# Poem of Judith

Usually referred to simply as "Judith". Written in Anglo-Saxon, with the oldest manuscript dating c. 1000. The poem is at least partially incomplete in the original Old English.
tweode gifena in ðys ginnan grunde.   Heo ðar ða gearwe funde mundbyrd æt ðam mæran þeodne,   þa heo ahte mæste þearfe, hyldo þæs hehstan deman,   þæt he hie wið þæs hehstan brogan
gefriðode, frymða waldend.   Hyre ðæs fæder on roderum torhtmod tiðe gefremede,   þe heo ahte trumne geleafan a to ðam ælmihtigan.   Gefrægen ic ða Holofernus winhatan wyrcean georne   ond eallum wundrum þrymlic girwan up swæsendo.   To ðam het se gumena baldor
ealle ða yldestan ðegnas;   hie ðæt ofstum miclum ræfndon, rondwiggende,   comon to ðam rican þeodne feran, folces ræswan.   þæt wæs þy feorðan dogore þæs ðe Iudith hyne,   gleaw on geðonce, ides ælfscinu,   ærest gesohte.
Hie ða to ðam symle   sittan eodon, wlance to wingedrince,   ealle his weagesiðas, bealde byrnwiggende.   þær wæron bollan steape boren æfter bencum gelome,   swylce eac bunan ond orcas fulle fletsittendum;   hie þæt fæge þegon,
rofe rondwiggende,   þeah ðæs se rica ne wende, egesful eorla dryhten.   ða wearð Holofernus, goldwine gumena,   on gytesalum, hloh ond hlydde,   hlynede ond dynede, þæt mihten fira bearn   feorran gehyran
hu se stiðmoda   styrmde ond gylede, modig ond medugal,   manode geneahhe bencsittende   þæt hi gebærdon wel. Swa se inwidda   ofer ealne dæg dryhtguman sine   drencte mid wine,
swiðmod sinces brytta,   oðþæt hie on swiman lagon, oferdrencte his duguðe ealle,   swylce hie wæron deaðe geslegene, agotene goda gehwylces.   Swa het se gumena aldor fylgan fletsittendum,   oðþæt fira bearnum nealæhte niht seo þystre.   Het ða niða geblonden
þa eadigan mægð   ofstum fetigan to his bedreste   beagum gehlæste, hringum gehrodene.   Hie hraðe fremedon, anbyhtscealcas,   swa him heora ealdor bebead, byrnwigena brego,   bearhtme stopon
to ðam gysterne,   þær hie Iudithðe fundon ferhðgleawe,   ond ða fromlice lindwiggende   lædan ongunnon þa torhtan mægð   to træfe þam hean, þær se rica hyne   reste on symbel
nihtes inne,   nergende lað, Holofernus.   þær wæs eallgylden fleohnet fæger   ymbe þæs folctogan bed ahongen,   þæt se bealofulla mihte wlitan þurh,   wigena baldor,
on æghwylcne   þe ðær inne com hæleða bearna,   ond on hyne nænig monna cynnes,   nymðe se modiga hwæne niðe rofra   him þe near hete rinca to rune gegangan.   Hie ða on reste gebrohton
snude ða snoteran idese;   eodon ða stercedferhðe, hæleð heora hearran cyðan   þæt wæs seo halige meowle gebroht on his burgetelde.   þa wearð se brema on mode bliðe, burga ealdor,   þohte ða beorhtan idese mid widle ond mid womme besmitan.   Ne wolde þæt wuldres dema
geðafian, þrymmes hyrde,   ac he him þæs ðinges gestyrde, dryhten, dugeða waldend.   Gewat ða se deofulcunda, galferhð gumena ðreate   bealofull his beddes neosan,   þær he sceolde his blæd forleosan ædre binnan anre nihte;   hæfde ða his ende gebidenne
on eorðan unswæslicne,   swylcne he ær æfter worhte, þearlmod ðeoden gumena,   þenden he on ðysse worulde wunode under wolcna hrofe.   Gefeol ða wine swa druncen se rica on his reste middan,   swa he nyste ræda nanne on gewitlocan.   Wiggend stopon
ut of ðam inne   ofstum miclum, weras winsade,   þe ðone wærlogan, laðne leodhatan,   læddon to bedde nehstan siðe.   þa wæs nergendes þeowen þrymful,   þearle gemyndig
hu heo þone atolan   eaðost mihte ealdre benæman   ær se unsyfra, womfull, onwoce.   Genam ða wundenlocc scyppendes mægð   scearpne mece, scurum heardne,   ond of sceaðe abræd
