Metrical Epilogue to the Pastoral Care

Verse Early Saxon

ðis is nu se wæterscipe ðe us wereda god
to frofre gehet foldbuendum.
He cwæð ðæt he wolde ðæt on worulde forð
of ðæm innoðum a libbendu

5

wætru fleowen, ðe wel on hine
gelifden under lyfte. Is hit lytel tweo
ðæt ðæs wæterscipes welsprynge is
on hefonrice, ðæt is halig gæst.
ðonan hine hlodan halge and gecorene,

10

siððan hine gierdon ða ðe gode herdon
ðurh halga bec hider on eorðan
geond manna mod missenlice.
Sume hine weriað on gewitlocan,
wisdomes stream, welerum gehæftað,

15

ðæt he on unnyt ut ne tofloweð.
Ac se wæl wunað on weres breostum
ðurh dryhtnes giefe diop and stille.
Sume hine lætað ofer landscare
riðum torinnan; nis ðæt rædlic ðing,

20

gif swa hlutor wæter, hlud and undiop,
tofloweð æfter feldum oð hit to fenne werð.
Ac hladað iow nu drincan, nu iow dryhten geaf
ðæt iow Gregorius gegiered hafað
to durum iowrum dryhtnes welle.

25

Fylle nu his fætels, se ðe fæstne hider
kylle brohte, cume eft hræðe.
Gif her ðegna hwelc ðyrelne kylle
brohte to ðys burnan, bete hine georne,
ðy læs he forsceade scirost wætra,

30

oððe him lifes drync forloren weorðe.