XV. Orm

The Ormulum

“Junius 1, Bodleian Library, Oxford: an oblong folio, written in double columns on 118 leaves of parchment varying considerably in size, the largest being 508 × 200 mm.; about 1210 A.D., and an autograph, but corrected by a second and third hand.”

Further detail from Notes volume:

“Orm supplemented the current graphic methods by devices of his own. Thus he systematically doubled a consonant after a short vowel in a closed syllable, so tunnderrstanndenn 109. Whether he meant thereby to indicate shortness of the vowel or length of the consonant is disputed.... Where the consonant after an open syllable is in fact short, Orm often places a breve over the preceding short vowel.... Likewise he uses very seldom an almost horizontal accent to indicate vowel length, as á 174, but more frequently, as if to emphasize his warning against possible error, doubles it ... even for greater insistence trebles it ... mostly before final t.

“Furthermore, Orm invented a special symbol {g} with a flat top projecting on both sides for the guttural stop g, reserving the continental g for the dzh sound in such words as egge (edge), leggen, seggen: the latter occurs in this extract only in gluternesse 167, and that by mistake.”

This page image shows all three “g” forms, with Orm’s unique {g} in the first line, and insular “g” in the third. Note that the ordinary (“continental”) “g” form is regularly used in “ng”.

F

orrþrihht anan se iesu crist.
Wass borenn off hiss moderr;

ᵹho wand himm sone iwinndeclū́t.
⁊ leᵹᵹde himm inn a`n´ cribbe.

Acc uss birrþ wĭtenn þ̵ he warrþ.
All wiþþ hiss aᵹhenn wille.

Vnnorne. ⁊ wrecche ⁊ usell child;
Inn ure mennisscnesse :

Forr þ̵ he wollde inn heffness ærd;
Vss alle makenn riche.

¶ ⁊ he þ̵ all þiss middellærd.
Onn alle wise shrideþþ;

He wollde wundenn | ben forr uss.
I wrecche winnde clutess.

Forr þ̵ he wollde shridenn uss;
Wiþþ hefennlike wæde·

¶ ⁊ he þ̵ all þiss werelld shop·
⁊ alle shaffte stereþþ;

He lēt himm baþe bindenn her.
Wiþþ bandess fēt ⁊ hande;

Forr þ̵ he wollde unnbindenn uss.
Off hellepiness bandess.

¶ ⁊ heffne. ⁊ lifft. ⁊ land. ⁊ sæ.
Wiþþ {g}oddcunndnesse filleþþ;

Þatt illke child. tatt tær wass leᵹᵹd.
Inn an full naru cribbe;

Forr þ̵ he wollde ᵹifenn uss.
All heffness rume riche.

¶ ⁊ he þ̵ fedeþþ enn{g}le þed.
⁊ alle cwike shaffte;

He laᵹᵹ all alls hiss wille wass.
Biforenn asse i cribbe.

Swa summ he wære ᵹifenn himm;
To wurrþenn himm to fode.

Forr þ̵ he wollde brinn{g}enn uss;
Vpp inntill heffness blisse.

⁊ ᵹifenn uss himm sellfenn þær;
Wiþþ enn{g}less eche fode.

¶ Þuss {g}odess sune allmahhtiᵹ {g}odd;
Warrþ wrecche mann onn erþe.

Forr swa to brinngenn mann kinn onn;
To ᵹernenn affterr litell.

Forr þ̵ he lufeþþ alle þa;
þ̵ hise laᵹhess haldenn.

⁊ lufenn forr þe lufe off himm;
To libbenn her onn erþe.

Full wrecchelike inn uselldom;
Off metess. ⁊ off claþess.

¶ ⁊ tatt te laferrd iesu crist.
Wass leᵹᵹd inn asse cribbe.

Þatt tacneþþ uss. þ̵ he comm her.
To wurrþenn mann onn erþe.

Wiþþ mannkinn. þ̵ wass stunnt. ⁊ dill;
⁊ skill læs swa summ asse.