swiðran folme;   ongan ða swegles weard be naman nemnan,   nergend ealra woruldbuendra,   ond þæt word acwæð: "Ic ðe, frymða god   ond frofre gæst, bearn alwaldan,   biddan wylle
miltse þinre   me þearfendre, ðrynesse ðrym.   þearle ys me nu ða heorte onhæted   ond hige geomor, swyðe mid sorgum gedrefed.   Forgif me, swegles ealdor, sigor ond soðne geleafan,   þæt ic mid þys sweorde mote
geheawan þysne morðres bryttan;   geunne me minra gesynta, þearlmod þeoden gumena.   Nahte ic þinre næfre miltse þon maran þearfe.   Gewrec nu, mihtig dryhten, torhtmod tires brytta,   þæt me ys þus torne on mode, hate on hreðre minum."   Hi ða se hehsta dema
ædre mid elne onbryrde,   swa he deð anra gehwylcne herbuendra   þe hyne him to helpe seceð mid ræde ond mid rihte geleafan.   þa wearð hyre rume on mode, haligre hyht geniwod;   genam ða þone hæðenan mannan fæste be feaxe sinum,   teah hyne folmum wið hyre weard
bysmerlice,   ond þone bealofullan listum alede,   laðne mannan, swa heo ðæs unlædan   eaðost mihte wel gewealdan.   Sloh ða wundenlocc þone feondsceaðan   fagum mece,
heteþoncolne,   þæt heo healfne forcearf þone sweoran him,   þæt he on swiman læg, druncen ond dolhwund.   Næs ða dead þa gyt, ealles orsawle;   sloh ða eornoste ides ellenrof   oðre siðe
þone hæðenan hund,   þæt him þæt heafod wand forð on ða flore.   Læg se fula leap gesne beæftan,   gæst ellor hwearf under neowelne næs   ond ðær genyðerad wæs, susle gesæled   syððan æfre,
wyrmum bewunden,   witum gebunden, hearde gehæfted   in hellebryne æfter hinsiðe.   Ne ðearf he hopian no, þystrum forðylmed,   þæt he ðonan mote of ðam wyrmsele,   ac ðær wunian sceal
awa to aldre   butan ende forð in ðam heolstran ham,   hyhtwynna leas. Hæfde ða gefohten   foremærne blæd Iudith æt guðe,   swa hyre god uðe, swegles ealdor,   þe hyre sigores onleah.
þa seo snotere mægð   snude gebrohte þæs herewæðan   heafod swa blodig on ðam fætelse   þe hyre foregenga, blachleor ides,   hyra begea nest, ðeawum geðungen,   þyder on lædde,
ond hit þa swa heolfrig   hyre on hond ageaf, higeðoncolre,   ham to berenne, Iudith gingran sinre.   Eodon ða gegnum þanonne þa idesa ba   ellenþriste, oðþæt hie becomon,   collenferhðe,
eadhreðige mægð,   ut of ðam herige, þæt hie sweotollice   geseon mihten þære wlitegan byrig   weallas blican, Bethuliam.   Hie ða beahhrodene feðelaste   forð onettan,
oð hie glædmode   gegan hæfdon to ðam wealgate.   Wiggend sæton, weras wæccende   wearde heoldon in ðam fæstenne,   swa ðam folce ær geomormodum   Iudith bebead,
searoðoncol mægð,   þa heo on sið gewat, ides ellenrof.   Wæs ða eft cumen leof to leodum,   ond ða lungre het gleawhydig wif   gumena sumne of ðære ginnan byrig   hyre togeanes gan,
ond hi ofostlice   in forleton þurh ðæs wealles geat,   ond þæt word acwæð to ðam sigefolce:   "Ic eow secgan mæg þoncwyrðe þing,   þæt ge ne þyrfen leng murnan on mode.   Eow ys metod bliðe,
cyninga wuldor;   þæt gecyðed wearð geond woruld wide,   þæt eow ys wuldorblæd torhtlic toweard   ond tir gifeðe þara læðða   þe ge lange drugon." þa wurdon bliðe   burhsittende,
syððan hi gehyrdon   hu seo halige spræc ofer heanne weall.   Here wæs on lustum. Wið þæs fæstengeates   folc onette, weras wif somod,   wornum ond heapum, ðreatum ond ðrymmum   þrungon ond urnon
ongean ða þeodnes mægð   þusendmælum, ealde ge geonge.   æghwylcum wearð men on ðære medobyrig   mod areted, syððan hie ongeaton   þæt wæs Iudith cumen eft to eðle,   ond ða ofostlice
hie mid eaðmedum   in forleton. þa seo gleawe het,   golde gefrætewod, hyre ðinenne   þancolmode þæs herewæðan   heafod onwriðan ond hyt to behðe   blodig ætywan
