Of watres froren, of yſeſ wal,
ðis middel werld it luket al;— | by frozen waters and wall of ice. |
May no fir get melten ðat yſ;
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He ðe it made iſ migtful and wis,— | No fire has ever yet melted this ice. |
It mai ben hoten heuene-Rof;
It hiled al ðis werldes drof,
And fier, and walkne, and water, and lond,
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Al iſ bi-luken in godes hond, | This enclosure may be called Heaven-roof. |
Til domeſ-dai ne ſal it troken.
Al middel-erd ðer-inne is loken, | It shall last until Doomsday. |
watres ben her ðer-under ſuuen,
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And watres ðor a-buuen; | [Fol. 3.] |
And ouer ðat ſo ful i-wis,
An oðer heuene ful o blis,
And ful o lif ðe leſted oo,
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wo may him ben ðe fel ðor-fro. | Above this is another heaven full of bliss and life. |
Forð glod ðis oðer daiſ nigt,
ðo cam ðe ðridde dais ligt: | Thus passed this second day’s night. |
| ðe ðridde dai, ſo god it bad, | Then came the third day’s light. |
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was water and erðe o ſunder ſad;
God bi-quuad watres here ſtede, | Water and earth became separated. |
And erðe brimen and beren dede;
Ilk gres, ilc wurt, ilc birðheltre,
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Hiſ owen ſed beren bad he; | The earth did bring forth grass, herb, and fruit tree. |
Of euerilc ougt, of euerilc ſed,
Waſ erðe mad moder of ſped.
ðe ðridde dai was al ðis wrogt,
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And erðes fodme on werldes brogt;
An euerilc fodme his kinde quuemeðen. | Thus was earth made mother of wealth. |
| ðo was it her fair bi-neðen, | Then was all fair here below. |
God ſag his ſafte fair and good,
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And bliſcede it wid milde mood. | God saw that it was so, and blessed it. |
Forð glod ðis ðridde daiſ nigt,
ðo cam ðe ferðe daiſ ligt.
ðe ferðe dai made migt
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Sunne, and mone, and ilc ſterre brigt, | Then came the fourth day’s light, and Might made the sun and moon and each bright star. |