tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88576714723167115312024-03-08T06:27:29.444-08:00The Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project61% of the extant poetry and counting... <p>
There's more to Anglo-Saxon narrative poetry than <i>Beowulf</i>, <br>
and it is just as engaging, vital, and important to the classroom and scholar. <br>
However, very little of it has been set into verse translation. <br>
That has changed...</p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-14770405885709358252014-01-13T09:28:00.000-08:002014-01-13T09:29:25.498-08:00New Translation: Battle of MaldonA new translation has joined the ASNPP family: the <i>Battle of Maldon</i>. You can find it <a href="http://anglosaxonpoetry.camden.rutgers.edu/battle-of-maldon/">here</a>.<p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-30257947123033667152013-05-11T11:33:00.000-07:002013-05-11T11:33:03.189-07:00Cleaning houseThe Blogspot pages for the individual poems (except the Metres of Boethius) have been taken offline, so if you had any bookmarked, you'll need to find their new location through the sidebar (at the right) and update them. <p>
Also I received some encouraging news which could possibly turn into some good news (nothing I can really share yet--but stay tuned). <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-72299698462295241242013-04-07T08:33:00.000-07:002013-04-11T06:22:44.682-07:00Another status updateThe main poems of the ASNPP have all been moved over to Rutgers webspace (poor, inadequate <i>Metres of Boethius</i>...). Now there is a snazzy new theme for the pages there, and the work of revising the poems is underway (<i>The Phoenix</i> is next upon the block). The links at the right are all updated to get you to the right pages. Comments will continue to be available through this page, or addressed to my Rutgers email directly (address is on the main page). <p>
I am much happier with the look of the poems in their new home, and the process of moving has been good for inspiring the great deal of pruning and re-evaluation that has needed to be done since the poems' first posting over the years.
Happy days!<p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-18269884180515048852013-04-03T05:24:00.001-07:002013-04-03T05:24:16.178-07:00Another update<i>Genesis A&B</i> and <i>Christ and Satan</i> have been moved to the new Rutgers site. They will be corrected and updated soon--there are some discrepancies in reading between the ASPR and Doane's editions that are holding me up from getting <i>Genesis</i> revised. As soon as I can get my hands on Doane's two books, I will get started. <p>
<i>C&S</i> probably will be revised this weekend. <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-88125423994298254072013-03-23T16:40:00.001-07:002013-03-24T17:06:52.967-07:00Further updatesPlease follow the links at the sidebar for updated versions of <i>Guthlac A & B</i>, as well as <i>Daniel</i> (now corrected too), <i>Christ III</i>, and <i>St. Christopher</i>. Coming soon, a new theme and appearance for the poems so they don't look so temporary. Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-31455246787826683212013-03-20T18:55:00.001-07:002013-03-20T18:58:27.400-07:00Progress on the moveAn update on the move. <p>
<i>Andreas</i>, <i>Juliana</i>, and <i>Christ I & II</i> are now live on the new pages. The texts there have been thoroughly proofread, corrected, and updated, so if you're looking for the latest version of these translations, check there. The links on the sidebar for the individual texts have been updated to send you to the proper site. <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-64761675106057776642013-03-14T16:31:00.001-07:002013-03-14T17:33:39.008-07:00New Location for the ASNPPThe Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project translations are in the process of being transferred to their new home:<p>
<a href="http://people.camden.rutgers.edu/anglo-saxon/about/">Here</a> <p>
Please be patient as I get everything moved over and reformatted, which will take a while to get just right. <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-54662029836850554742013-03-07T16:47:00.002-08:002013-03-07T16:47:31.976-08:00Christ III finitHere are the final few lines of the <i>Final Judgment</i>. They need work, and will improve over time, but the first draft is fully online. <p>
Whatever am I going to do with myself? There's only <i>Judith</i> left to do among the narrative poems, and after that just a hell of a lot of revision and editing to do. <p>
Information on the ASNPP poems' new location will be coming soon, in the next few weeks. <p>
----------------------- <p>
He will be wretched who wishes to commit crimes. <br>
so that the guilty man must be separated from his Shaper <br>
at the Day of Judgment, downwards into death, <br>
under the kindred of hell in that hot fire, within a prison of flame, <br>
where they will stretch out their limbs for the binding <br>
and the burning and the scourging in torment for their sins. <br>
Then the Holy Spirit with lock down hell, the greatest <br>
murder-house through the might of God, <br>
filled with fire and an army of demons at the word of the King. (1615b-26a) <p>
That will be the greatest killing for devils and men! <br>
That is a joyless house, where none can ever loose <br>
their cold chains. They broke the commands of the King, <br>
the bright words of Scripture—therefore they must abide <br>
in everlasting night, a sorrow without end, stained <br>
by criminal deeds, suffering forever, those that <br>
despised the majesty of the Heavenly Realm. (1626b-33) <p>
Then the chosen will bear before Christ their bright treasures. <br>
Their glory will endure at Doomsday, keeping their joy <br>
of a mild life with God, which will be permitted <br>
to all of the holy in the realm of heaven. <br>
That is the homeland that will never be completed, <br>
but there the sinless will ever from now <br>
ward over the happiness, loving the Lord, <br>
the Beloved Warden of Life, wound up in light, <br>
wrapped up in peace, parted from sorrows, <br>
magnified in pleasures, made dear to the Lord. <br>
Forever and always they will brook with bliss <br>
the camaraderie of the angels, bright with mildness, <br>
and love the Guardian of the People. The Father <br>
will hold power over all and maintain the multitude of the holy. (1634-48) <p>
Where there is the singing of angels, bliss of the blessed— <br>
there is the precious countenance of the Lord, lighter <br>
than the sun to every one of the overjoyed. <br>
There is the love of beloved, and life without death’s end, <br>
a happy multitude of humans, youth without age, <br>
the majesty of the heavenly host, health without pain, <br>
for the right-performing, rest without struggle, <br>
for the doom-blessed, day without darkness, <br>
brightness full of splendor, bliss without sorrow, <br>
peace between friends from now on without envy, <br>
for the blessed in the skies, love without malice <br>
in the company of the holy. There will be neither <br>
hunger nor thirst, neither sleep nor dull bed, <br>
nor the burning of the sun, neither chill nor care, <br>
but instead there the company of the blessed will always <br>
enjoy the grace of the King, the most shining hosts <br>
the glory amid the Lord. (1649-64) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-1984898397241113492013-03-04T18:06:00.001-08:002013-03-04T22:43:09.145-08:00Closing in on Christ IIIHe shall swing the victory-blade with his right hand <br>
so that into the deep dale the devils shall fall <br>
into the darksome flame, a host of the sinful <br>
under the lap of the earth, the fated ghasts <br>
into that stead of the wrathful, a shoal of the stained, <br>
the ruin of the accursed in that house of suffering, <br>
