks unto the Lord for every blessing which now
and aforetime He hath ever bestowed upon us through the mystery of wonders manifold. He giveth us
food and abundance of riches, wealth throughout the broad earth, and fair weather beneath the shelter
of the sky. The sun and moon, brightest of stars, heaven's candles, shine for all men on the earth. Dew
and rain descend; they call forth plenty for the nourishment of man, and increase the riches of earth. For
all this, therefore, we ought to give thanks and praise unto our Lord, but especially for the salvation
granted for our joy, when by His ascension He brought to end the misery we had so long endured, when
the only-begotten King settled for mankind that greatest of feuds with His beloved7 Father. For our soul's
peace He abolished the sentence which had been pronounced in anger to the woe of man: 'I created thee
of earth;8 upon it shalt thou dwell in misery, living in strife and suffering torment, chanting the
death-song to thy foe's delight; and to the same shalt thou turn again, teeming with worms; thence from
the earth shalt thou afterwards seek the fire of punishment.' Lo! this [curse] did the Lord abate for us
when He took on Him the seed of man, body and limbs. When the Son of the Creator, the God of hosts,
was about to ascend to the home of angels, at that holy tide there arose [in Him] the desire to help us
wretched ones.
Concerning this Job fashioned a song, as he well knew how; he praised the Protector of men, lauded
the Savior, and out of his love devised a surname for the Son of God; He gave him the name of Bird,
which, by the power of the divine Spirit, the Jews could not understand; the flight of that Bird was secret
and hidden from His enemies on earth, from those who had a darkened mind and a stony heart within
their breasts; they would not recognize the glorious miracles, many and various, which the noble Son of
God performed before them on the earth. And thus the beloved Bird essayed flight: now bold and strong
in virtue He aspired the home of angels, that fair abode; now through the Spirit's grace He sought the
precincts of earth and wended His way to the world. Of Him the prophet sang:9 'He was lifted up, high
and holy, in the arms of angels, in the fulness of His power, above the majesty of heaven.' They who made
denial of the ascension could not perceive the flight of the Bird, and believed not that the Author of life,
the Holy One, in the likeness of man was lifted up from earth above the heavenly host.
Then He who created the earth, God's Spirit-son, honored us and granted us gifts, eternal seats amid
the angels on high; moreover He sowed manifold wisdom, and planted it within the souls of men. Unto
the mind10 of one, through the Spirit of His mouth, He sendeth wise eloquence and noble understanding;
such an one can sing and speak many things; unto his soul is committed the power of wisdom. One can
awaken the harp before warriors, touching it full loudly with his fingers. One can set forth aright the law
divine. One can tell the course of the stars, the expanse of11 creation. One can skilfully write the spoken
word. To one He giveth victory in war, when bowmen send the storm of darts, the winged arrows, over
their shields. One can boldly urge forward his bark over the salt sea, and stir the raging deep. One can
climb the steep and lofty tree. One can fashion the sword, the well tempered weapon. One knoweth the
compass of the plains, the far-reaching ways. So to us the Ruler, the Son of God, doth dispense His gifts
on earth. But to no man will He give all wisdom of soul, lest, exalted above others by his own power, his
pride work him evil.
Thus doth God almighty, King of creation, enrich the progeny of earth with gifts and endowments
manifold; so also He bestoweth glory upon the blessed of heaven; He establisheth peace for men and
angels unto all eternity.
So He honoreth His handiwork. Concerning this the prophet said12 that holy gems were lifted up on
high, the sun and moon, those radiant stars of heaven. What indeed are those gems so bright but God
Himself? He is the Sun of righteousness, a glorious Light to angels and dwellers on earth. The moon
shineth over all the world, a spiritual star; even so the Church of God shineth brightly through the union
of truth and righteousness—as the Scripture saith—since the Son of God, King of all who are pure, arose
from the earth. Before that the church of the law-abiding suffered persecution under the rule of heathen
shepherds. Then evil-doers reeked not of the truth nor of their soul's need; but they rent and burned the
tear-drops being likened to pearls upon a string, or beads in a necklace or rosary.
temple of God, they overthrew and destroyed, they wrought deeds of blood. But after the ascension of the
Lord eternal, triumph came to God's servants through grace of the Spirit.
