14
The Asp-Turtle
and þonne in þæt ēglond ūp gewītað
collenfer[h]þe; cēolas stondað
bi staþe fæste strēame biwunden.
Ðonne gewīciað wērigfer[h]ðe,
20 faroðlācende, frēcnes ne wēnað.
collenfer[h]þe; cēolas stondað
bi staþe fæste strēame biwunden.
Ðonne gewīciað wērigfer[h]ðe,
20 faroðlācende, frēcnes ne wēnað.
On þām ēalonde ǣled weccað,
hēah fyr ǣlað. Hæleþ bēoþ on wynnum,
rēonigmōde, ræste gel[y]ste.
Þonne gefēleð fācnes cræftig
25 þæt him þā fērend on fæste wuniaþ,
wīc weardiað, wedres on luste,
ðonne semninga on sealtne wǣg
mid þā nōþe niþer gewīteþ,
gārsecges gæst, grund gesēceð,
30 and þonne in dēaðsele drence bifæsteð
scipu mid scealcum.
hēah fyr ǣlað. Hæleþ bēoþ on wynnum,
rēonigmōde, ræste gel[y]ste.
Þonne gefēleð fācnes cræftig
25 þæt him þā fērend on fæste wuniaþ,
wīc weardiað, wedres on luste,
ðonne semninga on sealtne wǣg
mid þā nōþe niþer gewīteþ,
gārsecges gæst, grund gesēceð,
30 and þonne in dēaðsele drence bifæsteð
scipu mid scealcum.
Swā bið scinn[en]a þēaw,
dēofla wīse, þæt hī droht[i]ende
þurh dyrne meaht duguðe beswīcað,
and on teosu tyhtaþ tilra dǣda,
35 wēmað on willan, þæt hȳ wraþe sēcen,
dēofla wīse, þæt hī droht[i]ende
þurh dyrne meaht duguðe beswīcað,
and on teosu tyhtaþ tilra dǣda,
35 wēmað on willan, þæt hȳ wraþe sēcen,
on that island; the vessels stand by the beach, enringed by the flood. The weary-hearted sailors then encamp, dreaming not of peril.
On the island they start a fire, kindle a mounting flame. The dispirited heroes, eager for repose, are flushed with joy. Now when the cunning plotter feels that the seamen are firmly established upon him, and have settled down to enjoy the weather, the guest of ocean sinks without warning into the salt wave with his prey (?), and makes for the bottom, thus whelming ships and men in that abode of death.
Such is the way of demons, the wont of devils: they spend their lives in outwitting men by their secret power, inciting them to the corruption of good deeds, misguiding
