A. 973.
Here was Edgar,
ruler of Angles,
in full assembly,
hallowed king,
at the old city
Akemanscester ;
but it the islanders,
beorns, by another word,
name Bath.
There was much bliss
on that blessed day
to all occasioned,
which children of men
name and call
Pentecost's day.
There was a heap of priests;
of monks a large band,
as I have heard,
of sage ones, gathered:
and then agone was
ten hundred years,
told in numbers,
from the birth-tide
of the glorious King,
Pastor of light,
but that there remaining
then still was,
of yearly-tale,
as writings say,
seven and twenty:
so nigh had to the Victor-lord
a thousand run out
when this befel.
And himself, Edmund's
offspring, had
nine and twenty,
guardian 'gainst evil works,
years in the world
when this was done,
and then in the thirtieth, was
hallowed ruler.
A. 974.
A. 975.
Here, ended
the joys of earth,
Edgar, of Angles king
chose him another light
beauteous and winsome
and left this frail,
this barren life.
Children of men name,
men on the earth,
every where, that month,
in this land,
those who erewhile were
in the art of numbers
rightly taught,
July month,
when the youth departed,
on the eighth day,
Edgar, from life,
bracelet giver to heroes.
And then his son succeeded
to the kingdom,
a child un-waxen,
of earls the prince.
to whom was Edward name.
And him, a glorious chief.
ten days before,
departed from Britain,
the good bishop,[1]
through nature's course,
to whom was Cyneward name.
Then was in Mercia,
as I have heard,
widely and every where
the glory of the Lord
laid low on earth :
many were expelled.
- ↑ Of Wells
