Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor

[chickenfeet]

For those who have never seen it before, a seasonal essential. Philip Craig Chapman-Bell's rendering of a possibly recognisable favourite into Old English.

Incipit gestis Rudolphi rangifer tarandus

Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor --
Næfde þæt nieten unsciende næsðyrlas!
Glitenode and gladode godlice nosgrisele.
Ða hofberendas mid huscwordum hine gehefigodon;
Nolden þa geneatas Hrodulf næftig
To gomene hraniscum geador ætsomne.
Þa in Cristesmæsseæfne stormigum clommum,
Halga Claus þæt gemunde to him maðelode:
"Neahfreond nihteage nosubeorhtende!
Min hroden hrædwæn gelæd ðu, Hrodulf!"
Ða gelufodon hira laddeor þa lyftflogan --
Wæs glædnes and gliwdream; hornede sum gegieddode
"Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor,
Brad springð þin blæd: breme eart þu!"

©Philip Craig Chapman-Bell 1996

Comments

[asterix.livejournal.com]

Ah, Old English. Stylish stuff.

I'm taking this into my Historical English tutorial to cheer everyone up :)

That's wonderful!

[anneth.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll email it to my former Old Eng prof right away!