Part 12 (1/2)
[Critical edition: Cook, _The Dream of the Rood_, Oxford, 1905.
Author: ”Making all due allowance, then, for the weakness of certain arguments both pro and con, the balance of probability seems to incline decidedly in favor of Cynewulfian authors.h.i.+p.”--Cook.
Translations: English Prose: Kemble. Verse: Stephens, 1866; Morley, 1888; Miss Iddings, 1902.
The poem has much in common with _Elene_, especially the intimate self-a.n.a.lysis. Portions of it are on the Ruthwell Cross in Dumfriess.h.i.+re.
It is claimed as Cynewulf's, but there is nothing to indicate this except the beauty of style, which has caused it to be called ”the choicest blossom of Old English Christian poetry.”]
Lo, I shall tell you the truest of visions, A dream that I dreamt in the dead of night While people reposed in peaceful sleep.
I seemed to see the sacred tree 5 Lifted on high in a halo of light, The brightest of beams; that beacon was wholly Gorgeous with gold; glorious gems stood Fair at the foot; and five were a.s.sembled, At the crossing of the arms. The angels of G.o.d looked on, 10 Fair through the firmament. It was truly no foul sinner's cross, For beholding his sufferings were the holy spirits, The men of the earth and all of creation.
Wondrous was that victory-wood, and I wounded and stained With sorrows and sins. I saw the tree of glory 15 Blessed and bright in brilliant adornments, Made joyous with jewels. Gems on all sides Full rarely enriched the rood of the Savior.
Through the sight of that cross I came to perceive Its stiff struggle of old, when it started first 20 To bleed on the right side. I was broken and cast down with sorrow; The fair sight inspired me with fear. Before me the moving beacon Changed its clothing and color. At times it was covered with blood Fearful and grimy with gore. At times with gold 'twas adorned.
Then I lay and looked for a long time 25 And saw the Savior's sorrowful tree Until I heard it lift high its voice.
The worthiest of the wood-race formed words and spoke: ”It was ages ago --I shall always remember-- When first I was felled at the forest's edge, 30 My strong trunk stricken. Then strange enemies took me And fas.h.i.+oned my frame to a cross; and their felons I raised on high.
On their backs and shoulders they bore me to the brow of the lofty hill.
There the hated ones solidly set me. I saw there the Lord of Mankind Struggling forward with courage to climb my st.u.r.dy trunk.
35 I dared not then oppose the purpose of the Lord, So I bent not nor broke when there burst forth a trembling From the ends of the earth. Easily might I Destroy the murderers, but I stood unmoved.
”The Young Hero unclothed him --it was the holy G.o.d-- 40 Strong and steadfast; he stepped to the high gallows, Not fearing the look of the fiends, and there he freed mankind.
At his blessed embrace I trembled, but bow to the earth I dared not, Or forward to fall to the ground, but fast and true I endured.
As a rood I was raised up; a royal King I bore, 45 The Lord of heavenly legions. I allowed myself never to bend.
Dark nails through me they drove; so that dastardly scars are upon me, Wounds wide open; but not one of them dared I to harm.
They cursed and reviled us together. I was covered all over with blood, That flowed from the Savior's side when his soul had left the flesh.
50 Sorrowful the sights I have seen on that hill, Grim-visaged grief: the G.o.d of mankind I saw And his frightful death. The forces of darkness Covered with clouds the corpse of the Lord, The s.h.i.+ning radiance; the shadows darkened 55 Under the cover of clouds. Creation all wept, The king's fall bewailed. Christ was on the rood.
Finally from afar came faithful comrades To the Savior's side, and I saw it all.
Bitter the grief that I bore, but I bowed me low to their hands; 60 My travail was grievous and sore. They took then G.o.d Almighty, From loathsome torment they lifted him. The warriors left me deserted, To stand stained with blood. I was stricken and wounded with nails.
Limb-weary they laid him there, and at their Lord's head they stood.
They beheld there the Ruler of heaven; and they halted a while to rest, 65 Tired after the terrible struggle. A tomb then they began to make, His friends in sight of his foes. Of the fairest of stone they built it, And set their Savior upon it. A sorrowful dirge they chanted, Lamented their Master at evening, when they made their journey home, Tired from their loved Lord's side. And they left him with the guard.
70 We crosses stood there streaming with blood, And waited long after the wailing ceased Of the brave company. The body grew cold, The most precious of corpses. Then they pulled us down, All to the earth --an awful fate!
75 They buried us low in a pit. But the loved disciples of Christ, His faithful friends made search and found me and brought me to light, And gorgeously decked me with gold and with silver.
”Now mayst thou learn, my beloved friend, That the work of the wicked I have worthily borne, 80 The most trying of torments. The time is now come When through the wide world I am wors.h.i.+pped and honored, That all manner of men, and the mighty creation, Hold sacred this sign. On me the Son of G.o.d Death-pangs endured. Hence, dauntless in glory, 85 I rise high under heaven, and hold out salvation To each and to all who have awe in my presence.
”Long ago I was the greatest and most grievous of torments, Most painful of punishments, till I pointed aright The road of life for the race of men.
90 ”Lo, a glory was given by the G.o.d of Creation To the worthless wood --by the Warden of heaven-- Just as Mary, his mother, the maiden blessed, Received grace and glory from G.o.d Almighty, And homage and wors.h.i.+p over other women.
95 ”And now I bid thee, my best of comrades, That thou reveal this vision to men.
Tell them I am truly the tree of glory, That the Savior sorrowed and suffered upon me For the race of men and its many sins, 100 And the ancient evil that Adam wrought.
”He there tasted of death; but in triumph he rose, The Lord in his might and gave life unto men.
Then he ascended to heaven, and hither again Shall the Savior descend to seek mankind 105 On the day of doom, the dreaded Ruler Of highest heaven, with his host of angels.
Then will he adjudge with justice and firmness Rewards to the worthy whose works have deserved them, Who loyally lived their lives on the earth.