20
The Asp-Turtle
æt þām [ā]dwylme, þā þe him on cleofiað,
gyltum gehrodene, and ǣr georne his
75 in hira līfdagum lārum hȳrdon,
þonne he þā grimman gōman bihlemmeð,
æfter feorhcwale, fæste tōgædre,
helle hlinduru. Nāgon hwyrft nē swice,
ūtsīþ ǣfre, þā [þe] þǣr in cumað,
80 þon mā þe þā fiscas, faraðlācende,
of þæs hwæles fenge hweorfan mōtan.
gyltum gehrodene, and ǣr georne his
75 in hira līfdagum lārum hȳrdon,
þonne he þā grimman gōman bihlemmeð,
æfter feorhcwale, fæste tōgædre,
helle hlinduru. Nāgon hwyrft nē swice,
ūtsīþ ǣfre, þā [þe] þǣr in cumað,
80 þon mā þe þā fiscas, faraðlācende,
of þæs hwæles fenge hweorfan mōtan.
Forþon is eallinga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
dryhtna Dryhtne, and ā dēoflum wiðsace
85 wordum and weorcum, þæt wē Wuldorcyning
gesēon mōton. Uton ā sibbe tō him,
on þās hwīlnan tīd, hǣlu sēcan,
þæt wē mid swā lēofne in lofe mōtan
tō wīdan feore wuldres nēotan.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
dryhtna Dryhtne, and ā dēoflum wiðsace
85 wordum and weorcum, þæt wē Wuldorcyning
gesēon mōton. Uton ā sibbe tō him,
on þās hwīlnan tīd, hǣlu sēcan,
þæt wē mid swā lēofne in lofe mōtan
tō wīdan feore wuldres nēotan.
the lake of fire, those that cleave to him and are laden with guilt, such as had eagerly followed his teachings in the days of their life, he then, after their death, snaps tight together his fierce jaws, the gates of hell. They who enter there have neither relief nor escape, no means of flight, any more than the fishes that swim the sea can escape from the clutch of the monster.
Therefore is it by all means [best for every one of us to serve [1]] the Lord of lords, and strive against devils with words and works, that so we may come to behold the King of glory. Let us ever, now in this fleeting time, seek from him grace and salvation, that so with the Beloved we may in worship enjoy the bliss of heaven for evermore.
- ↑ Conjecturally supplied.
