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Oft ic sceolde ana

uhtna gehwylce

mine ceare cwiþan.

Nis nu cwicra nan

þe ic him modsefan

minne durre

sweotule asecgan.

Ic to soþe wat

þæt biþ in eorle

indryhten þeaw,

þæt he his ferðlocan

fæste binde,

healde his hordcofan,

hycge swa he wille.

Ne mæg werig mod

wyrde wiðstondan,

ne se hreo hyge

helpe gefremman.

Forðon domgeorne

dreorigne oft

in hyra breostcofan

bindað fæste;

swa ic modsefan

minne sceolde,

oft earmcearig,

eðle bidæled,

freomægum feor

feterum sælan,

siþþan geara iu

goldwine minne

hrusan heolstre biwrah,

ond ic hean þonan

wod wintercearig

ofer waþema gebind,

sohte seledreorig

sinces bryttan,

hwær ic feor oþþe neah

findan meahte

þone þe in meoduhealle

mine wisse,

oþþe mec freondleasne

frefran wolde,

wenian mid wynnum.

Wat se þe cunnað

hu sliþen bið

sorg to geferan

þam þe him lyt hafað

leofra geholena:

warað hine wræclast,

nales wunden gold,

ferðloca freorig,

nalæs foldan blæd.

Gemon he selesecgas

ond sincþege,

hu hine on geoguðe

his goldwine

wenede to wiste.

Wyn eal gedreas!

Forþon wat se þe sceal

his winedryhtnes

leofes larcwidum

longe forþolian:

ðonne sorg ond slæð

somod ætgædre

earmne anhogan

oft gebindað.

þinceð him on mode

þæt he his mondryhten

clyppe ond cysse,

ond on cneo lecge

honda ond heafod,

swa he hwilum ær

in geardagum

giefstolas breac.

Ðonne onwæcneð eft

wineleas guma,

gesihð him biforan

fealwe wegas,

baþian brimfuglas,

brædan feþra,

Swa cwæð eardstapa,

earfeþa gemyndig,

wraþra wælsleahta,

winemæga hryre