- Jan 18, 2012
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The early English poet Cynewulf wrote a poem in three parts called "Christ." The parts of the poem are "The Advent," "The Ascension," and "The Last Judgment." The poem is rich in medieval devotion and theology, prior to the rise of the Scholastic school. As such, is it is a work of popular belief more than the more esoteric writings of someone such as Venerable Bede. (It should be noted that some scholars hypothesize this Cynewulf to have been a monk at the Lindisfarne monastery.)
Here is a high English version:
http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/Christ_Kennedy.pdf
A more contemporary English version:
Christ I (The Advent Lyrics) | Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project | Rutgers University
And something of an old standard:
The Christ of Cynewulf; a poem in three parts: The advent, The ascension, and The last judgment : Cynewulf : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
Some immediately interesting characteristics of the poem are its allusions to Scripture, thus perhaps giving an insight into the lectionary of the day and place. Especially noticeable in the first segment is a very high Mariology:
Here is a high English version:
http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/Christ_Kennedy.pdf
A more contemporary English version:
Christ I (The Advent Lyrics) | Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project | Rutgers University
And something of an old standard:
The Christ of Cynewulf; a poem in three parts: The advent, The ascension, and The last judgment : Cynewulf : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
Some immediately interesting characteristics of the poem are its allusions to Scripture, thus perhaps giving an insight into the lectionary of the day and place. Especially noticeable in the first segment is a very high Mariology:
The maid was young, a virgin without sin, whom He did choose to be His mother.
O joy of women in the host of heaven! Winsomest maid through all the borders of the world, of whom the ocean-dwellers ever have heard story! Reveal to us that wonder which came upon thee from on high, how thou in childbirth didst conceive, yet knewest naught of human love after man’s kind. Truly, we have never heard that such a thing befell in days of old as unto thee was granted in wondrous grace; neither may we look for it to happen in any time to come. Verily, fair faith abode in thee, for that thou barest in thy bosom the Prince of glory, yet was thy radiant
maidhood no whit stained.
Eagerly ye ask how I did keep my chastity, my maidhood, and yet became the mother of the glorious Son of God. To men that wonder is not known, but in David’s beloved kinsmaid Christ made known that all the sin of Eve is done away, the curse cast out, the lowlier sex lifted up.
Also interesting is the presentation of a rather woeful, perhaps even sour, and ignorant Joseph. The Christology is high as well. I will write on the second segment in time.O joy of women in the host of heaven! Winsomest maid through all the borders of the world, of whom the ocean-dwellers ever have heard story! Reveal to us that wonder which came upon thee from on high, how thou in childbirth didst conceive, yet knewest naught of human love after man’s kind. Truly, we have never heard that such a thing befell in days of old as unto thee was granted in wondrous grace; neither may we look for it to happen in any time to come. Verily, fair faith abode in thee, for that thou barest in thy bosom the Prince of glory, yet was thy radiant
maidhood no whit stained.
Eagerly ye ask how I did keep my chastity, my maidhood, and yet became the mother of the glorious Son of God. To men that wonder is not known, but in David’s beloved kinsmaid Christ made known that all the sin of Eve is done away, the curse cast out, the lowlier sex lifted up.