English 2230F Huron University College

Intersession 2013

Cædmon’s Hymn
by Cædmon (c.670)

Nu sculon herian heofonrices weard,

metodes mihte, ond his modgeþanc,
wurc wuldorfæder— swa he wundra gehwylc,
ece drihten, ord æstealde!
He ærest gescop eorða bearnum 5
heofon to hrofe, halig scyppend;
þa middangeard, mancynnes weard,
ece drihten, æfter teode
firum on foldan, frea ælmihtig.

Poetic Translation:
Now we shall honour the guardian of Heaven,
The maker’s might, and his mind’s intent,
The work of the father of glory —as of wonders
The eternal lord the origin established.
He earliest shaped for the children of Earth 5
Heaven as a roof, that holy shaper;
Then middle-earth mankind’s guardian,
The eternal lord after brought forth
As mankind’s land, the Lord almighty.

Modern translation:
Now we shall honour the Guardian of the kingdom of Heaven, the might of the Measurer, and
his mood’s thoughts, the work of the Father of Glory—as he, the eternal Lord, established the
beginning of all wonders. He first created Heaven as a roof for the Earth’s children, that holy
shaper; then afterwards, mankind’s guardian, the Lord Almighty, appointed Middle-Earth as
the lands of men.

Literal translation, preserving archaic words and etymological ties where possible:
Now shall we praise the Heaven-reach’s warden, the measurer’s might, and his mood-think,
the work of the glory-father as of wonders the eternal lord origins distilled. He earliest shaped
for Earth’s bairns Heaven as roof, holy shaper; then the middle-yard mankind’s warden, the
eternal lord, after towed out for mankind as land, the Lord almighty.

This edition & translation ©2013 Luke R. J. Maynard