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Caedmon's Hymn by Caedmon
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CaedmonAbout
“Caedmon’s Hymn” is the oldest extant recorded poem in English. It appears in Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica gents Anglorum [An Ecclesiastical History of the English People]. Bede describes how an illiterate cowherd employed by the monastery at Whitby was inspired by visions to sing songs in praise o...
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Caedmon’s Hymn Annotated
Now we must praise heaven-kingdom's Guardian,
the Measurer's might and his mind-plans,
the work of the Glory-Father when he of wonders of every one,
eternal Lord, the beginning established.
He first created for men's sons
heaven as a roof, holy Creator
then middle-earth mankind's Guardian,
eternal Lord, afterwards made--
for men earth, Master almighty.