þam burhleodum,   hu hyre æt beaduwe gespeow. Spræc ða seo æðele   to eallum þam folce: "Her ge magon sweotole,   sigerofe hæleð, leoda ræswan,   on ðæs laðestan hæðenes heaðorinces   heafod starian,
Holofernus   unlyfigendes, þe us monna mæst   morðra gefremede, sarra sorga,   ond þæt swyðor gyt ycan wolde,   ac him ne uðe god lengran lifes,   þæt he mid læððum us
eglan moste;   ic him ealdor oðþrong þurh godes fultum.   Nu ic gumena gehwæne þyssa burgleoda   biddan wylle, randwiggendra,   þæt ge recene eow fysan to gefeohte.   Syððan frymða god,
arfæst cyning,   eastan sende leohtne leoman,   berað linde forð, bord for breostum   ond byrnhomas, scire helmas   in sceaðena gemong, fyllan folctogan   fagum sweordum,
fæge frumgaras.   Fynd syndon eowere gedemed to deaðe,   ond ge dom agon, tir æt tohtan,   swa eow getacnod hafað mihtig dryhten   þurh mine hand." þa wearð snelra werod   snude gegearewod,
cenra to campe.   Stopon cynerofe secgas ond gesiðas,   bæron sigeþufas, foron to gefeohte   forð on gerihte, hæleð under helmum,   of ðære haligan byrig on ðæt dægred sylf.   Dynedan scildas,
hlude hlummon.   þæs se hlanca gefeah wulf in walde,   ond se wanna hrefn, wælgifre fugel.   Wistan begen þæt him ða þeodguman   þohton tilian fylle on fægum;   ac him fleah on last
earn ætes georn,   urigfeðera, salowigpada   sang hildeleoð, hyrnednebba.   Stopon heaðorincas, beornas to beadowe,   bordum beðeahte, hwealfum lindum,   þa ðe hwile ær
elðeodigra   edwit þoledon, hæðenra hosp.   Him þæt hearde wearð æt ðam æscplegan   eallum forgolden, Assyrium,   syððan Ebreas under guðfanum   gegan hæfdon
to ðam fyrdwicum.   Hie ða fromlice leton forð fleogan   flana scuras, hildenædran,   of hornbogan, strælas stedehearde;   styrmdon hlude grame guðfrecan,   garas sendon
in heardra gemang.   Hæleð wæron yrre, landbuende,   laðum cynne, stopon styrnmode,   stercedferhðe, wrehton unsofte   ealdgeniðlan medowerige;   mundum brugdon
scealcas of sceaðum   scirmæled swyrd, ecgum gecoste,   slogon eornoste Assiria   oretmæcgas, niðhycgende,   nanne ne sparedon þæs herefolces,   heanne ne ricne,
cwicera manna   þe hie ofercuman mihton. Swa ða magoþegnas   on ða morgentid ehton elðeoda   ealle þrage, oðþæt ongeaton   ða ðe grame wæron, ðæs herefolces   heafodweardas,
þæt him swyrdgeswing   swiðlic eowdon weras Ebrisce.   Hie wordum þæt þam yldestan   ealdorþegnum cyðan eodon,   wrehton cumbolwigan ond him forhtlice   færspel bodedon,
medowerigum   morgencollan, atolne ecgplegan.   þa ic ædre gefrægn slegefæge hæleð   slæpe tobredon ond wið þæs bealofullan   burgeteldes werigferhðe   hwearfum þringan,
Holofernus.   Hogedon aninga hyra hlaforde   hilde bodian, ærðon ðe him se egesa   on ufan sæte, mægen Ebrea.   Mynton ealle þæt se beorna brego   ond seo beorhte mægð
in ðam wlitegan træfe   wæron ætsomne, Iudith seo æðele   ond se galmoda, egesfull ond afor.   Næs ðeah eorla nan þe ðone wiggend   aweccan dorste oððe gecunnian   hu ðone cumbolwigan
wið ða halgan mægð   hæfde geworden, metodes meowlan.   Mægen nealæhte, folc Ebrea,   fuhton þearle heardum heoruwæpnum,   hæfte guldon hyra fyrngeflitu,   fagum swyrdum,
ealde æfðoncan;   Assyria wearð on ðam dægeweorce   dom geswiðrod, bælc forbiged.   Beornas stodon ymbe hyra þeodnes træf   þearle gebylde, sweorcendferhðe.   Hi ða somod ealle
ongunnon cohhetan,   cirman hlude ond gristbitian,   gode orfeorme, mid toðon torn þoligende.   þa wæs hyra tires æt ende, eades ond ellendæda.   Hogedon þa eorlas aweccan hyra winedryhten;   him wiht ne speow.