¶ ⁊ asse. þohh itt litell be.
Itt hafeþþ mikell afell.

To berenn upp well mikell sæm;
Giff mann itt doþ þæronne.

⁊ swa wass neh all follc þ̵ daᵹᵹ.
Þatt crist comm her to manne.

Neh all itt wass þa strang inoh.
To þewwtenn laþe {g}astess.

To berenn upp þ̵ laþe sæm;
To don all þeᵹᵹre wille.

¶ ⁊ þurrh þ̵ {g}odd wass wurrþenn mann.
Forr ure miccle nede;

Þurrh þ̵ wass he. `þatt witt tu wel.´
All wiþþ hiss lefe wille.

Niþþredd. ⁊ wannsedd wunnderrliᵹ.
⁊ laᵹhedd inn himm | sellfenn.

Forr o þ̵ hallf þ̵ he wass mann;
Mann mihhte himm fon. ⁊ pinenn.

Wiþþ hāt. ⁊ kald. wiþþ nesshe. ⁊ harrd·
Wiþþ pine off þrisst. ⁊ hunngerr.

⁊ cwellenn himm mann mihhte wel;
Inn ure mennisscnesse.

⁊ {g}odd wass wurrþenn swa forr uss;
Gḗt lasse þann an enn{g}ell.

Forr mann ne maᵹᵹ nohht enn{g}ell sen;
Ne tăkenn himm ne bindenn.

Ne pinenn himm. ne cwellenn himm.
Forr he ne deᵹeþþ næfre.

Acc drihhtin {g}odd warrþ her forr þe
Gēt lasse þann hiss enn{g}ell.

⁊ lahᵹhre inoh. forr þi þatt he;
Þe wollde ᵹifenn bisne.

Þatt te birrþ aᵹᵹ þe sellfenn her;
Þurrh soþ mecnesse laᵹhenn.

⁊ lætenn swiþe unorneliᵹ;
⁊ litell off þe sellfenn.

Þ

att hirdess wokenn o þ̵at nahht.
Þatt crist wass borenn onne;

Þatt wass swa summ hiss wille wass.
Forr þ̵ itt shollde tacnenn.

Þatt he forr þi wass wurrþenn mann;
Forr þ̵ he wollde sammnenn.

An flocc off menn till cristenndom;
⁊ till þe rihhte læfe.

Þatt sholldenn wurrþenn hise shep;
Þurrh here unnshaþiᵹnesse.

⁊ sholldenn habbenn oferr hemm;
Bisscopess. prestess. dæcness

Forr þ̵ teᵹᵹ sholldenn hirdess ben;
To ᵹemenn hemm. ⁊ {g}ætenn.

⁊ ec forr þ̵ he wollde ben.
Himm sellf ūt numenn hirde.

Swa þ̵ he wollde hiss aᵹhenn lif;
Forr hise shep forrlætenn.

¶ Þatt {g}odess enn{g}ell comm o nihht.
Swa summ ðe {g}oddspell kiþeþþ.

To spekenn wiþþ þa wake menn.
Þatt wokenn heore faldess;

⁊ tatt he comm þ̵ nihht till hemm.
Wiþþ heoffness lihht. ⁊ leome.

⁊ tatt teᵹᵹ wærenn forr þ̵ lihht.
⁊ forr ðatt enn{g}less sihhþe.

Forr dredde swiþe fasste anan.
Swa summ þe {g}oddspell kiþeþþ;

⁊ ec þatt {g}odess enn{g}ell toc.
To frofrenn hemm wiþþ worde.

All þ̵ wass don | þurrh iesu crist.
Forr mikell þin{g} to tacnenn.

¶ Itt tacneþþ uss þatt ure {g}odd.
Well offte senndeþþ enn{g}less.

Inn till þiss middell ærd. tatt iss.
All full off þessterrnesse :

Þatt iss off all þ̵ ifell iss;
Inn alle kinne sinne;

Itt tacneþþ þ̵ he senndeþþ hemm;
Inn till þiss þeossterrnesse.