the death-hall of demons. None of them will seek <br>
the Lord’s memory afterwards, nor will they break <br>
from their sin where they are stained with crimes, <br>
bound up in flame, enduring death. The penalty for sin <br>
shall be manifestly present—that is an eternal death. (1530-40) <p>
Nor can the hot portion burn away the sins <br>
from the kindred of the damned in eternity, <br>
to the width of life, the stain from their souls <br>
but there the deep, bottomless pit shall be fed <br>
and fostered by the dreary spirits in the shadows, <br>
and it will kindle them with an olden flame, and with the terrible frost, <br>
and with angry worms and with torments innumerable, <br>
and with fearsome deadly jaws, it shall destroy these people. (1541-48) <p>
We can appreciate this and pronounce at once <br>
speaking the truth, that he has lost the Warden of Souls, <br>
the Wisdom of Life, he who cares not now whether <br>
his soul be wretched or blessed, where he must <br>
eternally be home-fixed after its hence-going. <br>
Nor is he anxious about committing a sin, <br>
this fool-headed man, nor does he have any regret at all <br>
in his heart that the Holy Spirit is lost to him <br>
through his crimes in this loaned time. (1549-58) <p>
Then the evil-doer will stand, fearful before the Lord, <br>
darkened at his doom, and guilty to death, <br>
cursed for his stains—the pledge-breaker <br>
will be filled with fire. Unworthy of life, <br>
menaced with terror, in the presence of God <br>
pale and without beauty, he has the hue of the damned, <br>
the living symbol of evil. Then the children of crimes <br>
will shed their tears and cry out for their sins— <br>
when the time for that is no more— <br>
yet they do their spirits aid too late, <br>
after the Wielder of Multitudes no longer <br>
wishes to be concerned how these sin-scathers <br>
grieve sorely their formerly treasured possessions <br>
in that patent hour. That hour of suffering <br>
is not granted to those people so that they might <br>
locate their leechdom there, who does not wish <br>
to obtain the cure for their health now <br>
so long as they are living here. (1559-74) <p>
There will be no sorrow shown there by any good man, <br>
in no evil man well-being, but everyone present there <br>
will be weighed according to their singular desert. <br>
Therefore he must hurry, who wishes to own <br>
life before the Lord, while light and soul <br>
are seen together in him. Let him attend eagerly <br>
to the appearance of his soul in the desire of God, <br>
and be aware of his words and deeds, <br>
practices and thoughts, so long as thus world, <br>
hurrying through the shadows, is allowed to shine for him, <br>
so that he does not lose it in this loaned time, <br>
his joyous profit and the count of his days, <br>
and the beauty of his works and the reward of glory <br>
that the Heaven-King in that holy hour, <br>
truth-fast, will grant as the recompense of victory <br>
to those who have assiduously obeyed him in their souls. (1575-90)<p>
Then heaven and hell will be filled <br>
with the children of men, the souls of humankind. <br>
The bottom shall swallow up the enemies of God, <br>
the flickering flame shall torment hate-minded men, <br>
the greatest scathers, and will never let them <br>
go from there into joy as a soul-saving, <br>
yet the burning shall bind them into a fixed mob, <br>
torturing the children of crime. Wicked it seems to me <br>
that these soul-bearing men did not wish to care for <br>
in their hearts, when they performed evil acts, <br>
what the Sovereign had established as an punishment <br>
for that hateful people. Then life and death shall swill down souls. (1591-1603a)<p>
The house of torturing shall be opened and revealed <br>
against the oath-breakers; crime-eager men must fill it <br>
with their swart souls. Then as punishment for sins, <br>
the school of the guilty shall become separated, <br>
the humiliated from the holy, in that harmful inferno. <br>
There thieves and mighty offenders, liars and rapists <br>
must never expect life, and ill-swearers shall observe <br>
the deserts of their crime, harsh and deadly fierce. <br>
Then hell shall pluck the pledge-less pack <br>
the Wielder shall grant them guilty to the fiends— <br>
they shall suffer a deadly bale, stained and terrifying. (1603b-15a)<p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-28499349484085272512013-03-03T16:01:00.002-08:002013-03-03T16:03:38.545-08:00Plans/the future for the ASNPPHello all,
So things are changing quickly around here. <p>
First up, is that a relocation is coming up soon. Rutgers is providing webspace and a Wordpress interface for my translation work, so things will be shifting over there in the next few months. I'll keep you posted on the URL when I get started on the transition, but this site will be live for a while until all the poems are moved over. <p>
Secondly, the book proposals for the ASNPP translations are drafted and will be ready to send out in the next few months. What that means for the status of the poems which will be included in the two volumes I proposed is uncertain. Certainly if either of the proposals are accepted, then the press will probably prefer that the online versions of those poems be taken down. This is a long-term change, so I wouldn't expect anything to move there for the next year or so. <p>
The process of putting the proposals together has only proven to me that there is merit in the project, and that the final steps of revision of the poems will finally push them into the place where they should be. I'm excited to see where these creations will turn, and somewhat in awe of the challenge that converting these blog entries into books will present. <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-33144615245389759832013-03-03T13:32:00.001-08:002013-03-03T13:32:16.430-08:00Almost done with Christ III!Just one more section of the <i>Final Judgment</i> to go, about 135 lines left. Whew! Won't this world end already? <p>
------------------------- <p>
“For what reason did you besmirch uncleanly <br>
with wicked lusts and foul sins that tabernacle, <br>
that beloved house that I hallowed inside you as my joy? <br>
Why did you sully with shame by sin-working <br>
the body-home which I released for myself <br>
from the embrace of enemies, and forbad it crime? <br>
For what reason do you hang me more heavily <br>
with your hands upon the cross than you once hanged me? <br>
Listen! This seems more severe to me! (1480-88) <p>
“Now it is more grievous to me, the cross of your sins, <br>
which I am unwillingly affixed upon, than the other was <br>
which I once ascended, of my own desire— <br>
when your woe most forpined me at heart, <br>
then I tugged you out from hell, provided that <br>
you would afterwards keep yourself out— <br>
I was a beggar in this world so that you would have plenty in heaven. <br>
I was miserable in your homeland so that you would be blessed in mine. <br>
For these things you knew not any thanks in your heart to your Savior. (1489-98) <p>
“I entrusted you to cheer my brothers well <br>
in this worldly realm with the plenty that I gave <br>
to you on this earth, to help the destitute. <br>
You have followed that feebly, forbidding <br>
the needy from being allowed to come inside <br>
under your roof, and you drew away every bit <br>
through the hardness of your heart, of garment <br>
from the naked, or food from the meatless. <br>
Although in my name they begged for water, <br>
for themselves, weary and poor in health, <br>
tormented for a drink, without means, <br>
eaten up with thirst, you boldly withdrew it from them. <br>
You did not seek out the suffering, or one sweet word <br>
did you speak to them in comfort, so that they might <br>
