Anglo Saxon Aloud

The poet compares Jesus’ entry into the world and his departure from it in Bethany, forty days after the Resurrection. Jesus spoke to his companions, telling them that he would never leave them and charging them to go forth throughout the whole world and preach and baptize.

Suddenly, singing angels appear in the sky and they call out to the people Galilee, asking them why they are standing waiting. The angels say that they have come to carry the Lord to heaven.

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O King of Peace: the poet praises God’s creation of light and asks the Lord to come now and reveal His mercy. The wolf has driven the flock apart, and so we ask the God come and send the devil to hell and rise up to his own eternal kingdom.

O splendor of the world: the poet praises Mary for her purity. He tells of the prophet Isaiah and asks Mary to plead for us.

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The poem is usually divided into three parts, Christ A, B, and C, corresponding to the Advent, the Annunciation and the Last Judgment. Christ A is comprised of sections based on the Latin Antiphons for the liturgy of Advent.

O King of Nations: the poet praises Christ for being the wall-stone that the builders had rejected but which is now the cornerstone of the hall.

O key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel: The poet blesses Christ for leading the way to heaven and then begins speaking of Mary, a young woman without sin.

O Jerusalem: The poet praises the heavenly Jerusalem.

O Virgin of Virgins: The poet praises Mary and gives Mary’s speech confirming her virginity and noting the the curse of Eve is now overcome.

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