To frofrenn þa þ̵ wakenn wel;
Onnᵹæness laþe {g}astess.

⁊ stanndenn inn to shildenn hemm;
Fra deofless swikedomess.

⁊ all þ̵ flocc þ̵ hemm iss sētt;
To ᵹemenn. ⁊ to {g}ætenn.

To frofrenn swillke senndeþþ {g}odd.
Enn{g}less. ⁊ hallᵹhe sawless.

⁊ aᵹᵹ þeᵹᵹ cumenn dun till þa;
Wiþþ heoffness lihht. ⁊ leome.

Þatt iss wiþþ witt. ⁊ {g}od innsihht;
Inn alle kinne þin{g}e.

Forr drihhtin ᵹifeþþ her hiss þeww;
{g}od witt. ⁊ mahht. ⁊ wille.

To stanndenn ᵹæn þe laþe {g}ast.
⁊ ᵹæn all þ̵ he læreþþ.

Acc aᵹᵹ þeᵹᵹ sinndenn þohh swa þehh;
Well swiþe sare off dredde.

Off domess daᵹᵹes starrke dom;
⁊ off þe demess irre.

All all swa summ þa wăke menn;
Well swiþe offdredde wærenn.

Off heoffness brihhte lihht ⁊ lem ;
⁊ off þ̵ enn{g}less sihhþe.

Ace hihht. ⁊ hope o drihhtin {g}odd.
⁊ onn hiss mildheorrtnesse;

Þatt frofreþþ hemm. ⁊ beldeþþ hemm;
To follᵹhenn {g}odess lare.

To fandenn ᵹiff þeᵹᵹ muᵹhenn swa;
ðe demess are winnenn.

⁊ tatt wass uss bitacnedd wel;
Þurrh ðatt tatt {g}odess enn{g}ell.

Toc sone anan wiþþ milde word;
ða wăke menn to frofrenn.

Forr þ̵ he wisste wel þ̵ teᵹᵹ;
Off himm forrdredde wærenn.

Forr {g}odess enn{g}ell frofreþþ mann;
Giff þ̵ he seþ himm færedd.

Forr {g}odess enn{g}ell iss full mec;
⁊ soffte. ⁊ milde. ⁊ bliþe.

¶ ⁊ defell iss all full off niþ;
⁊ full off {g}rammcunndnesse.

⁊ full off hĕte towarrd mann;
⁊ full off modiᵹnesse

⁊ ᵹiff he seþ þe mann forrdredd;
He wile himm skerrenn mare.

⁊ ræfenn himm hiss rihhte witt;
⁊ shetenn inn hiss herrte. |

Acc whas itt iss þ̵ wæpnedd iss.
Wiþþ fulle trowwþe o criste;

Þohh þ̵ he {g}risliᵹ defell seo.
Niss he rihht nohht forrfæredd.

¶ Þatt enn{g}ell seᵹᵹde ðatt he wass;
Þa cumenn forr to kiþenn.

O {g}odess hallfe þær till hemm.
A`n´ swiþe mikell blisse.

Þatt shollde ben till all þe follc.
Þatt seᵹᵹde he forr þ̵ tanne;

Wass cumenn i þiss middellærd.
Full mikell blisse. ⁊ sellðe.

Till alle `þa´ þ̵ sholldenn wel;
O {g}odess sune lefenn.

O iesu crist. tatt borenn wass.
þ̵ illke nahht to manne.

¶ He seᵹᵹde þ̵ te laferrd crist.
Wass borenn her to manne.

Nohht o þe nahht. acc o þe daᵹᵹ.
Forr mikell þing to tacnenn.

Forr daᵹᵹess lihht bitacneþþ uss;
All eche lifess blisse

⁊ nahht bitacneþþ all þ̵ wa;
Þ̷ iss inn helle pine.

⁊ crist wass borenn i þiss lif;
To lesenn uss off helle.