take up a state of mind more free. All those things you did to me, <br>
as an injury to the Heaven-King. For that you must suffer <br>
severely torment forever, enduring an exile among devils.” (1499-1514) <p>
Then over all those there, a terrifying sentence <br>
filled with pain, the Warden of Victories himself, <br>
will pronounce forth over that fated folk, <br>
saying unto that horde of sinful souls: <br>
“Begone now, accursed, shorn by your will <br>
from the pleasures of angels, into the eternal fire <br>
that was made ready for Satan and his siblings, <br>
for the Devil and his dark school, hot and fearsome. <br>
In that terrible place you must tumble!” (1515-23) <p>
They will not be able to ignore the command <br>
of the Heaven-King then, deprived of their powers. <br>
They must fall quickly into the grim ground, <br>
those who struggled before against God. <br>
The guard of the realm will be savage then and mighty, <br>
wrathful and terrifying. Nor can any enemy <br>
abide, present on these earthly ways. (1524-29) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-33166017436282669072013-03-02T13:31:00.001-08:002013-03-02T13:31:27.692-08:00Final Judgment XVI, pt. 1“It was not for pride, but I endured in my youth <br>
misery and merciless body-pain, so that through it <br>
I would be more like you, and you could become <br>
more like my image, separated from evil. <br>
And for the love of humankind my head suffered <br>
harmful blows, my cheek and face often endured <br>
the spit spat from the mouths of pitiless wicked-doers. <br>
Likewise they blended together for me <br>
a bitter drink, unsweet, of vinegar and gall. <br>
Then before the people I received the malice of my foes, <br>
they persecuted me with sins, they recked not of their feud, <br>
and they beat me with scourges. All that pain I suffered for you <br>
with a humble mind, the scorn and the sharp words. <br>
Then they ringed my head about with a hard, sharp wreath, <br>
cruelly they crammed it on—it was wrought of thorns. <br>
Then I was hanged upon a lofty tree, fixed upon the rood. <br>
Next they poured out blood from my side with a sharpened spear, <br>
gore upon the ground, so that you may be delivered <br>
from the constraining power of the devil. <br>
Then I, without sin, suffered torment and evil affliction, <br>
until alone I gave up my living soul from my body-home. (1428-53) <p>
“Now see these mortal wounds that you inflicted before <br>
into my hands and my feet just the same, through them <br>
I hung, severely fastened—you can see here, manifest to this day, <br>
in my side this bloody wound. How there was <br>
an uneven account made between us there! <br>
I took on your agony so that you would be allowed <br>
to enjoy my native realm, blessed and prosperous. <br>
And in my death I dearly purchased you enduring life <br>
so that you would be allowed to abide afterwards, <br>
free from blemish, and beautiful in that light. <br>
My flesh-home lay, engraved into the earth, <br>
hidden down below in burial, that which never harmed a soul, <br>
so that you would be able to exist upwards, <br>
brightly in the heavens, mighty among the angels. (1454-68) <p>
“For what reason did you abandon that shining life <br>
that I bargained for faithfully and lovingly with my own body, <br>
downcast as a help to you? Why did you become <br>
so bereft of sense that you knew no thankfulness <br>
to the Wielder for your redemption? <br>
I shall ask nothing for my bitter death <br>
which I suffered for you, but repay me your life, <br>
because I once gave you mine in ransom <br>
through brutal torment. I remand your life <br>
which you have criminally killed off <br>
with wicked deeds, much to your own shame. (1469-79) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-87043056219896205012013-03-02T09:03:00.001-08:002013-03-02T09:03:35.176-08:00Christ III, section xvWith the conclusion of <i>Christ III</i>, section xv, we are officially within two sections of completion. Hooray! <p>
------------------- <p>
“When I had shaped you to be so lovely and made you <br>
so pleasant, and gave to you the prosperity <br>
so that you might command the creatures of the world, <br>
when that I established you upon the fair earth <br>
in order to enjoy Paradise-plain, its radiant fruiting riches, <br>
blazing with blooms, then you wished not to follow <br>
the living word, but you broke my commandments <br>
at the word of your slayer. You heeded further <br>
that criminal fiend, that scathing scather, than to your Shaper. (1386-95) <p>
“Now I shall omit from that olden narrative <br>
how you first conceived of evil and by wicked works <br>
relinquished what I given you to your advantage. <br>
When I had granted you so many good things <br>
and it seemed in your heart too few blessings <br>
in all these things, if you were not allowed to have <br>
plenty of power, even as much as God— <br>
then you were thrown out far away from that joy, <br>
to the delight of devils, now an alien. (1396-1404) <p>
“The beauty of Paradise-plain you had to renounce <br>
by force, sad-minded the homeland of the spirit, <br>
gloomy and miserable, separated from every joy and glory, <br>
and then you were driven out into the dark world, <br>
where afterwards you have suffered mighty toil <br>
a great while, a painful and protracted struggle <br>
and dark death, and after your hence-going, <br>
you must collapse humiliated into hell, without helpers. (1405-13) <p>
“Then I rued that my handiwork should pass <br>
into the power of demons, and the stock of mankind <br>
see a wicked killing, should try out the unknown earth, <br>
a painful journey. Then I came down myself, <br>
a son into its mother, though her maidenhead <br>
stayed entirely whole. I alone was born <br>
as a comfort to the people. I was wound by human hands, <br>
covered up with poor clothing, and laid down in darkness, <br>
wound in dun swaddling. Listen! I endured this for the world’s sake! <br>
I seemed insignificant to the sons of men, lying on the hard stones, <br>
child-young in my crib. By this I meant to distance you from death, <br>
the bale of hot hell, so that you would be allowed to shine holy <br>
and blessed in this eternal life, because I suffered this hardship.” (1414-27) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-84086112507464537782013-02-28T17:46:00.000-08:002013-02-28T17:46:06.756-08:00Final Judgment XV, 1 of 2Finally broke through the obscurity surrounding the end of my interminable <i>Beowulf</i> paper, and decided to celebrate with little translation and some Charles Kennedy. <p>
-------------------- <p>
Now must we eagerly and wisely penetrate <br>
with our heart-sight the faults within our breast-coffers. <br>
We cannot with those other eyes, the head-gems, <br>
peer into the soul of our inner thoughts by any means, <br>
whether evil or good abodes therein, so that it may please <br>
God in that grim hour, when he over his every host <br>
shines in splendor from his high-throne with the purest flame. (1327-35) <p>
There, before his angels and before these strangers, <br>
he will speak first to the most blessed of all, <br>
and bid them peace lovingly, heaven’s high-king. <br>
With a holy voice he will comfort them fairly <br>
and command his protection over them, <br>
bidding them to venture forth, sound and sign-blessed, <br>
into the homeland of angels’ pleasures, <br>
and enjoy it delightfully to the width of their life. (1336-43) <p>
“Take up now with friends the realm of my father— <br>
that was joyfully made ready for you since before the ages, <br>
the riches among blisses, the brilliant beauty of this homeland, <br>
when you would be allowed to witness that life-weal <br>
among those most dear to you, and your own skyward delights. <br>
You have earned them when you graciously took in <br>
