Here Edward king, lord of the English, <br />sent his soul strong in truth to Christ, <br />in God's safekeeping, his holy spirit, <br />He in this world dwelt for a time <br />in kingly power and wise counsel. <br />Freely the king for twenty-four <br />winter-times shared out wealth <br />and prosperous times, ruler of men, <br />graciously governed Welsh and Scots, <br />And Britons also, Aethelred's son, <br />with Angles and Saxons, and their warriors, <br />Clasped, round by cold waves, <br />all obeyed Edward, noble king; <br />they heard him faithfully, his young retainers. <br />The blameless king was ever happy in spirit, <br />though he long had been deprived of land, <br />walked the outcast's ways wide on the earth, <br />after Cnut overcame Aethelred's kin, <br />And Danes ruled over the dear kingdom <br />of the English land, sharing its wealth <br />for twenty-eight winter-times. <br />After he came forth freely bearing armour, <br />the best of good kings, pure and mild, <br />Edward the atheling defended his home, <br />land and people, until suddenly came <br />death and bitter, and took the dear one, <br />the atheling from the earth; the angels accompanied him, <br />his soul strong in truth, into the sky's light, <br />The wise one therefore committed the kingdom <br />to one high in rank, Harold himself, <br />noble eorl, who at all times <br />faithfully obeyed his lord <br />in words and deeds, holding back nothing <br />at the need of the king of the people.<br /><br />Anonymous Olde English<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/edward-the-confessor/