Forr þ̵ he wollde ᵹifenn uss;
Wiþþ enn{g}less eche blisse.

¶ ⁊ tatt wass uss bitacnedd ec.
Þurrh þ̵ tatt {g}odess enn{g}ell.

Wass awwnedd till ða wăke menn;
Wiþþ heffness lihht ⁊ leme.

Forr {g}odess sune iesu crist;
Wass wurrþenn mann onn erþe.

To ᵹifenn heoffness lihht. ⁊ lem;
Þ̷ follc. þ̵ shollde himm follᵹhenn.

¶ Þatt {g}odd all mahhtiᵹ wurrþenn wass.
Gun{g} child inn ure kinde.

⁊ wrecche child. off wrecche kinn;
ðatt doþ uss tunnderrstanndenn.

Þatt uss birrþ mikell lufenn crist.
⁊ lofenn himm ⁊ wurrþenn.

Off þatt he wollde himm sellfenn swa;
Forr ure lufe laᵹhenn.

⁊ off þatt he warrþ wrecche mann;
Forr uss to makenn riche.

Wiþþ enn{g}less upp inn heoffness ærd;
Wiþþ utenn ende i blisse.

Annd þurrh þ̵ tatt tær awwnedd wass.
An here off {g}odess enn{g}less.

Þatt time þ̵ te laferrd crist.
Wass borenn her to manne;

Þurrh þ̵ wass uss don þær full wel.
To sen. ⁊ tunnderrstanndenn.

Þatt enn{g}less stanndenn aᵹᵹ occ aᵹᵹ.
To lofenn {g}odd ⁊ wurrþenn.

¶ ⁊ þurrh þ̵ illke wass uss ec.
Don full wel tunnderrstanndenn.

Þatt uss birrþ lofenn drihhtin aᵹᵹ;
Wiþþ innwarrd herrtess tunge.

⁊ þannkenn himm þ̵ miccle {g}od;
Þatt he doþ uss onn erþe.

¶ ⁊ þurrh þ̵ illke wass uss ec.
Don full wel tunnderrstanndenn.

Þatt crist all enn{g}le þede kin{g}.
Wass borenn her to manne.

Alls iff he ᵹæn þe laþe {g}ast.
Wiþþ hĕre wollde fihhtenn.

To winnenn adam. ⁊ hiss kinn;
V̋t off þe defless walde.

⁊ settenn enn{g}less oferr hemm;
To ᵹemenn hemm ⁊ {g}ætenn.

⁊ forr to shildenn hemm onn ᵹæn;
ðe deofless laþe wiless.

¶ Annd {g}odess enn{g}less wærenn þa;
Well swiþe glade wurrþenn.

Off ðatt tatt {g}odd wass wurrþenn mann.
Forr þ̵ teᵹᵹ wisstenn alle.

Þatt teᵹᵹre {g}en{g}e shollde ben;
Wiþþ {g}ode sawless ekedd.

⁊ wurrþedd ec. ⁊ all forrþi;
Þeᵹᵹ wærenn swiþe bliþe.

⁊ all forr þi þeᵹᵹ sun{g}enn þa.
ðiss san{g} wiþþ mikell blisse.

Si drihhtin upp inn heffness ærd;
Wurrþshipe. ⁊ loff. ⁊ wullderr.

⁊ upp onn erþe {g}riþþ. ⁊ friþþ;
Þurrh {g}odess mildherrtnesse.

Till iwhillc mann þ̵ habbenn shall;
{g}od herte ⁊ `aᵹᵹ´ {g}od wille.

¶ Þiss sun{g}enn þeᵹᵹ. forr þi þ̵ teᵹᵹ.
Full wel þær unnderrstodenn.

Þatt teᵹᵹre {g}en{g}e shollde ben;
Þurrh hallᵹhe sawles. ekedd.

Þurrh whatt biforenn drihhtin {g}odd·
Giff þ̵ itt waxenn mihhte.