wretched men, those destitute in the world, with a mild soul. <br>
When they in my name begged you, humble-minded, <br>
for favor for themselves, then you helped them <br>
and gave them shelter, bread to hungering, and clothes to the naked, <br>
and those who lay sick in soreness, abased unsoftly, <br>
bound up in disease, you faithfully supported their hearts <br>
with your mind’s love. You did all these things unto me <br>
when you sought them with peace, and strengthened <br>
their spirits with comfort. Because of this you shall <br>
enjoy fairly your rewards long and fairly with my dear ones.” (1344-61) <p>
Then he begins to speak unto the evil, unlike in words, <br>
who will be there upon his left hand, through a terrible threat, <br>
the All-Wielding God. They need not expect the mercy <br>
of the Measurer at that time, neither life nor leniency, <br>
but there will come their recompense to humankind <br>
according to the results of their words and deeds, <br>
the speech-bearing—they must suffer alone <br>
his righteous doom in the fullness of his terror. <br>
There the mighty mercy of the Almighty <br>
shall be separated from the nation-dwellers on that day, <br>
when he charges that fretted folk with their crimes <br>
with hateful words, ordering them to reveal right now <br>
the rectitude of their life that he granted <br>
to them before, the sinning for their happiness. (1362-76a) <p>
He himself shall begin to speak, the Master Almighty, <br>
as if he were speaking to just one, and yet he intends them all, <br>
these crime-sinning people: “Listen! I first wrought you <br>
with my own hands and gave you understanding. <br>
From clay I set down your limbs, and gave you a living spirit, <br>
honoring you above all creation, giving you a face and figure <br>
like to myself. I gave you as well plenty of might, <br>
weal over all the wide lands, though you knew no part <br>
of the woe or the shadow that you must suffer— <br>
and you understand no gratitude for these things. (1376b-85) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-45953533147570053992013-02-27T19:45:00.001-08:002013-02-27T19:45:17.413-08:00The Final Judgment, part XIV (2 of 2)
Then his will shall be recognized as different for those others. <br>
They shall be able see too many woes for themselves— <br>
sins enough, the terrible hardships once committed. <br>
There, sorrowing pain will attach itself to them, <br>
a grievous agony on three sides. <br>
One of them is that they will see for themselves <br>
too many miseries and the grim fire of hell <br>
present and ready as torment, from which they must <br>
eternally suffer damnation, struggling in exile. <br>
The second curse upon them is when <br>
in their disgrace for the guilty, that ruined people <br>
shall endure the greatest shame. In them the Lord sees <br>
not at all a few, but their every crime-bales and hateful deeds, <br>
as well as seeing the all-bright host of heavenly angels <br>
and the children of men, every earth-dweller— <br>
and the terrifying devil shall be able to suss out <br>
in their souls with his dark and powerful skill, <br>
right through their body-homes, their every wicked blemish <br>
and their disgraceful faults. Their sinning flesh <br>
shall be transfixed shamefully just like the shining glass, <br>
so that one can scanned entirely with ease. <br>
Then that third sorrow for the needful, the crying care, <br>
will be that they may observe in the pure <br>
how they exult gladly on account of their good deeds, <br>
which they, miserable, once disdained to perform <br>
as their days lasted, and weeping sorely for their deeds, <br>
that they had freely committed unrighteous acts before. (1262-90) <p>
Then they will see the better ones richly glow— <br>
their miseries will not only be a torment to them, <br>
but the bliss of others will be to their sorrow, <br>
because they abandoned such fair joys in the days of old <br>
and such singular ones, through the frivolous delights of the body, <br>
and the empty lusts of their vile flesh-homes. <br>
Ashamed there and shamefully afflicted, <br>
they will stagger about drunkenly, bearing their sinful burden, <br>
their criminal works where the people will see it. <br>
It would have been better for them at that point <br>
that they blushed in shame earlier for their baleful deeds, <br>
every unrighteous act and vile works before any one man <br>
and spoken before God’s messengers that they knew <br>
to their regret of the sin-deeds upon their shoulders. <br>
The shriver may not see through the flesh into their soul, <br>
whether someone is speaking the truth or a lie upon himself, <br>
when he abases his sins then—even though someone <br>
may be healed of every fault, every unclean evil <br>
if he tells it to one person—but no one can conceal it <br>
on that stern day, the stain unabated, where the host will see it. (1291-1311) <p>
Alas! There can we now see these wrathful crimes <br>
in our souls, the wounds of sin, and in the eyes <br>
of our body-houses, the diseased ponderings, <br>
these unclean thoughts! No one can speak to another <br>
how with great vigor anyone would strive after <br>
life and spirit by every art fearfully, to endure longer, <br>
to cleanse the smut of sin and castigate himself, <br>
and heal the wound of that prior fault, <br>
within that brief space that there is in life here, <br>
so that he can, before the eyes of earth-dwellers, <br>
unashamed, brook his abode among mortal men, <br>
free from corruption, so long as body and soul <br>
are allowed to dwell together, two as one. (1312-26) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-17306020619544714772013-02-24T15:08:00.001-08:002013-02-25T18:48:21.450-08:00Christ III, section xiv, part 1What are they thinking who will not remember <br>
in their wits the mild teachings of the Measurer, <br>
and all the miseries that he endured for the benefit <br>
of mankind, because he wished that we might be allowed <br>
to possess a glorious home for all eternity? <br>
So it will be forlorn for them on that forbidding day <br>
of mighty doom, for them who must, undone by their deadly crimes, <br>
be shown the scars of the Lord, the wounds and the torments. <br>
In their sorry souls they will see the greatest of sorrows, <br>
how the King himself released them from their crimes <br>
with his own body’s house, by the mercy of his mind, <br>
so that they might live on liberated from their wicked works <br>
and possess the eternal fruits of glory. Thanks for this homeland <br>
they knew not to give unto the torments of their Sovereign. <br>
Therefore to punish them, they will see manifest markings there <br>
upon the body of God, unblissful people, when Christ sits <br>
on his majestic throne, his high seat, God of Heaven’s Powers, <br>
the Father Almighty. Unto every one of his peoples <br>
the shining Shaper shall inscribe each of them <br>
by their deeds, according to justice, the Ruler of the Skies. (1199-1220) <p>
Then shall be gathered on the right hand of Christ himself <br>
the pure folk, chosen for their excellence, <br>
those who had earlier followed his teachings <br>
eagerly and with delight in their life-days, <br>
and there the stain-scathers into the worse half <br>
before the Shaper shall be ordained, <br>
ordering them to depart onto his left hand, <br>
the True-King of Victories and the multitude of the sinful. <br>
Judged truly there, they shall weep and quiver <br>
before the fear of the Lord, as foul as goats, <br>
a filthy folk—they should not expect any mercy. (1221-31) <p>
Then shall the judgment of souls be decided before God <br>
upon the generations of humankind, just as they had <br>
previously merited—there will be readily visible to the blessed <br>
