Religion
Almsgiving
Translated by Benjamin Thorpe (1842) · From Codex Exoniensis, ed. and trans. Benjamin Thorpe (1842)
Well shall it be to the mortal,
who within him hath
(a man severe of mind)
an ample heart,
that to him before the world shall be
of honours greatest,
and before our Lord
of dignities most excellent.
Even as he with water
the raging
flame quencheth,
that it longer may not,
pale-burning,
injure cities,
so he with alms
shall repel
wounds of sins,
his soul heal.
Codex Note
Thorpe prints this short Exeter Book poem on the quenching power of alms, as water quenches fire, under the title "Religious Poem".
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Old English). “Almsgiving.” Translated by Benjamin Thorpe. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/222/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old English). “Almsgiving.” Translated by Benjamin Thorpe. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/222/.
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