Wurrþshipe ⁊ wullderr shollde ben;
Swa summ itt waxenn wære.

⁊ ec forr þatt teᵹᵹ wisstenn wel.
Þatt {g}odd comm her to manne.

Forr þ̵ he wollde {g}riþþ ⁊ friþþ.
⁊ soþ sahhtnesse settenn.

Bitwenenn drihhtin heffness king;
⁊ mannkinn her onn erþe.

Þatt mann kinn shollde muᵹhenn wel;
Vpp cumenn inn till heffne.

Þatt heffness here mihhte swa;
Þurrh hallᵹhe sawless waxenn.

Þurrh whatt bi forenn drihhtin {g}odd;
Wurrþshipe waxenn shollde.

Giff þ̵ himm mihhte waxenn ohht;
⁊ wurrþenn bettre ⁊ mare.

¶ Þatt {g}riþþ wass sett till alle þa.
Swa summ þe {g}oddspell kiþeþþ.

Þatt sholl | denn wurrþenn {g}ode menn;
⁊ habbenn `aᵹᵹ´ {g}od wille.

Till þa þ̵ sholldenn unnderrfon;
Wiþþ blisse cristess come.

⁊ nohht till þa þ̵ sholldenn himm;
Forrhoᵹhenn ⁊ forrwerrpenn.

Forr niss nohht {g}odess {g}riþþ wiþþ þa;
Þ̷ wiþþrenn {g}odd onn ᵹæness.

Acc helle wawenn iss till þa;
All affterr þeᵹᵹre wrihhte.

¶ ⁊ her mann unnderrstanndenn maᵹᵹ;
Whillc mann iss drihhtin cweme.

Þatt illke mann iss drihhtin lef;
Þ̷ hafeþþ {g}ode wille.

Forr wha se itt iss þatt illke mann
Þatt hafeþþ `aᵹᵹ´ {g}od wille

Þatt illke mann ne sinnᵹheþþ nohht.
Ne {g}illteþþ hise þannkess.

Ne towarrd {g}odd· ne towarrd mann;
Giff þ̵ he maᵹᵹ himm lokenn.

⁊ ᵹiff þ̵ iss þ̵ he missdoþ.
Onn aniᵹ kinne wise;

Itt reweþþ himm. ⁊ sone anan;
He stannt itt inn to betenn.

¶ Þatt {g}odess enn{g}ell comm o nahht.
Wiþþ heffness lihht onn erþe;

Þatt tacneþþ þ̵ tiss middellærd.
Wass full off þessterrnesse.

Þurrh illkess kinness hæþenndom.
Inn iwhillc unnclænnesse;

Þatt time þ̵ te laferrd crist.
Wass borenn her to manne.

To ᵹifenn heffness lihht. ⁊ lem;
Þ̷ follc þ̵ shollde himm cwemenn.

¶ ⁊ tatt tatt enn{g}ell nohht ne comm.
Till kin{g}ess ne till erless.

Ne till þ̵ laþe riche flocc.
Þatt follᵹheþþ modiᵹnesse;

Þatt doþ uss tunnderrstanndenn wel;
Þ̷ drihhtin {g}odd forrwerrpeþþ.

All modiᵹleᵹᵹc. ⁊ {g}reditleᵹᵹc :
⁊ irre. ⁊ gluterrnesse.

⁊ all þ̵ follᵹheþþ horedom.
⁊ swikedom onn erþe.

Þatt mann maᵹᵹ findenn allre mast.
I þa þ̵ sinndenn riche.

þatt {g}odess enn{g}ell awwnedd wass.
In aness weress hewe;

Þatt wass forr þi þ̵ enn{g}ell maᵹᵹ.
Wiþþ hiss drihhtiness wille.

Himm awwnenn alls he wære a mann.
I manness limess alle.

I bodiᵹ. þ̵ he doþ himm inn;
Off hefennlike kinde.

¶ `⁊ {g}odd wiþþ enn{g}less gife uss. á.
To brukenn heffness blisse.´

Amæn.