The Exeter Book (Jebson)/The Panther

For works with similar titles, see The Panther.

The Panther

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Monge sindon         geond middangeard
unrimu cynn,         þe we æþelu ne magon
ryhte areccan         ne rim witan;
þæs wide sind         geond world innan

5

fugla ond deora         foldhrerendra
wornas widsceope,         swa wæter bibugeð
þisne beorhtan bosm,         brim grymetende,
sealtyþa geswing.         We bi sumum hyrdon
wrætlice gecynd         wildra secgan

10

firum freamærne         feorlondum on
eard weardian,         eðles neotan
æfter dunscrafum.         Is þæt deor pandher
bi noman haten,         þæs þe niþþa bearn,
wisfæste weras         on gewritum cyþað

15

bi þam anstapan.         Se is æghwam freond,
duguða estig,         butan dracan anum,
þam he in ealle tid         ondwrað leofaþ
þurh yfla gehwylc         þe he geæfnan mæg.
ðæt is wrætlic deor,         wundrum scyne

20

hiwa gehwylces;         swa hæleð secgað,
gæsthalge guman,         þætte Iosephes
tunece wære         telga gehwylces
bleom bregdende,         þara beorhtra gehwylc
æghwæs ænlicra         oþrum lixte

25

dryhta bearnum,         swa þæs deores hiw,
blæc brigda gehwæs,         beorhtra ond scynra
wundrum lixeð,         þætte wrætlicra
æghwylc oþrum,         ænlicra gien
ond fægerra         frætwum bliceð,

30

symle sellicra.         He hafað sundorgecynd,
milde, gemetfæst.         He is monþwære,
lufsum ond leoftæl,         nele laþes wiht
ængum geæfnan         butan þam attorsceaþan,
his fyrngeflitan,         þe ic ær fore sægde.

35

Symle fylle fægen,         þonne foddor þigeð,
æfter þam gereordum         ræste seceð
dygle stowe         under dunscrafum;
ðær se þeodwiga         þreonihta fæc
swifeð on swefote,         slæpe gebiesgad.

40

þonne ellenrof         up astondeð,
þrymme gewelgad,         on þone þriddan dæg,
sneome of slæpe.         Sweghleoþor cymeð,
woþa wynsumast         þurh þæs wildres muð.
æfter þære stefne         stenc ut cymeð

45

of þam wongstede,         wynsumra steam,
swettra ond swiþra         swæcca gehwylcum,
wyrta blostmum         ond wudubledum,
eallum æþelicra         eorþan frætwum.
þonne of ceastrum         ond cynestolum

50

ond of burgsalum         beornþreat monig
farað foldwegum         folca þryþum,
eoredcystum,         ofestum gefysde,
dareðlacende;         deor efne swa some
æfter þære stefne         on þone stenc farað.

55

Swa is dryhten god,         dreama rædend,
eallum eaðmede         oþrum gesceaftum,
duguða gehwylcre,         butan dracan anum,
attres ordfruman.         þæt is se ealda feond,
þone he gesælde         in susla grund,

60

ond gefetrade         fyrnum teagum,
biþeahte þreanydum,         ond þy þriddan dæge
of digle aras,         þæs þe he deað fore us
þreo niht þolade,         þeoden engla,
sigora sellend.         þæt wæs swete stenc,

65

wlitig ond wynsum         geond woruld ealle.
Siþþan to þam swicce         soðfæste men
on healfa gehwone         heapum þrungon
geond ealne ymbhwyrft         eorþan sceata.
Swa se snottra gecwæð         sanctus Paulus:

70

"Monigfealde sind         geond middangeard
god ungnyðe         þe us to giefe dæleð
ond to feorhnere         fæder ælmihtig,
ond se anga hyht         ealra gesceafta,
uppe ge niþre."         þæt is æþele stenc.