Behold! The best of dreams I shall tell,
what I dreamt in the midnight,
after mortal men upon couches dwell.
It seem to me that I perceived a rare and wondrous tree
extending on high a surrounding light
alit the wood brightly. All that beacon was
covered with gold; jewels studded
lovingly at its Earthen base, while likewise there were five
upon that shoulder-span. Behold there the Angel of God,
lovely through-out eternity. There was not an evil criminal
on the gallows,
but it was at He there gazed the Holy Spirits,
men throughout Earth and all this glorious creation.
Wondrous was that Victory Tree, and I the sinner guilty
and badly wounded with stain. There I observed the glorious
wood
adorned with garment that beautifully beamed,
garnished with gold; with it gems stood
covering splendidly the Lord's tree.
But nevertheless through that gold I understood
the wretched ancient struggle, when it first began
bleeding on the right side. I was with sorrow disturbed,
frightened for this stunning vision. Saw I that brilliant
beacon
then change garment and color: sometimes with moisture soaked,
drenched in flowing blood, sometimes with treasure still
adorned.
But nevertheless I there lay a long time I took
sorrowfully gazing at the Saviours's tree,
until then I dreamt that it spoke;
beginning with these words the tree did decree:
"A long time ago -- yet still I remember--
that I was cut down from the edge of the timber,
and removed from my roots. Powerful fiends there held me off,
for a spectacle to make, command me a criminal to aloft.
I on their shoulders these men bore up the top of a hill to
plant;
fastened there amid enemies aplenty. Then I saw the Lord of
mankind
hasten with great zeal that he would on me climb.
There I did not dare to break God's word
and bend down or break, though I felt the tremble
of the Earthen surface. I might have been able
upon those fiends to fall, yet I stood stable.
"Then the young hero did disrobe -- that was God Almighty--,
strong and resolute; on the wretched gallows he did ascend,
bold and courageous as many observed for mankind's past he
would amend.
Tremble did I as the hero embraced me; but yet I dared not
bend,
and fall to the Earth's surface, therefore I stood firm.
A cross I became; lifted up with the mighty King,
the Heavenly Master; but yet I dared not bend.
With dark nails they pierced me: on me the scars are visible,
the open and malicious wounds. For him I dared not, so no one
did I injure.
Mocked they us both together. I was all with blood sodden
from the side of the Hero after his spirit was ceded.
Much ridicule on that hill did I experience
with this cruel event: The God of Hosts
hideously stretched out. Darkness had now
covered with clouds the Lord's corpse,
and its shining radiance; A darkness went forth,
black under the clouds. Weep all creation,
lament the King's fall: Christ was on the Cross.
"But then there hastened many from afar
to that Prince: I beheld it all.
I was with sorrow troubled, so bowed I did to the hands of
men,
with great humility. They then took the almighty God,
and removed him from that bitter punishment. Left me then
those warriors
sprinkled with blood; all badly wounded with spears.
They laid him down weary of limb, and at his head they stood;
gazing there at Heaven's Lord, as He there rested,
exhausted from his bitter struggle. A sepulcher they began to
build
before the eyes of His tormenters, carved out of the brightest
of stone,
there the Victorious Lord was placed; then they began a
sorrowful dirge,
as evening time came. Afterwards they went
wearily from the glorious Prince; there he rested alone.
Even so there we wept a good while
standing affixed, after which departed
the warrior. His corpse grew cold,
that lovely body. Then men chopped us down
to the Earth; that was such a terrible event!
They buried us in a deep pit; but there the Lord's servants,
discovered us,
and girded me with gold and silver.
"Now you may have heard, my dear beloved man,
of the deeds of evil men I have experienced,
sore and grievous they are. But now is the time
that I be revered far and wide
by men throughout the Earth and all this glorious creation,
should pray to this beacon. On me the Son of God
did suffer; for that I gloriously now
tower under heaven, that I might heal
each and everyone that shows awe of me.
Of old I was once the most bitter of tortures,
hated by people, until I showed him life's path
properly opened, before mortal man.
Behold, me the honored glorious lord
above all the trees of the forest, the Guardian of Heaven,
just as His mother, Mary herself,
almighty God all men
honor above all of womankind.
Now I do command, my dear beloved one,
that you this vision tell to man:
reveal the word that it is this glorious tree,
on which almighty God did suffer
for mankind's many sins
and Adam's misdeeds of old.
Death he there tasted; yet the Lord arose again
with his great power to help man.
He then to Heaven ascended. To here again
on this Middle Earth shall come to mankind
on Doomsday the Lord himself,
almighty God, and with his Angels,
that we will adjudge, using that power of judgment,
upon each individual as to their past lives here
in this fleeting life to prepare.
Nor may there any be not afraid
for the words that the Lord may say:
He shall ask before the multitude where is that man,
who in the Lord's name would take death's
bitter taste, just as He did before on the tree.
But they then shall be afraid and few will imagine
what to Christ they can begin to say.
Of no benefit then for anyone to be very frightened
if Him in their breast they carry this select of beacons,
and by virtue of the Cross shall come to the Kingdom
of Earth each and every soul,
to with the Lord desire to dwell."
Prayed I then to the tree in joyful spirit,
with great zeal, and then there I was alone
in small company. It was by my heart
urging on forward, the many experiences
do I long for. It is now my life's joyous hope
that I the Victory Tree may be allowed to seek
and moreover that all men,
eagerly honor it thus: it is my desire that
I grow great in spirit and that my hope of protection is
proper to the Cross. Although I do not have many powerful
friends in this world, for they have left from here
and departed the worldly joys, and sought the wondrous King,
who lives now in Heaven with the Heavenly Father,
where they dwell in glory, so I look forward
each day to the time when my Lord's Cross,
which here on Earth I had earlier beheld,
will from this fleeting life carry me off
and bring me then there with great bliss,
the heavenly dream, there with the Lord's people
to be with always, there in perpetual bliss,
and I then shall live there ever after and allowed to
dwell in glory, with the Saints
and in joyful bliss. I shall be the Lord's friend,
who here on Earth did suffer once
on that gallows tree for man's sins:
He redeemed us and gave us life,
and a heavenly home. Hope has been renewed
with blessings and with bliss for those who endured the fire;
the Son was victorious on that journey,
powerful and successful, that he left with a large
army of souls to God's kingdom,
the Ruler almighty, to angelic bliss
he brought all the souls and came to Heaven
to dwell in glory, and that the Lord came,
the almighty God, there to his homeland went.