three tokens together, because they kept the Lord’s will <br>
well by their words and their works. <br>
The first one manifest there is that they will glisten <br>
with light before their people, splendid and shining <br>
over the houses in the city. Their earlier deeds will sparkle <br>
in every one of them more brightly than the sun. <br>
What’s more, the second is highly visible as well— <br>
that in glory they will know in themselves <br>
the Sovereign’s grace and see it in their eyes joyfully <br>
that they may possess the clear pleasures <br>
of Heaven’s realm, blessed among the angels. <br>
Then the third will be: how, in the bale of darkness, <br>
the blessed multitude shall see the corrupted <br>
suffer pain, as torment for their sins, <br>
the welling flame and the attacks of worms <br>
with bitter jaws, the shoal of the burning. (1232-51) <p>
From these three a winsome joy will grow <br>
when they observe the second part suffer that evil <br>
which they, through the Measurer’s mercy, have been spared. <br>
Then they will thank God all the more eagerly <br>
for both the fruits and blisses that they will see, <br>
that he saved them from the malice-killing <br>
and gave to them eternal pleasures. <br>
Hell will be locked off for them, and heaven’s kingdom <br>
granted them. So must it be exchanged between them— <br>
those who previously kept well the Lord’s will through heart-love. (1253-61) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-67413585685006335352013-02-23T11:30:00.000-08:002013-02-23T11:30:04.089-08:00More Christ III.xiiiAll this they will be able to see for themselves then, <br>
open and plain to perceive, that for the love of humankind, <br>
of crime-workers, he suffered many things. <br>
The sons of men will be able to understand clearly <br>
how destitute they denied him in their thoughts, <br>
taunting him with harmful words and also spat their spittle <br>
into his face. They spoke their scorn against him <br>
and also struck, the hell-hurrying men, his blessed countenance <br>
with their hands, with fingers outstretched and fist as well— <br>
and about his head bent a harsh and thorny ring, <br>
blind in their thinking, foolish and led astray. <br>
They observed mute creation, the ever-greening earth <br>
and the high-heavens, feel the sufferings of the Lord <br>
fearfully, and mournfully pronounce, though they lived not, <br>
when the harmers seized the Shaper with sinful hands. (1115-32a) <p>
The sun was washed out, smothered with sorrows— <br>
when the folk in Jerusalem were looking up the best <br>
of good weaving that once must be looked upon <br>
as decoration in that holy house—it burst apart from above <br>
and lay upon the earth in two patches. The sails of that temple, <br>
wrought in wondrous hue to beautify that house, <br>
rent itself in two, as if the sharp blade of a dagger <br>
had passed through it. The glistening walls and many stones <br>
burst apart across the earth and upon the ground as well, <br>
wasted in terror, trembling at the sound of the voice, <br>
and the broad sea revealed the power of its skill <br>
and broke its bonds, angry, rising up from the embrace of the earth, <br>
and in their shining orbit, the stars let go of their proper beauty. <br>
In that same moment, the clear heavens understood him <br>
who had loftily established the brightness <br>
in the gems of heaven—therefore he had sent his herald, <br>
when the shining king born first of all creation. (1132b-52a) <p>
Listen as well! Guilty men have seen as a true token, <br>
upon the same day that he suffered, a great miracle, <br>
that the earth gave up those who lay within her. <br>
Living again, they stood up, the ones who had been swallowed <br>
up fast inside her, the buried dead, who kept in their breast <br>
the Lord’s commandment. Hell also understood, <br>
the wreaker of sin, that the Shaper had come, <br>
the Wielding God, when the earth had given up that throng, <br>
its spoils, from its fiery bosom. The hearts of many <br>
were blessed, and sorrows slid away from their souls. (1152b-63a) <p>
Listen as well! The sea revealed who established it <br>
on its broad basin, the glory-mighty king— <br>
therefore it made itself firm to walk upon, <br>
when God wished to go across its waves. <br>
The watery streams dared not submerge the Lord’s feet <br>
in its flood. And the trees as well announced who <br>
had shaped them with their fruits—many of them, <br>
not just a few—when Mighty God mounted upon <br>
one of them, where he suffered miseries <br>
for the sake of the nation-dwelling, <br>
a loathsome death as a help to humankind. <br>
Then many trees became bedewed with bloody tears <br>
beneath their bark, red and thick, their sap turned to gore. (1163b-76a) <p>
This fact no earth-dweller can speak through wise understanding, <br>
how many things, which cannot perceive, became aware <br>
of the suffering of the Lord, these inanimate creations. <br>
Those that are the most ennobled of the earth’s kindred, <br>
and also the high-timbers of the heavens were fearful <br>
because of that lone man, and seized by fright. <br>
Although from their innate virtues they knew nothing <br>
of spiritual understanding, even so they knew by a miracle <br>
when their Sovereign journeyed from his body-house. (1176b-86a) <p>
The people did not know how to perceive, <br>
their Measurer, these mind-blinded men, <br>
harder than flints, that the Master had saved them <br>
from a hell-death by his holy powers, <br>
the All-Wielding God. This fact, at the earliest, <br>
forward-thinking men from the first of the world, <br>
through their wise perception, the prophets of the Lord, <br>
holy through their heart’s insight, have spoken to men <br>
often—not just once—about that noble child, <br>
that the dearest gemstone must enter into the world <br>
as a shelter and comfort to all of the kindred of men, <br>
the Driver of Glory, the Start of Blessings, by way of that noble queen. (1186b-98) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-24806046041355649322013-02-16T08:26:00.001-08:002013-02-16T08:26:34.535-08:00Christ III, section xii, pt. 1These sections have gotten really long, so it seems good practice to break them into two for ease of use. <p>
In other news, I have started cobbling together a twin book proposal for the ASNPP translations to be shopped around to various publishers. <p>
-------------------- <p>
There these sin-flecked men will see themselves, <br>
with sorrowful spirits, the greatest of pains. <br>
It will be no favor to them who stand in the presence <br>
before those strangers, of the Cross of our Lord, <br>
the brightest of beacons, steaming with blood, <br>
the pure gore of the Heavenly King, <br>
looking out with the life-sweat that shines clearly <br>
across this broad creation. The shadows <br>
shall be concealed where the radiant tree <br>
glows over the nations. Yet that will be ordained <br>
a shame and a threat upon these sin-working peoples <br>
who knew not how to thank God for his torments, <br>
when he was hanged on the Holy Tree <br>
for the wicked crimes of mankind. <br>
There he purchased dearly our lives, <br>
the Prince of Mankind, on that day <br>
and by that price—he whose body-house <br>
was never stained by blameworthy crimes, <br>
and through this he ransomed us. (1081-99a) <p>
Afterwards he will earnestly admonish <br>
all of us for repayment, when that ruddy cross <br>
blazes in the sky over all, rather than the golden sun. <br>
Upon that signal those seduced by sins, <br>
the darkened wicked-workers, shall look upon <br>
sorrowfully and with great fear— <br>
they will see for themselves to their suffering <br>
what has come forth to their best end, <br>
were they willing to perceive it to their good. <br>
And also the ancient scars and the open wound <br>
