Two Anglo-Saxons / Two Caedmon's Hymns: Oral Performance, Dialect, and ModE Translation

Medieval scribes wrote their vernacular languages (e.g., A-S, not Latin) so that they sounded like their local dialects.  The West Saxon of the left side remains more formal, sounding more syllables than the more modish Northumbrian on the right.  They also differ in how they sound the "f/b/v" sound of "heofon/heben/heaven" and the "h/c" sound of "drihten/dryctin" ("lord").

West Saxon

Nu sculon herigean         heofonrices weard,
meotodes meahte         and his modgeþanc,
weorc wuldorfæder,         swa he wundra gehwæs,
ece drihten,         or onstealde.
 

He ærest sceop         eorðan bearnum
heofon to hrofe,         halig scyppend;
þa middangeard         moncynnes weard,
ece drihten,         æfter teode
firum foldan,         frea ælmihtig.
 

Now we must praise                 heaven-kingdom’s Guardian,
the Measurer’s might                and his mind-plans,
the work of the Glory-Father,    when he of wonders of every one
eternal Lord,                                 the beginning established.


He first created                             for men’s sons
heaven as a roof,                          holy Creator;
then middle-earth                          mankind’s Guardian,
eternal Lord,                                 afterwards made—
for men earth,                                Master almighty.

 

 

 Northumbrian

Nu scylun hergan         hefaenricaes uard,  
metudæs maecti         end his modgidanc,
uerc uuldurfadur,         sue he uundra gihuaes,
eci dryctin,         or astelidæ.
 

He aerist scop         aelda barnum
heben til hrofe,         haleg scepen;
tha middungeard         moncynnæs uard,
eci dryctin,         æfter tiadæ
firum foldu,         frea allmectig.
 

Now we must praise                 heaven-kingdom’s Guardian,
the Measurer’s might                and his mind-plans,
the work of the Glory-Father,    when he of wonders of every one
eternal Lord,                                 the beginning established.


He first created                             for men’s sons
heaven as a roof,                          holy Creator;
then middle-earth                          mankid’s Guardian,
eternal Lord,                                 afterwards made—
for men earth,                                Master almighty.