Vá! Langt kvæði! Hlakka til að heyra þýðingu þína á okkar ástkæra ylhýra.....

Salka. Skammastu þín! Hvað á það að fyrirstilla að flegja hjer inn einhverri nútíma enskri þíðingu ljóðsins. Huhh. Já, jeg skal sko svoleiðis kjarnyrða hverja línu vina mín. Á mállísku sem líkist frekar upprunalega ljóðinu! Enska... jjiiiii...... OJ! Gersamlega óþarfi að ficta í control C og control V á takkafletinu þínu. Skamm.

Æi! [Roðnar óstjórnlega og skammast sín niðrí rass]
Sorrý my darling [Brosir gegnum tárin]

Mæ darlíng já. Ekki skánar það.

he he hu hum..... Min elskede!

Fáið ykkur herbergi! Hohoho.

Herbergi? Bókasafn.

„Rood“ er skyld íslenska orðinu „róða“, sbr. „róðukross“. „Róðudraumur“ þætti mér fara vel. Og þá alls ekki með greini.
-----------------------------------------
Hér kemur svo kvæðið á frummálinu, forn-ensku. Rétt að birta það hér því textinn hér að ofan er þýðing á nútíma-ensku. Í þeim texta hefur margt að því sem er mest heillandi við frumtextann glatazt.

Forn-enska er glettilega lík íslensku eins og sjá má ef textinn er skoðaður. Ef Hundsi ætlar að þýða verkið ætti hann að hafa frumtextann til hliðsjónar.

Þá bendi ég honum á að skoða þýðingu Halldóru Beinteinsdóttur Bjarnason á Bjólfskviðu. Hún þýðir ekki aðeins innihaldið, heldur varðveitir hún háttinn og hrynjandina og fornlegt orðfæri. Þess má geta að snillingurinn Halldóra var systir Sveinbjarnar allsherjargoða.