they shall witness, dreary-souled, in their Lord, <br>
just as malice-minded men had impaled <br>
those white hands and holy feet with nails, <br>
and also caused blood to flow from his side, <br>
where blood and water together both emerged <br>
before the sight of their eyes, running out <br>
in front of the warriors, when he was on the Rood. (1099b-1114) <p>
All this they will be able to see for themselves then, <br>
open and plain to perceive, that for the love of humankind, <br>
of crime-workers, he suffered many things. <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-81714571244587981102013-02-10T14:23:00.002-08:002013-02-10T14:23:43.426-08:00Final Judgment XII, pt. 2
Then Mighty God shall come into the famous mountain <br>
the King of the Heaven-Angels, and shine out holy <br>
amid the greatest host of majesty, wonderfully <br>
across the armies, the Sovereign God— <br>
and the best of noble multitudes shall sparkle <br>
clearly about him, a holy massed infantry, <br>
a blessed battalion of angels. Within our inmost thoughts <br>
we shall be shivering with fear before the terror of the Father. <br>
It is no wonder therefore that the unclean family <br>
of worldly-men, sorrowing with their cares, <br>
will harshly dread when the family of the holy, <br>
white and heaven-bright, a power of high angels, <br>
are fearful for the terror of that face. <br>
His bright creation trembling shall await the Lord’s doom. (1007-21a) <p>
The most terrifying of days shall come into the world, <br>
when the Glory-King in his majesty chastises <br>
every nation, commanding the speech-bearing to arise <br>
from their earth-graves, and every single person, <br>
each one of mankind to muster at the moot. <br>
Then all of the kindred of Adam shall quickly <br>
take up their flesh, which has come to the end <br>
of this earthly pause and habitation. <br>
Then every one must rise up alive before the coming of Christ, <br>
assume their limbs and bodily home, and become rejuvenated. <br>
They shall have all upon them, which he once weighted upon his soul <br>
in bygone days, all of the good and the folly, <br>
over the course of the year—they shall hold both together, <br>
body and soul. Everything must come into the light, <br>
the face of their own deeds and the memory of their words <br>
and the thoughts in their hearts before the King of Heaven. (1021b-38) <p>
Then shall mankind be increased and renewed <br>
through their Measurer. A mighty host of men <br>
shall be risen to judgment, after the Life-Origin <br>
looses the bonds of death. The breezes will scorch, <br>
the heavenly stars will tumble to the earth, widely <br>
will the glutton flame lay waste, and souls will depart <br>
into an eternal home. Open shall the deeds of man <br>
be made throughout middle-earth. Nor can the hoard <br>
of humans, the thoughts of their hearts <br>
be concealed one whit before the Wielding God. <br>
Nor shall their deeds be kept secret from him, <br>
but will be known there by the Lord <br>
on that greatest of days—how every man <br>
had before earned eternal life, and all will be present <br>
which they, early or late, had wrought in the world. <br>
Nor shall be there anything concealed of the minds of men, <br>
but that famous day shall reveal all the hoards <br>
of breast-locks, and the thoughts of the heart. <br>
One must consider the needs of the soul before, <br>
who intends to bring before God a clear face, <br>
when the burning, hot and greedy for blood, <br>
shall prove how preserved the soul has been <br>
against its sins before the Deemer of Victory. (1039-60) <p>
Then the voice of the trumpet and the bright symbol, <br>
and the heated flame and the high multitude, <br>
and the majesty of angels and the threat of terror, <br>
and the severe day and the high cross <br>
rightfully reared as a beacon to the realm, <br>
shall summon the human hosts before him, <br>
every soul which has, early or late, <br>
taken up limbs into its body-home. <br>
Then the greatest of armies, eternal and ever-young, <br>
shall go into the presence of the Sovereign, <br>
by desire or constraint. Called forth by name, <br>
they will bear their breast-hoard before the Child of God, <br>
the adornments of their soul. The Father will judge <br>
how many sound souls his sons have brought <br>
from their homeland where they have lived. <br>
Then they shall be bold who bring a clear face <br>
unto their Measurer. Their power and joy <br>
shall be so blessed as a repayment to their souls <br>
a glorious recompense for their deeds. It will be well <br>
for those who are allowed to be pleasing to God <br>
in that most grim of seasons. (1061-80) <p>Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-64294213558069395262013-02-09T15:00:00.001-08:002013-02-09T15:00:43.654-08:00Christ III, section XII, part 1
Going a bit more slowly now that the semester is in full swing -- here are the first two stanzas of section 12 of Christ III (The Final Judgment). Hope you enjoy the end of the world as much as I have! <p>
------------------------------ <p>
So the greedy spirit shall search out the world, <br>
the ravaging flame felling the tallest buildings <br>
on the fields of the earth with the terror of fire, <br>
and the widely-known blast, hot and hungry for blood, <br>
in the entire world. The city-walls shattered <br>
shall tumble to the ground at once. <br>
The mountains shall be melted, and the high cliffs as well, <br>
which previously shielded the land firmly <br>
against the waves, against the flood, <br>
firm and shore-fast, a foundations against the tide, <br>
the bouncing waters. Then shall every creature, <br>
beast and fowl, be taken by the deathly flame, <br>
the darkened fire shall be ferried across the earth, <br>
a welling warrior. As before the waters flowed, <br>
the agitated tides, at that moment in the fiery bath <br>
the sea-fishes shall be burned—deprived of their swimming, <br>
every weary wave-beast shall be wasted, <br>
the water burning like wax. (972-88a) <p>
There shall be more marvels than any man in his mind <br>
can imagine: how the collision and the storm <br>
and the strong winds shall break this broad creation. <br>
The warriors will wail, weeping, roaring with weary voices, <br>
humbled, heart-sick, and humiliated with lamentations. <br>
The swarthy flame will seethe the sins of the perished, <br>
and glowing coals swallow up their adornments of gold, <br>
all of the ancient treasures of the tribal kings. <br>
There will be outcry and sorrow, a struggle for life, <br>
weeping and loud cries by the heavenly clatter, <br>
a miserable tumult of mortal men. <br>
Thenceforth no one stained by their sinful deeds <br>
shall be able to struggle to gain sanctuary, <br>
or escape the burning fire in any land, <br>
but that flame shall seize through whatever nation, <br>
grimly dig up and eagerly root out the regions <br>
of the earth, both inside and out, <br>
until the limbs of fire have burned up in its welling <br>
all of the smirches of this worldly impurity. (988b-1006) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-38976563093228842172013-01-29T17:15:00.001-08:002013-01-29T17:15:08.640-08:00Final Judgment XI, pt. 2He shall be glad-hearted in sight to the good: <br>
beautiful and winsome to the holy multitudes, <br>
fair in his rejoicing, pleasant and gracious <br>
it will be for his beloved people to look upon <br>
that shining figure willingly, the sweet arrival <br>
of the Sovereign, the King of Powers, <br>
for those who had previously pleased him well <br>
in mind with their words and their works. (910-17) <p>
To the evil he shall be terrifying and grim to see, <br>
to the sinful men who come forth condemned by their crimes. <br>
This can be a warning of retribution for those who <br>
