the dream of the rood attend to what i intend to tell you

Every twelvemonth at this time I am reminded of this poem that I had the pleasure of studying a couple different times in literature classes. The Dream of the Rood is one of the primeval known Christian poems from the Middle Ages. The writer is unknown, and it has been translated numerous times since its discovery and appeared in a 10^th century manuscript that was found in northern Italia. What I detect peculiarly intriguing and inspiring about this poem is information technology was written from the point of view of the tree that was chosen to be the cross used for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While there are many translations, the one from translated by Alfred David (2000) is my favorite, considering of the rich linguistic communication and descriptors he uses to describe this story. However, a couple of sections (lines 79-82, and line 126), I prefer to reflect differently than David's translation, taking from Dr. Aaron K. Hostetter'due south later translation. Hostetter replaces worship of the cantankerous with merely a somber symbolism that allows the cross to be the vehicle Christ used to gift united states of america with our salvation. So if those sections that are bolded brand you uncomfortable, like they did myself, click on over to Hostetter's page to read his translation. By and large, both translations of this aboriginal Anglo-Saxon poem are cute in their ain ways, and take the story of Christ's sacrifice for humanity to a whole new understanding. Therefore I give yous, The Dream of the Rood:

The Dream of the Rood

Nourish to what I intend to tell you lot

a marvelous dream that moved me at nighttime

when homo voices are veiled in sleep. (i-3)

In my dream I espied the virtually splendid tree.

looming aloft with lite all effectually,

the most brilliant beam. That bright tree was

covered with gold; gemstones gleamed

fairly fashioned down to its human foot, yet another five were continuing

high up on the crossbeam – the Lord'southward angel beheld them –

cast past eternal decree. Conspicuously this was no criminal'due south gallows,

simply holy spirits were beholding it at that place,

men on this earth, all that mighty creation. (4-12)

That tree was triumphant and I tarnished by sin,

begrimed with evil. I beheld Glory's body

garnished with grandeur, gleaming in bliss,

all plated with gilt; precious gemstones

had gloriously graced the Lord God's tree.

Yet I could see signs of aboriginal strife:

below that gold information technology had begun

bleeding on the right side. I was all bereft with sorrows;

that splendid sight made me agape. I beheld the sign rapidly

changing vesture and colors. Now it was covered with moisture,

drenched with streaming blood, bow decked in treasure. (xiii-23)

Yet I, lying there for a long fourth dimension,

sorrowfully beheld the tree of our Savior

until I could hear it call out to me,

the best of all wood began speaking words: (24-27)

"That was years ago – I remember –

that I was cut downwardly at the edge of the forest

torn up from my trunk. In that location powerful enemies took me,

put me up to brand a circus-play to elevator upwardly and parade their criminals.

Soldiers bore me on their shoulders till they gear up me up on a mountain;

more than enough foes made me stand fast. I saw the lord of mankind

coming with great haste so that he might climb up on me. (28-34)

And so I did non cartel act against the Lord's word

bow down or fall to pieces when I felt the surface

of the earth trembling. Although I might

take destroyed the foes, I stood in place. (35-38)

This this boyfriend stripped himself – that was God Almighty –

strong and mettlesome; he climbed upwardly on the high gallows,

brave in the sight of many, as he set out to redeem mankind.

I trembled when the man embraced me; I dared not bow downward to earth,

stoop to the surface of the ground, but I had to stand up fast.

I was reared a rood; I raised upwardly a mighty male monarch.

The heavens' lord; I dared non bow in homage. (39-45)

They drove nighttime nails into me; the dints of those wounds tin still be seen,

open marks of malice; simply I didn't non dare maul whatever of them in return.

They mocked both of us. I was moistened all over with claret,

shed from the man'south side after he had sent up his spirit. (46-49)

Oh that mountain I take endured many

cruel happenings. I saw the God of hosts

direly stretched out. Shades of darkness had overcast over the corpse of the Lord,

the shining radiance; shadows went forth

night under clouds. All creation wept,

mourning the king'due south fall: Christ was on the cantankerous. (l-55)

"Yet from afar fervent men came

to that sovereign. I saw all that.