Of this sang Solomon, the son of David, ruler of nations, versed in the hidden things of song, and
these words he spake:13 'This shall be made known, that the Savior, the King of angels, strong in might,
shall ascend the mountains, leaping the lofty downs; He shall encompass the mountains and hills with
His glory, and by that noble leap He shall redeem the world and all the inhabitants of earth.'
The first leap was when He descended unto the virgin, that spotless maid, and took on Him the
likeness of man, yet without sin; that was for the comfort of all the dwellers on earth. The second leap
was the birth of the infant, when the Glory of all glories, in the likeness of a child, lay in the manger
wrapped in [swaddling] clothes. The third leap, the bound of the King of heaven, was when He ascended
the cross, the Father, the Spirit of comfort. The fourth leap was into the grave, when He came down from
the tree, [and was held] fast in the sepulchre. The fifth leap was when He cast the host of hell into living
torment, and with fiery fetters bound their king within, that fierce spokesman of fiends, where he lieth
yet in prison, fastened with chains, bound by his sins. The sixth leap was the joyous revel of the Holy One,
when He ascended to heaven, unto His former dwelling. At that holy time the angel-band grew merry
with joy and gladness. They saw the King of glory, the Chief of princes, come unto His fatherland, unto
the bright mansions. That exploit of the Prince was an eternal happiness to the blessed, the dwellers in
the City.
Thus, while here on earth, the eternal Son of God leaped boldly over the hills and lofty mountains.
So must we mortals, in the thoughts of our hearts, leap from strength to strength and strive after glory, so
that we may rise by our holy works to the highest summit, where are hope and joy, a glorious band of
liegemen. We have great need to follow after salvation with our hearts, to that place where we earnestly
believe in our souls that the Saviour-son, the living God, hath ascended with our human body.
Wherefore we should scorn all idle lusts, the wounds of sin, and rejoice in better things. We have for
our comfort the Almighty, the Father in heaven. The Holy One on high will send His angels hither to
shield us against the deadly arrow-flights of evil-doers, lest the fiends inflict wounds upon us, when the
author of evil sendeth forth the bitter arrow from his bended14 bow among the people of God. Wherefore
we must ever be warily on our guard against the quick shot, lest the venomous point, the bitter dart, the
sudden wile of fiends, penetrate beneath our flesh. Its hurt is grievous, most livid of wounds. Let us then
keep watch and ward while we abide here on earth! Let us beseech the Father for protection; let us pray
the Son of God and the merciful Spirit that He who gave us life, body, limbs, and soul, will shield us
against the weapons of the foe, against the wiles of our enemies! Praise be to Him for ever, glory in the
heavens world without end!
None of the race of men on earth need fear the shafts of devils, the spear-flights of the fierce ones, if
God, the Lord of hosts, protecteth him. The judgment is at hand when we shall obtain our reward,
according as we have ever laid up for ourselves by our deeds on the broad earth. The Scripture saith how
in the beginning the Treasury of glory, God's noble Son, descended from on high, and humbly came to
earth into the virgin's womb. Alas! I expect, yea, and fear a sterner doom when the Prince of angels
cometh again, since I have ill kept those things which the Savior bade me in the Scriptures. For this, as I
account truth, I shall behold terror, the punishment of sin, when many shall be led into the assembly
before the presence of the eternal Judge.
Then shall the COURAGEOUS15 tremble; he shall hear the King, the Ruler of heaven, speak stern words
unto those who in time past ill obeyed Him on earth, while as yet they could easily find comfort for their
YEARNING and their NEED. There in that place shall many a one, weary and sore afraid, await what dire
punishment He will mete out to them for their deeds. Gone is the WINSOMENESS of earth's adornments.
