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The Dream of the Rood

An Old English Poem, Author and Date Unknown

Translated by E.T. Donaldson

Listen, I will speak of the best of dreams, of what I dreamed at midnight when men and their voices

were at rest. It seemed to me that I saw a most rare tree reach high aloft, wound in light, brightest of

beams. All that beacon was covered with gold; gems stood fair where it met the ground, five were above

about the crosspiece. Many hosts of angels gazed on it, fair in the form created for them. This was surely

no felon's gallows, but holy spirits beheld it there, men upon earth, and all this glorious creation.

Wonderful was the triumph-tree, and I stained with sins, wounded with wrongdoings. I saw the tree of

glory shine splendidly, adorned with garments, decked with

gold: jewels had worthily covered the Lord's tree. Yet through

that gold I might perceive ancient agony of wretches, for now

it began to bleed on the right side. I was all afflicted with

sorrows, I was afraid for that fair sight. I saw that bright beacon

change in clothing and color: now it was wet with moisture,

drenched with flowing of blood, now adorned with treasure.

Yet I, lying there a long while troubled, beheld the Saviour's

tree until I heard it give voice: the best of trees began to speak

words.

"It was long ago -- I remember it still -- that I was hewn down

at the wood's edge, taken from my stump. Strong foes seized

me there, hewed me to the shape they wished to see,

commanded me to lift their criminals. Men carried me on their

shoulders, then set me on a hill; foes enough fastened me

there. Then I saw the Lord of mankind hasten with stout heart,

for he would climb upon me. I dared not bow or break against

God's word when I saw earth's surface tremble. I might have felled all foes, but I stood fast. Then the

young Hero stripped himself -- that was God Almighty -- strong and stouthearted. He climbed on the

high gallows, bold in the sight of many, when he would free mankind. I trembled when the Warrior

embraced me, yet I dared not bow to earth, fall to the ground's surface; but I must stand fast. I was

raised up, a cross; I lifted up the Mighty King. Lord of the Heavens: I dared not bend. They pierced me

with dark nails: the wounds are seen on me, open gashes of hatred. Nor did I dare harm any of them.

They mocked us both together. I was all wet with blood, drenched from the side of that Man after he

had sent forth his spirit. I had endured many bitter happenings on that hill. I saw the God of Hosts

cruelly racked. The shades of night had covered the Ruler's body with their mists, the bright splendor.

Shadow came forth, dark beneath the clouds. All creation wept, bewailed the King's fall; Christ was on

Cross.

"Yet from afar some came hastening to the Lord. All that I beheld. I was sore afflicted with griefs, yet I

bowed to the men's hands, meekly, eagerly. Then they took Almighy God, lifted him up from his heavy

torment. The warriors left me standing, covered with blood. I was all wounded with arrows. They laid

him down weary of limb, stood at the body's head, looked there upon Heaven's Lord; and he rested

there a while, tired after the great struggle. Then warriors began to build him an earth-house in the sight

of his slayer, carved it out of bright stone; they set there the Wielder of Triumphs. Then they began to

sing him a song of sorrow, desolate in the evening. Then they wished to turn back, weary, from the great

Prince; he remained with small company. Yet we stood in our places a good while, weeping. The voice of

the warriors departed. The body grew cold, fair house of the spirit. Then some began to fell us to earth -

- that was a fearful fate! Some buried us in a deep pit. Yet thanes of the Lord, friends, learned of me

there. . . . decked me in gold and silver.

"Now you might understand, my beloved man, that I had endured the work of evildoers, grievous

sorrows. Now the time has come that men far and wide upon earth honor me -- and all this glorious

creation -- and pray to this beacon. On me God's Son suffered awhile; therefore, I tower now glorious

under the heavens, and I may heal every one of those who hold me in awe. Of old I became the hardest

of torments, most loathed by men, before I opened the right road of life to those who have voices.

Behold, the Lord of Glory honored me over all the trees of the wood, the Ruler of Heaven, just as also he

honored his mother Mary, Almighty God for all men's sake, over all woman's kind.

"Now I command you, my beloved man, that you tell men of this vision. Disclose with your words that it

is of the tree of glory on which Almighty God suffered for mankind's many sins and the deeds Adam did

of old. He tasted death there; yet the Lord arose again to help mankind in his great might. Then he

climbed to the heavens. He will come again hither on this earth to seek mankind on Doomsday, the Lord

himself, Almighty God, and his angels with him, for then he will judge, he who has power to judge, each

one just as in this brief life he has deserved. Nor may any one be unafraid of the word the Ruler will

speak. Before his host he will ask where the man is who in the name of the Lord would taste bitter death

as he did on the Cross. But then they will be afraid, and will think of little to begin to say to Christ. There

need none be afraid who bears on his breast the best of tokens, but through the Cross shall the kingdom

be sought by each soul on this earthly journey that thinks to dwell with the Lord."

Then I prayed to the tree, blithe-hearted, confident, there where I was alone with small company. My

heart's thoughts were urged on the way hence. I endured many times of longing. Now is there hope of

life for me, that I am permitted to seek the tree of triumph, more often than other men honor it well,

alone. For it my heart's desire is great, and my hope of protection is directed to the Cross. I do not

possess many powerful friends of earth, but they have gone hence from the delights of the world,

sought for themselves the King of Glory. They live now in the heavens with the High Father, dwell in

glory. And every day I look forward to when the Lord's Cross that I beheld here on earth will fetch me

from this short life and bring me then where joy is great, delight in the heavens, where the Lord's fold

are seated at the feast, where bliss is eternal. And then may it place me where thenceforth I may dwell

in glory, fully enjoy bliss with the saints. May the Lord be my friend, who once here of earth suffered on

the gallows-tree for man's sins: he freed us and granted us life, a heavenly home. Hope was renewed,

with joys and with bliss, to those who endure fire. The Son was victorious in that foray, mighty and

successful. Then he came with his multitude, a host of spirits, into God's kingdom, the Almighty Ruler;

and the angels and all the saints who dwelt then in glory rejoiced when their Ruler, Almighty God, came

where his home was.