I was desperately encumbered with grief yet bowed down to their hands,

submissive with most resolved. There they took up omnipotent God,

lifted him from that vicious torment. So the warriors left me there

standing, blood all over me, pierced everywhere with arrows.

They laid him in that location, limb-wearied; they stood at the caput of his lifeless

body. At that place they beheld the lord of heaven, and he rested at that place for a while,

spent after that great struggle. (56-64)

Then they set up about to construct a sepulcher

warriors in the slayer's sight. Out of brilliant rock they carved information technology;

they laid the lord of victories into information technology. They began singing a lay of sorrow,

warriors sad as nighttime was falling, when they wished to journey dorsum

wearily far from that famous lord; he rested there with few followers. (65-69)

Nosotros, grieving at that place for a good while,

stood still in place; the soldier's voices

faded away. Finally men brought axes

to fell us to earth. That was a frightful destiny!

They cached us in a deep pit. Merely thanes of the Lord,

friends learned well-nigh me

adorned me with golden and silver. (70-76)

"Now, human so dear to me, you may empathize

that I have gone through grievous sufferings,

terrible sorrows. Now the time has come

so that far and broad men worship me

everywhere on globe, and all cosmos,

pray to this sign. On me the son of God

suffered a fourth dimension; therefore I at present belfry

in glory under heaven, and I may heal

whatsoever one of those in awe of me.

Long ago I became the most cruel punishment,

most hated by men, until I made open

the right style of life to linguistic communication-bearers.

So the lord of glory, guardian of Sky,

exalted me so over all forest-trees,

as Almighty God before all humankind

exalted over all the race of women

His own mother, Mary herself. (77-93)

"Now I command yous, my man so beloved,

to tell others the events you take seen;

find words to tell it was the tree of celebrity

Almighty God suffered upon

for mankind'due south and then many sins

and for that ancient criminal offence of Adam.

There he tasted decease; withal the Redeemer arose

with his bully might to help mankind.

Then he rose to Sky. He will come over again

to this middle-earth to seek out flesh on Judgement Solar day, the Redeemer himself,

God Almighty and his angels with him,

so that He will estimate, He who has power of the Sentence,

all humanity as to the merits each

has brought about in this brief life. (94-107)

Nor may anyone be unafraid

of the last question the Lord will enquire.

Before the multitude he will need

where a soul might exist who in the Savior's name

would suffer the death He suffered on that tree.

But they shall fear and few shall think what to contrive to say to Christ.

But no 1 there demand exist agape

who bears the best sign on his chest.

And on this globe each soul that longs

to be with its savior forevermore

must seek His kingdom through that cross." (108-118)

And then compelled by joy, I prayed to that tree

with ardent zeal, where I was solitary

with few followers. Then my heart felt

an urge to ready along; I have suffered

much longing since. Now I live in hope,

venturing after that victory-tree,

alone more often than all other men,

to worship it well. The will to practice so

is much in my middle; my protection

depends on the rood. I possess

but few friends on this earth. Only forth from here

they take set out from worldly joys to seek the King of Glory.

They dwell in Heaven now with the High-father

living in celebrity, and I look forward

constantly toward that fourth dimension the Lord's rood

which I beheld before here on this earth

shall fetch me away from this fleeting life

and bring me then where bliss is eternal

to joy in Paradise where the Lord'due south people

are joined at that feast where joy lasts forever

and seat me there where evermore

I shall dwell in glory, together with the saints

share in their delights. May the Lord be my friend,

who on earth long ago on the gallows-tree

suffered agony for the sins of men: (119-143)

He redeemed us and gave us life,

a home in Heaven. Promise was fabricated new

and blossomed with bliss to those called-for in fire.

The Son was victorious in venturing forth,

mighty and triumphant when he returned with many,

a company of souls to the Kingdom of God,

the Omnipotent Ruler, to the joy of angels,

and all those holy ones come to Heaven before

to live in glory, when their Lord returned,

the Eternal King to His own country. (144-153)

"The Dream of the Rood." The Norton Anthology English Literature, nine^th Edition, Vol. I, edited past Stephen Greenblatt, Westward.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2012, pp. 32-36.

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