Religion
The Ruthwell Cross
Translated by Albert S. Cook, in Cook & Tinker, Select Translations from Old English Poetry (1902) · From Select Translations from Old English Poetry, ed. Albert S. Cook & Chauncey B. Tinker (1902)
(Un)clothed Himself God almighty when He would
mount the cross, courageous in the sight of all men;
bow . . . .
. . . I the powerful King, the Lord of heaven; I
durst not bend. Men mocked us both together. I was
bedewed with blood, shed from . . . .
Christ was on the rood. But hastening thither came
noble ones from afar to the One (or, to the solitary One);
all that I beheld. Grievously was I afflicted with sorrows;
bowed . . . .
. . . wounded with arrows. They laid Him down,
weary of limb, stood at His body's head; beheld Him
there heaven . . . .
Codex Note
The surviving runic verse fragments from the Ruthwell Cross, related to The Dream of the Rood; the gaps are as the translator prints them.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Old English). “The Ruthwell Cross.” Translated by Albert S. Cook, in Cook and Tinker, Select Translations from Old English Poetry. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/234/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old English). “The Ruthwell Cross.” Translated by Albert S. Cook, in Cook and Tinker, Select Translations from Old English Poetry. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/234/.
Read this poem with the Codex →