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PDFBitterly bound, banefully vexed,
1245
Ere lore to me lent through light-bringing office
For help to the aged, his blameless gift
The mighty King meted, and poured in my mind,
Brightness disclosed, widened with time,
Bone-house unbound, breast-lock unwound, 1250
Song-craft unlocked, which I joyfully used,
With will, in the world. Of that tree of glory
Often not once meditation I had,
Ere that wonder I had revealed
About that bright tree, as in books I found 1255
In course of events, in writings declared
Of that beacon of victory. Ay till then was the man
With care-waves oppressed, a nickering pine-torch[C],
Though he in the mead-hall treasures received,
Apples of gold.[2] Mourned for his bow[Y] 1260
The comrade of sorrow[N], suffered distress,
His secret constrained, where before him the horse[E]
Measured the mile-paths, with spirit ran
Proud of his ornaments. Hope[W] is decreased,
Joy, after years, youth is departed, 1265
The ancient pride. The bison[U] was once
The gladness of youth. Now are the old days
In course of time gone forever,
Life-joy departed, as ocean[L] flows by,
Waves hurried along. To each one is wealth[3][F] 1270
Fleeting ’neath heaven, treasures of earth
Pass ’neath the clouds likest to wind,
When before men it mounts up aloud,
Roams ’round the clouds, raging rushes,
And then all at once silent becomes, 1275
In narrow prison closely confined,
Strongly repressed. So passes this world,
And likewise besides what things[4] have been
In it produced flame will consume,
When the Lord himself judgment will seek 1280
With host of angels. Every one there
Of speech-bearing men the truth shall hear
Of every deed through mouth of the Judge,
And likewise of words the penalty pay
Of all that with folly were spoken before, 1285
Of daring thoughts. Then parts into three
Into clutch of fire each one of folk,
Of those that have dwelt in course of time
Upon the broad earth. The righteous shall be
Upmost-in flame, host of the blessed, 1290
Crowd eager for glory, as they may bear it,
And without torment easily suffer,
Band of the brave. For them shall be moderate
The brightness of flame,[5] as it shall be easiest,
Softest for them. The sinful shall be, 1295
Those spotted with evil, compressed in the middle,
Men sad-in-mind, within the hot waves
Smothered with smoke. The third part shall be,
Accursed sinners, in the flood’s abyss,
False folk-haters, fastened in flame
Ere lore to me lent through light-bringing office
For help to the aged, his blameless gift
The mighty King meted, and poured in my mind,
Brightness disclosed, widened with time,
Bone-house unbound, breast-lock unwound, 1250
Song-craft unlocked, which I joyfully used,
With will, in the world. Of that tree of glory
Often not once meditation I had,
Ere that wonder I had revealed
About that bright tree, as in books I found 1255
In course of events, in writings declared
Of that beacon of victory. Ay till then was the man
With care-waves oppressed, a nickering pine-torch[C],
Though he in the mead-hall treasures received,
Apples of gold.[2] Mourned for his bow[Y] 1260
The comrade of sorrow[N], suffered distress,
His secret constrained, where before him the horse[E]
Measured the mile-paths, with spirit ran
Proud of his ornaments. Hope[W] is decreased,
Joy, after years, youth is departed, 1265
The ancient pride. The bison[U] was once
The gladness of youth. Now are the old days
In course of time gone forever,
Life-joy departed, as ocean[L] flows by,
Waves hurried along. To each one is wealth[3][F] 1270
Fleeting ’neath heaven, treasures of earth
Pass ’neath the clouds likest to wind,
When before men it mounts up aloud,
Roams ’round the clouds, raging rushes,
And then all at once silent becomes, 1275
In narrow prison closely confined,
Strongly repressed. So passes this world,
And likewise besides what things[4] have been
In it produced flame will consume,
When the Lord himself judgment will seek 1280
With host of angels. Every one there
Of speech-bearing men the truth shall hear
Of every deed through mouth of the Judge,
And likewise of words the penalty pay
Of all that with folly were spoken before, 1285
Of daring thoughts. Then parts into three
Into clutch of fire each one of folk,
Of those that have dwelt in course of time
Upon the broad earth. The righteous shall be
Upmost-in flame, host of the blessed, 1290
Crowd eager for glory, as they may bear it,
And without torment easily suffer,
Band of the brave. For them shall be moderate
The brightness of flame,[5] as it shall be easiest,
Softest for them. The sinful shall be, 1295
Those spotted with evil, compressed in the middle,
Men sad-in-mind, within the hot waves
Smothered with smoke. The third part shall be,
Accursed sinners, in the flood’s abyss,
False folk-haters, fastened in flame
