O Oxford, Corpus Christi College, 279, B (West-Saxon eorðan recension)[1]

A critical edition of the scribal performance

Based on O with collations from B1, Ca, N, T1, To.

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Poem

    Nu \ƿe/ sculan herian      heofonrices ƿeard,

    metodes mihte,      ond his modgeþonc,

    ƿero{a} ƿuldorfæder      sƿa[2] he ƿundra gehƿæs,

    ece dryhten,      oor\d/ onstealde!

5     He ærest gesceop      eorðan bearnun{m}um

    heofon to hrofe,      halig scyppend;

    ða[3] middongeard      moncynnes ƿeard,

    ece dryhten,      æfter teodde,

    firum folda\n/,      frea ælmihtig.


Notes

[1]The scribe of O has altered his text considerably by correction (see above, Chapter 4: Manuscripts (O) and Chapter 7: Editorial introduction, West-Saxon eorðan recension). This edition records information about additions and deletions in O in semi-diplomatic form.

[2]sƿa] Howlett suggests that sƿa may be intended as an adverb (“thus”) rather than a causal conjunction (“as, because”). For a discussion of the evidence, see above, § C.9. The punctuation here assumes sƿa is a conjunction.

[3]ða] ða can be construed as either a causal conjunction (“when”) or an adverb (“then”). While the reading has considerable effect on our understanding of the poem’s structure and theology (see above, § C.9, and esp. Blockley 1998, 20-26), neither reading can be ruled out conclusively. The punctuation in this edition follows that of most modern editions in treating ða as an adverb.