For the Rising Sun

This is an older piece of mine, a hymn to the rising sun. The language is Anglo-Saxon.


Be éast-oren · ðæs ealwréondan
rodores randes · rótu Éastre
séo lustbǽre brýd · liehteð dimnes
ádrífð deorcnes · séo déore mægð;
swiftlíce fylgieð · séo swanhwíte
séo glǽmes fréo · glædu and scíenu
þéos meneglæde wíf · méaras twégen
on wáðe drífð · wicg scínendu
swíðe in þæm brídlum · ond ðone swift-hwéoldan
útfúsan wægn · eohhas forðtéonað.
Þǽre fréowe fæger · fulleð þone heofon
híere glædlicu gleomu · graman ácwelleð
on stede sticieð · on stáne gecíerð
nihtgangande egesan · ond níðgæstas.
Swanhwítu fréo · sunne scíenu
ádríf fram ús · séo dimme niht
ádríf fram ús · drǽdlicu égnes
wearma for ús · wídu eorðe
wes þú tó ús · wilcume ǽfre!


Translation:

At the eastern edge of the all-covering
sky’s shield, glad Easter,
the desirable bride, lightens the dimness,
the dear maiden drives off the darkness;
swiftly follows the swan-white one,
the lady of splendor, glad and beautiful,
this necklace-glad woman drives
two horses on the track, shining horses
mighty in the bridles, and the horses drag forth
the swift-wheeled eager wagon.
The lady’s fairness fills the sky,
her joyful splendor destroys enemies,
pierces in place, turns to stone
night-walking terrors and hostile demons.
Swan-white lady, beautiful sun,
drive off from us the dim night,
drive off from us the dreadful terror,
warm for us the wide earth,
be thou to us always welcome!