circa 700's AD
Now let us praise the Guardian of Heaven.
Mightiest Maker, for his wise-sake.
Art of the Glory-Father, everlasting,
Holy Creator, in the beginning
Cast each place its part: first he set
heaven for a roof, an offer for below:
In Middle-Earth- the land of life,
A garden granted for the Kingdom of Mankind.
Almighty Everlasting, Maker of the World.
The Story of Caedmon
The origins of English poetry, but in particular, the very first traces of Christian poetry in the vernacular, arrive to us through the books of Bede. The venerated monk tells of how in the monastery of Stroneshalh-located in modern Whitby, Northumbria- there was one who was honored by the grace of God with the gift of song.
Being only a cattle-herder, he did not speak nor read in Latin. Instead, being a secular visitor into the monastery, all that he was taught of, by the Clerks translating Holy Writ, he afterward produced into poetry, in the language of his native tongue. Nor did he ever once receive any musical, or versifying orders, else training from superiors in the arts.
Now being of older age, one night at the monastery feast, where many took it upon themselves to play the glee-beam (the guitar), and sing for the table. Fearing embarrassment, for he could not play the harp, he departed from the feast, and went alone back to his quarters in the stable.
As he slept, he was greeted by a voice whom called "Caedmon, Sing to Me".
To the voice, he replied, "But I cannot sing. Such is the reason why I left the feast alone".
Unmoved, the voice said, "However so it be, you will sing to me".
"But what shall I sing of?" asked Caedmon.
The voice responded, "The beginning of all creation".
Then, Caedmon sang a song with words that he himself had never heard before. It was the Hymn of Caedmon.
When Caedmon awoke, he remembered the dream of the song he composed in his sleep. He went out into the village and spoke to the reeve, who received him and heard Caedmon speak of his dream, listening to his song. The reeve brought Caedmon before the abbess, who gathered about the clerks who listened while Caedmon sang his hymn.
The abbess, received Caedmon's hymn, and each conferring that he had indeed heard the voice of heavenly grace and spoken through it. They translated a passage from Holy Writ for Caedmon, and asked him to compose into verse.
The next day, he returned with a composition that confirmed to the abbess that he was indeed gifted in the divine art. Caedmon was granted a place in the monastery, acquitted from the secular life as a cow-herder, where he continued to make many melodious songs out of the lessons he received.
He sang of the Creation, of Israel: he sang of the parting of the Red Sea, of David and his Harp; the Passion and the Promised Land.
The early Christian poetry of the Anglo-Saxons testifies the proof of their potent inspiration that the Germanic pagans and pirates converted to in such fervor.
Caedmon's Hymn, translated, K.J McGuigan
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