Me lifes onlah se this leoht onwrah,

He gave me this life who unveiled this light, and my bright path he set aright. Glad was I in glee, in gleaming array, in blissful bloom, a blossom's display. Warriors watched me, the feast never waned, they hailed my gold-gifts, their gladness unfeigned. My war-horse strode on the welcoming plain, with leaping limbs and a long, loose rein. Then the world was woken, its wealth was widespread, stretched under skies, by strong counsel led. Guests came and gathered, good cheer they shared, their bliss they lengthened, their joys they declared. My fated course cut clear and wide, my path was on the ocean-tide, where my strength held and did not slide. I held high station, no want in my hall, where the brave word ruled over all. Often a warrior waited to see a precious vessel held high for me, a fitting gift for a thane. I had might, the wise ones hailed me, they saved me in fight, they bore me in beauty, they broke my foes' spite. So hope's gift held me, my heart's host embraced me, my firm foundations placed me, my own footsteps paced me. The earth sustained me, I owned the elder-throne, with chanted words I made my will known. The game of peace was never gone, but the year flew fast, the harp-string sang on, a lasting pact my pleasure had drawn. My men were keen, the harp was shrill, its loud call lingered, the hall it would fill, the melody soared, it would not sink still. The mead-hall trembled, it towered up bright, my courage grew, my fortune took flight, it gladdened my lords, it graced the good man, my spirit strengthened, my love's joy began. True faith took root, my fame's tree grew tall, my fortune blossomed for one and for all. Gold was arrayed, the gem flashed and turned, treasure was crafted, and kinship was learned. Bold in my treasures, noble in my trim, my joy was lordly, my life at the brim. I guarded the ground, I was good to my folk, my life was long, to my people I spoke, clinging to glory, cloaked in its charm.

Now my heart is harrowed, it shies from the grave, near to need's grip; the night takes the brave who once was so dear in the day. Deep in my soul a fire-hoard flowers, beyond my control, overgrown in my breast, in wild thoughts it has flown. A foulness has flowered, a malice has grown deep in my mind; my spirit's own kind greets a grief bottomless, a burden aligned. A bale-fire burns, a bitter path turns. The weary man struggles, a wide journey yearns, his pain never pauses, his sorrow is born, his fortune is finished, his bliss is forlorn, his craft has been lost, his joys are outworn. So joys here decay, and dominion descends, life here is lost, and sin man attends. The time of truth is slow, a sickness takes hold, it fails the high ones, the story is told by moments that gnaw. So the world turns, and Fate sends, and hate hunts its prey, and hurries man's ends. The war-band departs, the war-spear splits wide, the sly foe contends, the sharp arrow is plied. Debt-sorrow bites, age cuts down the bold, exile's term twists, a wrathful oath holds. Sorrow's snare spreads, and sly peril slides, grim grief engraves, the grave now presides. The bright art is sullied, the summer's heat cools, the world's wealth falls, and enmity rules. Earth's might grows old, and all courage cools.

This Fate has woven, my own works have made, that I should dig a grave, a grim stockade I cannot flee in flesh, when the swift day with need's hard grip shall seize me as its prey, when the night comes that claims my home from me. Then the body lies, the worm eats the limb, it fights for its feast, and fills to the brim, until the bones are one, and at last are none, save the fated twig when the bale-fire is done. But a man's good name is not undone. The blessed man thinks on this, and turns from his ease, he tastes his bitter sin, to find a better peace, he remembers mercy's bliss, where all murders cease, a joyful hope in heaven's kingdom. Let us now, like the holy, shorn of all sin, seek salvation wholly, warded from wickedness, won to glory's side, where mankind may stand, joyful before the Shaper, to see the true God, and ever in peace rejoice.