have sagacious forethought—that he dreads nothing at all <br>
who does not become terrified at that visage, <br>
frightened in his soul, when he witnesses <br>
the presence of the Master of All Creation <br>
faring amid mighty marvels to judge the many, <br>
and on his every side a throng of heaven-angels <br>
revolving about him, a shoal of the ever-brilliant, <br>
armies of the hallowed, flocking in squadrons. (918-29) <p>
The depths of creation shall resound, and before the Lord <br>
the greatest of whelming flame shall flare out <br>
across the broad earth. The heated fires shall crash, <br>
the heavens burst—brilliant and true, the stars will tumble down. <br>
Then the sun will be darkened, turned the color of blood, <br>
which once shone brightly over the world before <br>
for the benefit of the children of men. <br>
And so the moon itself, which lighted mankind before <br>
by night, will fall out of the sky and the stars <br>
just the same will be strewn from the skies <br>
by the strong breezes of a battering storm. (930-40) <p>
The Almighty with his company of angels, <br>
the Measurer of Great Kings, will come to the moot, <br>
a Prince Fast in Majesty. There will be there as well <br>
a triumphant mass of his thanes. The souls of the holy <br>
will fare with their Master, when the Watchman of the People <br>
with a terrible convulsion will seek out the tribes of the earth. <br>
The voice of the heavenly trumpet will be heard <br>
loud across the broad earth, and from seven directions <br>
the winds shall roar, blowing, breaking with the loudest voice, <br>
weakening and enervating the world with its storms, <br>
filling the creatures of the earth with fear. <br>
Then will a terrible crash, loud, measureless, <br>
leaden and powerful, the greatest clamor of noise, <br>
terrifying to the people, be revealed. <br>
There the weary multitude of man-kind <br>
shall turn in their masses into the wide fire, <br>
where the destroying flame meets the living, <br>
some will go up, some down, filled with burning. (941-59) <p>
Doubtlessly then the kindred of Adam will be there, <br>
filled with cares, lamenting, afflicted—a people wretched <br>
not at all on behalf of the small things, but for the greatest <br>
and most powerful miseries instead. Then all three together <br>
shall be widely seized by the whelming of a black fire, <br>
the swart flame: the seas with their fishes, the earth <br>
with its mountains, and upper heaven bright with its stars. <br>
The ravening flame with burn all three together at once, <br>
grimly and powerfully. All middle-earth, pained so sore, <br>
shall lament at that notorious moment. (960-71) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-14454557171789931282013-01-26T16:12:00.002-08:002013-01-26T16:12:26.428-08:00The Final Judgment (Christ III), part XIAnd then the mighty day of the Mighty Lord <br>
shall overmaster the earth-dwellers with fear <br>
in the middle of the night, and with his power <br>
the radiant creation—just as a corrupt harmer, <br>
a bold-coming thief, who often comes in darkness, <br>
in the black night, suddenly seizes those bound in sleep, <br>
sorrowless men, unready earls assailed with evil. <br>
So upon the mountain of Sinai there will come <br>
a great and powerful people, true to the Measurer, <br>
bright and blissful. To them the fruits shall be given! (867-77) <p>
Then from the four corners of the earth, <br>
from the utmost of the earthly realm, <br>
angels all-bright shall blow trumpets <br>
together with one voice. Middle-earth shall tremble, <br>
the ground below men. They shall resonate together, <br>
strong and brilliant, with the course of the stars, <br>
singing and reverberating in the south and the north, <br>
in the east and the west, across all of creation. <br>
The children of the multitude of men shall be awakened <br>
from death, all of mankind terrified from the olden earth, <br>
into their measured fate—by this they will order them <br>
to stand up at once from their fixed sleep. (878-89a) <p>
There one can hear the sorrowing people, <br>
miserable at mind, hurrying harshly, <br>
carefully crying out over the deeds of their lives, <br>
affrighted by fear. That shall be the greatest foretokening <br>
which was ever, before or since, shown to men— <br>
there shall be commingled an entire commotion <br>
of angels and devils, both the brilliant and the black. <br>
There will be a coming together of both white and swart, <br>
just as there are unlike homes made for each, <br>
the angels and the devils. (889b-98) <p>
Then suddenly upon Sion’s peak from the south-east <br>
the light of the sun shall come shining from the Shaper <br>
more brilliant that humans can perceive in their minds, <br>
blazing brightly, when the Child of God is revealed <br>
here through the vaults of heaven. <br>
The wonderful form of Christ shall come, <br>
the Noble-King’s face, eastwards from the skies, <br>
sweetly into the understanding of his own people, <br>
yet bitter to the baleful, marvelously flecked with beauty <br>
to the blessed, yet different altogether to the wretched. (899-909) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-47691870350770326212013-01-21T16:03:00.001-08:002013-01-21T16:03:34.669-08:00Christ II is finishedHere is The Ascension, section X, the final part of Cynewulf's section of the Christ poems, complete with his runic signature. <p>
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None of the kindred of man on earth needs dread <br>
these diabolical arrows, spear-paths of the fearsome, <br>
if God shields him, the Lord of Multitudes. <br>
It is near to that judgment that we must acquire <br>
our appropriate recompense just as we have burdened <br>
ourselves with our deeds through the course of our lives, <br>
throughout the broad earth. Books speak to us <br>
how in principio the Humble One climbed up <br>
into middle-earth, the Gold-Hoard of Every Power, <br>
into the female’s fathoming embrace the Free-Born Son <br>
of God, holy from the heights. Indeed I believe for myself <br>
and dread as well the more severe judgment <br>
when the Prince of Angels arrives once again, <br>
I who have not held close what my Savior <br>
has commanded me in his books. For this I must <br>
look into terror, the wrack of sin, for this I shall make <br>
a true account—where many will be conducted <br>
to the meeting before the Eternal Deemer. (779-96) <p>
When the keen ones (C) quake, hearing the King, <br>
the Righter of the Heavens, affirm and swear a harsh word <br>
upon those who listened only weakly to him in the world, <br>
so long as they could have discovered their comfort <br>
most easily through the blowing horn (Y) and its urges (N). <br>
There must be many affrighted waiting there, <br>
weary in that terrible place, for what he wishes to allow them <br>
according to their deeds, what wrathful torments. <br>
The joy (W) in mortal adornments shall be departed. <br>
Our (U) share of living joy was long encircled by flooding waters (L) <br>
and our wealth (F) on earth. Then all those trappings <br>
must burn in the pyre and brightly shall the swift red flame rage— <br>
quickly it shall race throughout the wide world. <br>
The plains will crumble, the city-steads burst. <br>
The torches shall be on the move, kindling <br>
the ancient treasures without remorse, <br>
the most greedy of spirits, that men once kept <br>
so long as glory was theirs on the earth. (797-814) <p>
Therefore I wish to instruct every one of my beloved friends <br>
so that he should not neglect his soul’s needs, <br>
nor affirm in his boasting that, so long as God wishes, <br>
he is allowed to dwell here in the world, <br>
faring forth, soul united with body in its guest-house. <br>
Every man must eagerly take care in the days of his life <br>