þa wearð sið ond late   sum to ðam arod þara beadorinca,   þæt he in þæt burgeteld niðheard neðde,   swa hyne nyd fordraf. Funde ða on bedde   blacne licgan his goldgifan   gæstes gesne,
lifes belidenne.   He þa lungre gefeoll freorig to foldan,   ongan his feax teran, hreoh on mode,   ond his hrægl somod, ond þæt word acwæð   to ðam wiggendum þe ðær unrote   ute wæron:
"Her ys geswutelod   ure sylfra forwyrd, toweard getacnod   þæt þære tide ys mid niðum neah geðrungen,   þe we sculon nyde losian, somod æt sæcce forweorðan.   Her lið sweorde geheawen, beheafdod healdend ure."   Hi ða hreowigmode
wurpon hyra wæpen of dune,   gewitan him werigferhðe on fleam sceacan.   Him mon feaht on last, mægeneacen folc,   oð se mæsta dæl þæs heriges læg   hilde gesæged on ðam sigewonge,   sweordum geheawen,
wulfum to willan   ond eac wælgifrum fuglum to frofre.   Flugon ða ðe lyfdon, laðra lindwerod.   Him on laste for sweot Ebrea   sigore geweorðod, dome gedyrsod;   him feng dryhten god
fægre on fultum,   frea ælmihtig. Hi ða fromlice   fagum swyrdum, hæleð higerofe,   herpað worhton þurh laðra gemong,   linde heowon, scildburh scæron.   Sceotend wæron
guðe gegremede,   guman Ebrisce; þegnas on ða tid   þearle gelyste gargewinnes.   þær on greot gefeoll se hyhsta dæl   heafodgerimes Assiria   ealdorduguðe,
laðan cynnes.   Lythwon becom cwicera to cyððe.   Cirdon cynerofe, wiggend on wiðertrod,   wælscel on innan, reocende hræw.   Rum wæs to nimanne londbuendum   on ðam laðestan,
hyra ealdfeondum   unlyfigendum heolfrig herereaf,   hyrsta scyne, bord ond bradswyrd,   brune helmas, dyre madmas.   Hæfdon domlice on ðam folcstede   fynd oferwunnen
eðelweardas,   ealdhettende swyrdum aswefede.   Hie on swaðe reston, þa ðe him to life   laðost wæron cwicera cynna.   þa seo cneoris eall, mægða mærost,   anes monðes fyrst,
wlanc, wundenlocc,   wagon ond læddon to ðære beorhtan byrig,   Bethuliam, helmas ond hupseax,   hare byrnan, guðsceorp gumena   golde gefrætewod, mærra madma   þonne mon ænig
asecgan mæge   searoþoncelra; eal þæt ða ðeodguman   þrymme geeodon, cene under cumblum   on compwige þurh Iudithe   gleawe lare, mægð modigre.   Hi to mede hyre
of ðam siðfate   sylfre brohton, eorlas æscrofe,   Holofernes sweord ond swatigne helm,   swylce eac side byrnan gerenode readum golde,   ond eal þæt se rinca baldor swiðmod sinces ahte   oððe sundoryrfes,
beaga ond beorhtra maðma,   hi þæt þære beorhtan idese ageafon gearoþoncolre.   Ealles ðæs Iudith sægde wuldor weroda dryhtne,   þe hyre weorðmynde geaf, mærðe on moldan rice,   swylce eac mede on heofonum, sigorlean in swegles wuldre,   þæs þe heo ahte soðne geleafan
to ðam ælmihtigan;   huru æt þam ende ne tweode þæs leanes þe heo lange gyrnde.   ðæs sy ðam leofan drihtne wuldor to widan aldre,   þe gesceop wind ond lyfte, roderas ond rume grundas,   swylce eac reðe streamas ond swegles dreamas,   ðurh his sylfes miltse.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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