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Hwæt! Ic swefna cyst secgan wylle,
hwæt me gemætte to midre nihte,
syðþan reordberend reste wunedon!
Þuhte me þæt ic gesawe syllicre treow
on lyft lædan, leohte bewunden,
beama beorhtost. Eall þæt beacen wæs
begoten mid golde. Gimmas stodon
fægere æt foldan sceatum, swylce þær fife wæron
uppe on þam eaxlegespanne. Beheoldon þær engel dryhtnes ealle,
fægere þurh forðgesceaft. Ne wæs ðær huru fracodes gealga,
ac hine þær beheoldon halige gastas,
men ofer moldan, ond eall þeos mære gesceaft.
Syllic wæs se sigebeam, ond ic synnum fah,
forwunded mid wommum. Geseah ic wuldres treow,
wædum geweorðode, wynnum scinan,
gegyred mid golde; gimmas hæfdon
bewrigene weorðlice wealdendes treow.
Hwæðre ic þurh þæt gold ongytan meahte
earmra ærgewin, þæt hit ærest ongan
swætan on þa swiðran healfe. Eall ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed,
forht ic wæs for þære fægran gesyhðe. Geseah ic þæt fuse beacen
wendan wædum ond bleom; hwilum hit wæs mid wætan bestemed,
beswyled mid swates gange, hwilum mid since gegyrwed.
Hwæðre ic þær licgende lange hwile
beheold hreowcearig hælendes treow,
oððæt ic gehyrde þæt hit hleoðrode.
Ongan þa word sprecan wudu selesta:

"Þæt wæs geara iu, (ic þæt gyta geman),
þæt ic wæs aheawen holtes on ende,
astyred of stefne minum. Genaman me ðær strange feondas,
geworhton him þær to wæfersyne, heton me heora wergas hebban.
Bæron me ðær beornas on eaxlum, oððæt hie me on beorg asetton,
gefæstnodon me þær feondas genoge. Geseah ic þa frean mancynnes
efstan elne mycle þæt he me wolde on gestigan.
Þær ic þa ne dorste ofer dryhtnes word
bugan oððe berstan, þa ic bifian geseah
eorðan sceatas. Ealle ic mihte
feondas gefyllan, hwæðre ic fæste stod.
Ongyrede hine þa geong hæleð, (þæt wæs god ælmihtig),
strang ond stiðmod. Gestah he on gealgan heanne,
modig on manigra gesyhðe, þa he wolde mancyn lysan.
Bifode ic þa me se beorn ymbclypte. Ne dorste ic hwæðre bugan to eorðan,
feallan to foldan sceatum, ac ic sceolde fæste standan.
Rod wæs ic aræred. Ahof ic ricne cyning,
heofona hlaford, hyldan me ne dorste.
Þurhdrifan hi me mid deorcan næglum. On me syndon þa dolg gesiene,
opene inwidhlemmas. Ne dorste ic hira nænigum sceððan.
Bysmeredon hie unc butu ætgædere. Eall ic wæs mid blode bestemed,
begoten of þæs guman sidan, siððan he hæfde his gast onsended.
Feala ic on þam beorge gebiden hæbbe
wraðra wyrda. Geseah ic weruda god
þearle þenian. Þystro hæfdon
bewrigen mid wolcnum wealdendes hræw,
scirne sciman, sceadu forðeode,
wann under wolcnum. Weop eal gesceaft,
cwiðdon cyninges fyll. Crist wæs on rode.

Hwæðere þær fuse feorran cwoman
to þam æðelinge. Ic þæt eall beheold.
Sare ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed, hnag ic hwæðre þam secgum to handa,
eaðmod elne mycle. Genamon hie þær ælmihtigne god,
ahofon hine of ðam hefian wite. Forleton me þa hilderincas
standan steame bedrifenne; eall ic wæs mid strælum forwundod.
Aledon hie ðær limwerigne, gestodon him æt his lices heafdum,
beheoldon hie ðær heofenes dryhten, ond he hine ðær hwile reste,
meðe æfter ðam miclan gewinne. Ongunnon him þa moldern wyrcan
beornas on banan gesyhðe; curfon hie ðæt of beorhtan stane,
gesetton hie ðæron sigora wealdend. Ongunnon him þa sorhleoð galan
earme on þa æfentide, þa hie woldon eft siðian,
meðe fram þam mæran þeodne. Reste he ðær mæte weorode.
Hwæðere we ðær greotende gode hwile
stodon on staðole, syððan stefn up gewat
hilderinca. Hræw colode,
fæger feorgbold. Þa us man fyllan ongan
ealle to eorðan. Þæt wæs egeslic wyrd!
Bedealf us man on deopan seaþe. Hwæðre me þær dryhtnes þegnas,
freondas gefrunon,
ond gyredon me golde ond seolfre.

