History & Politics
The Coronation of Edgar
Translated by James Ingram, The Saxon Chronicle (1823) · From Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 973
Here was Edgar,
of Angles lord,
with courtly pomp
hallow'd to king
at Akemancester,
the ancient city;
whose modern sons,
dwelling therein,
have named her Bath.
Much bliss was there
by all enjoyed
on that happy day,
named Pentecost
by men below.
A crowd of priests,
a throng of monks,
I understand,
in counsel sage,
were gather'd there.
Then were agone
ten hundred winters
of number'd years
from the birth of Christ,
the lofty king,
guardian of light,
save that thereto
there yet was left
of winter-tale,
as writings say,
seven and twenty.
So near had run
of the lord of triumphs
a thousand years,
when this was done.
Nine and twenty
hard winters there
of irksome deeds
had Edmund's son
seen in the world,
when this took place,
and on the thirtieth
was hallow'd king.
Codex Note
James Ingram's verse rendering of the annal for 973 in his edition The Saxon Chronicle, with an English Translation (1823).
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Old English). “The Coronation of Edgar.” Translated by James Ingram, The Saxon Chronicle. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/308/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old English). “The Coronation of Edgar.” Translated by James Ingram, The Saxon Chronicle. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/308/.
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