Rudolph in Old English

(I laughed, so some of you might too!)

This Anglo-Saxon Version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Might Be More Epic Than Beowulf

Incipit gestis Rudolphi rangifer tarandus

Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor –

Næfde þæt nieten unsciende næsðyrlas!

Glitenode and gladode godlice nosgrisele.

Ða hofberendas mid huscwordum hine gehefigodon;

Nolden þa geneatas Hrodulf næftig

To gomene hraniscum geador ætsomne.

Þa in Cristesmæsseæfne stormigum clommum,

Halga Claus þæt gemunde to him maðelode:

“Neahfreond nihteage nosubeorhtende!

Min hroden hrædwæn gelæd ðu, Hrodulf!”

Ða gelufodon hira laddeor þa lyftflogan –

Wæs glædnes and gliwdream; hornede sum gegieddode

“Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor,

Brad springð þin blæd: breme eart þu!