Nu ðu miht gehyran, hæleð min se leofa,
þæt ic bealuwara weorc gebiden hæbbe,
sarra sorga. Is nu sæl cumen
þæt me weorðiað wide ond side
menn ofer moldan, ond eall þeos mære gesceaft,
gebiddaþ him to þyssum beacne. On me bearn godes
þrowode hwile. Forþan ic þrymfæst nu
hlifige under heofenum, ond ic hælan mæg
æghwylcne anra, þara þe him bið egesa to me.
Iu ic wæs geworden wita heardost,
leodum laðost, ærþan ic him lifes weg
rihtne gerymde, reordberendum.
Hwæt, me þa geweorðode wuldres ealdor
ofer holmwudu, heofonrices weard!
Swylce swa he his modor eac, Marian sylfe,
ælmihtig god for ealle menn
geweorðode ofer eall wifa cynn.

Nu ic þe hate, hæleð min se leofa,
þæt ðu þas gesyhðe secge mannum,
onwreoh wordum þæt hit is wuldres beam,
se ðe ælmihtig god on þrowode
for mancynnes manegum synnum
ond Adomes ealdgewyrhtum.
Deað he þær byrigde, hwæðere eft dryhten aras
mid his miclan mihte mannum to helpe.
He ða on heofenas astag. Hider eft fundaþ
on þysne middangeard mancynn secan
on domdæge dryhten sylfa,
ælmihtig god, ond his englas mid,
þæt he þonne wile deman, se ah domes geweald,
anra gehwylcum swa he him ærur her
on þyssum lænum life geearnaþ.
Ne mæg þær ænig unforht wesan
for þam worde þe se wealdend cwyð.
Frineð he for þære mænige hwær se man sie,
se ðe for dryhtnes naman deaðes wolde
biteres onbyrigan, swa he ær on ðam beame dyde.
Ac hie þonne forhtiað, ond fea þencaþ
hwæt hie to Criste cweðan onginnen.
Ne þearf ðær þonne ænig anforht wesan
þe him ær in breostum bereð beacna selest,
ac ðurh ða rode sceal rice gesecan
of eorðwege æghwylc sawl,
seo þe mid wealdende wunian þenceð."

Gebæd ic me þa to þan beame bliðe mode,
elne mycle, þær ic ana wæs
mæte werede. Wæs modsefa
afysed on forðwege, feala ealra gebad
langunghwila. Is me nu lifes hyht
þæt ic þone sigebeam secan mote
ana oftor þonne ealle men,
well weorþian. Me is willa to ðam
mycel on mode, ond min mundbyrd is
geriht to þære rode. Nah ic ricra feala
freonda on foldan, ac hie forð heonon
gewiton of worulde dreamum, sohton him wuldres cyning,
lifiaþ nu on heofenum mid heahfædere,
wuniaþ on wuldre, ond ic wene me
daga gehwylce hwænne me dryhtnes rod,
þe ic her on eorðan ær sceawode,
on þysson lænan life gefetige
ond me þonne gebringe þær is blis mycel,
dream on heofonum, þær is dryhtnes folc
geseted to symle, þær is singal blis,
ond me þonne asette þær ic syþþan mot
wunian on wuldre, well mid þam halgum
dreames brucan. Si me dryhten freond,
se ðe her on eorþan ær þrowode
on þam gealgtreowe for guman synnum.
He us onlysde ond us lif forgeaf,
heofonlicne ham. Hiht wæs geniwad
mid bledum ond mid blisse þam þe þær bryne þolodan.
Se sunu wæs sigorfæst on þam siðfate,
mihtig ond spedig, þa he mid manigeo com,
gasta weorode, on godes rice,
anwealda ælmihtig, englum to blisse
ond eallum ðam halgum þam þe on heofonum ær
wunedon on wuldre, þa heora wealdend cwom,
ælmihtig god, þær his eðel wæs.

Þetta er skemmtilegt. Ég velti fyrir mér hver hafi verið munurinn á framburði á c og s? Eða hvort h á undan t.d. t (ht) hafi verið eins og íslenskt tt?

Talið er víst að ‘c’ hafi verið borið fram eins og ‘k’ á undan ‘e’, ‘i’ og ‘í’ í nútímaíslensku.

‘h’-ið hefur að öllum líkindum verið borið fram eins og ‘g’-ið í ‘saga’. Þannig var h líka borið fram í frum-norrænu.

Þakkir á þakkir ofan. Tek ofan fyrir ykkur og Gimlé, jeg skal nota frummálið að sjálfs sögðu. Ekki er að mínu viti mikið gagn af nútíma ensku.