The Venerable St.Bede was the foremost scholar and religious thinker of the Anglo-Saxon era. Living from 672-735A.D. he wrote many works of history, religious works, translations, science and astrology as well as personal letters in Old English and Latin, many of which survive in whole or part. One of his English works was as short funeral prayer known as "The Death Song":
a) Original version (in modern letters and punctuation);
Fore ðæm nedfere nænig wiorðe
ðonc snottora ðon him ðearf siæ
to ymbhycgenne ær his hinionge
hwæt his gastæ godes oððe yfles
æfter deað dæge doemed wiorðe.
b) Modern Translation;
Facing that enforced journey, no man can be
More prudent than he has good call to be,
If he consider, before his going hence,
What for his spirit of good hap or of evil
After his day of death shall be determined.
