| the guardian of heaven,
metodes mihte, | the might of the creator,
and his mod-ge-thonc, | and his mind's thought,
wera wuldor-faeder! | the glory-father of men!
swa he wundra ge-hwaes, | how he of all wonders,
ece dryhten, | the eternal lord,
oord onstealde. | formed the beginning.
He aerest ge-sceop | He first created
ylda bearnum | for the children of men
heofon to hrofe, | heaven as a roof,
halig scyppend! | the holy creator!
tha middan-geard | them the world
mon-cynnes weard, | the guardian of mankind
ece dryhten, | the eternal lord,
aefter teode, | produced afterwards,
firum foldan, | the earth for men,
frea aelmihtig! | the almighty master!

_PASSAGE REPEATED BY BEDE ON HIS DEATH-BED._

_Bede: died 735._

For tham ned-fere | Before the necessary journey
neni wirtheth | no one becomes
thances suotera | more prudent in thought
thonne him thearf sy, | than is needful to him,
to ge-hicgeune | to search out
er his heonon-gange | before his going hence
hwet his gaste | what to his spirit
godes othe yveles | of good or of evil
efter deathe heonon | after his death hence
demed weorthe. | will be judged.

_EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE--Tenth Century._

Tha feng AElfred AEthelwulfing to | Then took Alfred, son of Ethelwulf
West-Seaxna rice; and thaes ymb aenne | to the West Saxon's kingdom; and
monath gefeaht AElfred cyning with | that after one month fought Alfred
ealne thone here lytle werode aet | king against all the army with a
Wiltoune, and hine lange on daeg | little band at Wilton, and them long
geflymde, and tha Deniscan ahton | during the day routed and then the
wael-stowe geweald. And thaes geares | Danes obtained of the battle-field
wurdon nigon folcgefeoht gefohten | possession. And this year were nine
with thone here on tham cyne-rice be | great battles fought with the army
suthan Temese, butan tham the him | in the kingdom to the south o