Long ago the portion of life's joys granted US was compassed about by LAKE-FLOODS, our FORTUNE on the
earth. Then shall our treasures burn in fire; bright and swift shall the red flame rage; fiercely shall it rush
through the wide world. Plains shall perish, citadels fall. The fire shall be all astir; pitilessly shall that
greediest of spirits waste the ancient treasure which men held of old, whilst pride abode with them upon
the earth.
Wherefore I would exhort each beloved one that he neglect not his soul's need, nor be dissolved in
vainglory, while God wills that he dwell here in the world, and that the soul journey in the tabernacle of
the body. Every man should bethink him well in the days of his life that, according to the angel's word,
the Lord of might first came to us benignly. He will be austere when He cometh again, stern and just. At
that day the heavens shall shake and the mighty ends of the earth shall tremble; the bright King shall
requite them for living on earth in evil deeds, guilty of sin. Wherefore weary in soul they shall long suffer
fierce retribution in that bath of fire, hemmed in by surging [flames].
When the King of hosts shall come to the assembly with an innumerable throng, a widespread terror,
the outcry of the lamenting, shall be loudly heard amid the sounds from heaven; the sorrowful, trusting
but little in their works, shall wail before the face of the everlasting Judge. Then shall arise a terror greater
than was ever heard of on earth from the beginning. In that sudden hour it shall be far dearer than all this
fleeting world unto every worker of iniquity to hide himself among the victorious band, when the Lord of
hosts, Chief of princes, shall adjudge to all peoples, both friends and foes, their just reward. O great our
need that in this barren time, ere that horror, we earnestly bethink us of the beauty of our souls!
Now is it as though we fared in ships out upon the ocean, over the waters cold, and urged16 our barks,
our sea-steeds, across the broad flood. A perilous stream it is, endless waves and wind-swept seas, on
which we toss throughout this fleeting world, over the fathomless reaches. Hard was our life ere we sailed
to land over the stormy main. Then came our help: God's Spirit-son guided us to the haven of safety, and
gave us grace to see, over the vessel's side, where with firm-set anchor17 we should moor our sea-steeds,
those ocean-stallions old. O let us fix our hope in that holy haven above, which the Lord celestial
prepared for us when He ascended into the heavens!
Footnotes
1 Possibly đe may go back to gedryht for its antecedent. Cf. the parallel expression in line 570.
2 W pes hring—a difficult phrase to translate. It occurs also An. 1280; El. 1132; Gu. r 1313. Professor Cook, referring to
Shelley, Adonais XI. 4–5; Browning, By the Fireside 149-150, suggests as a possible interpretation 'a circling fountain of tears,'
3 Professor Cook interprets this speech as a continuation of that which ends at line 526. At first it is the disciples who are
addressed; at line 575 it is the ascending host.
4 Reading wiđerbreocan with Cosijn.
5 From Ps. 24. 7.
6 Lit. 'glory.'
7 Or, 'own.'
8 From Gen. 3. 19.
9 Cf. Ps. 8. 1; 18. 10; 47. 5.
10 Lit. 'memory of his mind.'
11 Lit. 'wide.'
12 Hab. 3. 11, according to the Septuagint.
13 Cant. 2. 8.
14 Perhaps this is the 'deceitful bow' of Ps. 78. 57; Hos. 7. 16.
15 The large type denotes the runes of the original which in succession spell the name of Cynewulf (in this poem, Cynwulf).
These renderings (following Gollancz in the main) are partly conjectural; exactness, where that was possible, has been
sacrificed in favor of the proper initials. It would be more correct to substitute bold for courageous, misery for yearning, joy for
winsomeness, sea for lake-floods, wealth for fortune. Cosijn regards the letters, C., Y., and N. as forming cyn = 'mankind.'
16 Lit. 'journeyed on.'
17 Lit. 'fast at their anchors.'
