Notes on the Text

Italics mark any word which is emended. Editorial additions are marked by [ ]. Abbreviations are expanded without notice. The Tironian sign is expanded as and, since it is used more often (five times) than ond (used twice). Roman numerals in the manuscript are retained. The sectioning is scribal, while the overall layout, word division and punctuation follow modern convention. Capitalisation also follows modern convention except for those at the beginning of the poem, where I have retained scribal capitalisation. On the left hand side of the page, line numbers are inserted, while folio numbers are given on the right hand side. The end of the manuscript page is indicated in the text by |.

CRIST WÆS ACENNYD, CYNINGA WULdor, 112r

on midne winter, mære þeoden,

ece ælmihtig; on þy eahteoðan dæg

Hælend gehaten, heofonrices weard.

Swa þa sylfan tiid, side herigeas,

folc unmæte, habbað foreweard gear,

for þy se kalend us cymeð geþincged

on þam ylcan dæge us to tune,

forma monað. Hine folc mycel

Ianuarius gerum heton.

And þæs embe fif niht þætte fulwihttiid

eces drihtnes to us cymeð,

þæne twelfta dæg tireadige,

hæleð heaðurofe, hatað on Brytene,

in foldan her. Swylce emb feower wucan

þætte Solmonað sigeð to tune

butan twam nihtum, swa hit getealdon geo,

Februarius fær, frode gesiþas,

ealde ægleawe. And þæs embe ane niht

þæt we Marian mæssan healdað,

cyninges modor, forþan heo Crist on þam dæge,

bearn wealdendes, brohte to temple.

Ðænne þæs emb fif niht þæt afered byð

winter of wicum, and se wigend þa

æfter seofentynum swylt þrowade

nihtgerimes, nergendes þegen,

Mathias mære, mine gefræge,

þæs þe lencten on tun geliden hæfde,

werum to wicum. Swylce eac is wide cuð

ymb III | and twa þeodum gewelhwær

his cyme, kalend, ceorlum and eorlum,

butan þænne bises geboden weorðe

feorðan geare; þænne he furðor cymeð

ufor anre niht us to tune,

hrime gehyrsted hagolscurum færð

geond middangeard Martius reðe,

Hlyda healic. Ðænne se halga þæs

emb XI niht æþele scynde

Gregorius in Godes wære,