Resigning

No. I 'm not giving up on the project. But the last few days have been pretty hectic here, getting some new colleagues moved in and tidying an untidy house for a departmental party. I did get the chance to linger in the Exeter Book in the region of "Homiletic Fragment II," and thought I'd next take on the poems leading up to it. "Resignation" caught my eye, so here are the first 45 lines. In his edition, Bernard Muir suggests renaming this piece "Contrition (A) and (B)," since the argument has been made that it consists of two separate poems, both of an intense penitential nature.

Resignation / Contrition A 

            Own/Possess me, almighty God,

            help me holy Lord! You created heaven and earth

            and every miracle, my Marvel-King,

            which are in them, eternal Lord,

5          magnificent and manifold (ones). Illustrious God, I offer

            you my soul and my very body,

            and my words and my works, wise Lord,

            and all my limbs, shepherd of light,

            and my many meditations.

10       Show me, shepherd of stars,

            where it would be best for my soul

            to mark the Measurer’s will,

            so that I may serve you in every thing,

            and in myself, truth-firm King,

15       raise up a remedy. Do not allow an outright thief / (rain-thief??)

            to scathe/harm (me) in the shadow, even though I obeyed you,

            Creator, Glory-King, more cowardly,

*          powerful Lord, than was my plan/ advisable for me.

            Grant me peace, living God,

20       from my bitter brute-deed. I then remember the remedy,

            Glory of kings: let me come to it if I may.

                   Grant me, my Lord, time and understanding,

            and patience and mindfulness of all things

            that you wish to send me, truth-firm King,

25       as a test. You know now (that) in me (are)

            many crime-deeds, cherish me nevertheless,

            Measurer, in your mercy, even though I committed more

            grim guilts than God allowed me;

            I have (great) need then to seek (lit., that I should seek) your

30       grace, holy Heaven-king, to aspire (to it)

            in (these) dying days, to see and seek

            another way of life, so that afterwards

            gracious God may grant me eternal joy,

            give me life, even though I confessed more slowly

35       my evil-deeds than the commands of the holy heaven-force

            required.  Indeed, you have given me here

            many *****.   (I) set my hope in you,

            fearful fore-thoughts, that they may

            stand firmly established. Raise my thought,

40       good King of souls, in ready wisdom.

            Now I will rush forth to you, Father of mankind,

            from this world, now that I know I must,

            very close to this time (i.e., very soon); support me then,

            Wielder of fates, in your glory-joy

45       and let me die, Lord of loved ones--

            help my spirit. When too many enemies

            are given to hatred, I will have then

            consolation from the Lord, even though formerly I earned honors

               in too short a time.