to remember that the Wielder of Powers came to us <br>
mildly in the beginning through the angel’s word. <br>
But when he comes again, he shall be grim, dreadful, <br>
yet righteous. The skies will be stirred <br>
and the greater part of middle-earth then will quake. <br>
The brilliant King shall pay them back who have lived <br>
on earth with sluggish action, stained with sins— <br>
afterwards they must long receive wrathful retribution <br>
in the fire’s bath, beaten around by its welling. (815-31) <p>
Then the powerful King shall come to the moot, <br>
in his greatest majesty. The loud human-terrors <br>
will be heard along with a heavenly clatter <br>
a wailing of mourners—carefully they will lament <br>
before the face of the Eternal Deemer, <br>
those who trusted weakly in their works. <br>
There will be revealed a greater terror <br>
than ever was heard on the earth from its early inception. <br>
There will be for every one of the sin-workers <br>
in that quickly approaching hour something <br>
much more dear than all this loaned creation, <br>
where he himself in that victorious crowd <br>
can be concealed when the First of the Armies, <br>
Start of Noblemen, judges them all, <br>
both the beloved and the despised, <br>
rewards according to right, for every person. <br>
There is a great need for us to ponder eagerly <br>
our soul’s beauty before that moment <br>
of awful terror in that dying time. (832-49) <p>
At this moment it is most like this: <br>
that we are sailing across the cold waters in ships, <br>
beyond the broad sea in steeds of the deep, <br>
ferried in flood-wood. The course of water is perilous, <br>
waves beyond measure on which we bounce here <br>
throughout this fragile existence, the windy waters <br>
over the deep ways. Our way of living is harsh <br>
before we had sailed to land over the stormy spine. <br>
Then help comes to us, that haled us to health in harbor, <br>
the Spirit-Son of God, and gave to us grace <br>
so that we could recognize over the sides of the ship <br>
where we must moor our ocean-horses, <br>
the olden chargers of the waves, with our anchors fast. (850-63) <p>
Let us plant our hopes in that harborage, <br>
that the Sovereign of the Skies opened up for us, <br>
holy from the heights, when he ascended to heaven. (864-66) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-10513580262276469752013-01-20T11:05:00.001-08:002013-01-20T11:05:33.378-08:00Christ II, part IX (finished)Thus here on the ground the Eternal Child of God <br>
jumps leaping across the lofty hillsides, <br>
mindful over the mountains. So we humans must <br>
leap our hearts in jumps through our thoughts— <br>
from power to power, aspiring to glories— <br>
so that we may climb up to the highest roof <br>
with our holy works, where there is hope and bliss, <br>
the notable throng of teeming servants. <br>
There is a great need for us to seek our salvation <br>
with our hearts, where we eagerly believe <br>
with our spirits, that the Son of Health will rise upwards <br>
with our body-home from here, the Living God. (744-55) <p>
Therefore we must always renounce empty lusts, <br>
the wounds of sin, and celebrate the better part. <br>
We should keep the Father as our comfort, <br>
almighty in the heavens. He dispatches his heralds <br>
holy from the heights from there to here, <br>
and they shield us against the showers of hideous arrows, <br>
sent by scathers, lest the devils work our wounding <br>
when the crime-bearer sends forth bitter missiles <br>
into the people of God from his braided bow. <br>
Therefore we must always hold watch fixedly <br>
and warily against the devil’s distant shots, <br>
lest the poisonous point should sink in <br>
under the bone-locks, a bitter war-missile, <br>
the sudden trap of our foes— <br>
and that would be a perilous injury, a most ghastly wound. (756-71a) <p>
Let us shelter ourselves then, so long as we keep <br>
a home on this earth—let us entreat the Father <br>
for peace, beg the Child of God and the Blissful Spirit <br>
to shield us against the weapons of the harmers, <br>
the hateful deceiving devices. He who gave us life, <br>
limbs, body, and soul. Eternal praise be to him <br>
all glory in heaven, world without end. (771b-78) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857671472316711531.post-31892785135141934492013-01-19T16:16:00.003-08:002013-01-20T11:03:35.997-08:00Christ II part IX (first half)I'm back from vacation, but it is uncertain whether posts will be more frequent, at least until I get my pre-semester things taken care of. Here's the first part of section IX of <i>Christ II</i> (The Ascension).<p>
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Thus Almighty God, the King of All Creatures craftily <br>
honors the stock of the earth with bountiful gifts— <br>
likewise he gives the fruits to the blessed in heaven, <br>
rearing eternal peace for angels and men forever. <br>
So he worthies his workmanship. <br>
So the prophet spoke about this, saying that <br>
the holy gems were heaved up on high, <br>
the bright stars of heaven, the sun and the moon. <br>
What may those gems so splendid be but God himself? <br>
He is the sooth-fast rays of the sun, a noble burning <br>
for both angels and the dwellers on the earth. <br>
Over middle-earth the moon radiates, a ghostly light, <br>
so the church of God brightly shine through <br>
truth and righteousness united. <br>
So it says in the book, after the God-Child ascended <br>
from the earth, the King of All Cleanness, <br>
then the church of the law-dutiful here endured <br>
persecution within the power of heathen princes. <br>
Those sin-scathers heeded not the truth, <br>
the requirements of the soul, yet they broke and burned <br>
the temple of God, wreaking bloodshed, hating and slaying. (686-709a) <p>
Still the glory of thanes of God was realized <br>
through the soul’s grace, after the mounting up <br>
of the Eternal Lord. Solomon sang about this, <br>
the son of David, readily wise in verses, <br>
the sovereign of human nations, and spoke <br>
these words of spiritual mystery: “It is known <br>
that it shall come to pass—that the King of Angels, <br>
the Measurer of such great power, shall jump the mountains, <br>
leaping the tall hills, surmounting the heights and knolls <br>
with his glory, loosing the world and all <br>
its inhabitants, by those noble springings.” (709b-19) <p>
The first leap was when he went inside that woman, <br>
the virgin undefiled, and there took on mannish shape <br>
without marring so that he could become a comfort <br>
to all earth-dwellers. The second leap was his birth <br>
as a child, when he was placed in a manger, <br>
in the form of a baby wound up in cloth, <br>
majesty of all majesties. The third leap was <br>
the rushing of the Heavenly King, when he climbed <br>
onto the Cross, the Father, the Comfort of Souls. <br>
The fourth leap was into his grave, when he gave up <br>
that tree, fast in his earthen hall. The fifth leap <br>
was when he humiliated the heap of hell-dwellers <br>
in the living torment, bound the king within, <br>
the enemies’ intercessor, in flaming fetters, <br>
malignant, where he lies to this day fastened <br>
with chains incarcerated and sealed in his sins. <br>
And the sixth leap was the Holy One’s playing of hope, <br>
when he ascended into the heavens into his ancient people. <br>
Then was the thronging of angels become blithe <br>
with jubilant celebrations in that holy season. <br>
They saw then Glory Majestic, the Origin of Noblemen, <br>
seeking his homeland, the brilliant halls. <br>
Then the games of that Noble Son became <br>
a perpetual delight to the dwellers of the blessed city. (720-43) <p>
Aaron Hostetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00058798510620899354noreply@blogger.com0