Modern English prose translation

Listen! I intend to tell the choicest of dreams

which I dreamt in the middle of the night

while speech-bearers* dwelt at rest. *A kening for ‘men’

It seemed to me that I saw a most wondrous tree

born aloft in the air, enveloped with light, 5

the brightest of beams. That beacon was completely

stippled with gold; gems stood

fair at the corners of the earth, five of which there were

up on the crossbeam. Beheld it there all the angels of the Lord,

fair from their creation. Nor indeed was that a criminal’s gallows. 10

But there beheld it holy spirits,

men over the earth, and all this glorious creation.

Wondrous was that victory-beam, and I was stained with sins,

deeply wounded with wrongdoings. I saw the Tree of Glory,

worthily adorned, beautifully shining, 15

garnished with gold; jewels had covered worthily the tree of the forest.

Nevertheless, through that gold I was able to perceive

the ancient strife of wretches, when it first began

to bleed on the right side. I was struck completely through with sorrows. 20

Fearful I was before that fair vision. I saw that bright beacon

change clothing and colors. Awhile it was with wetness drenched,

soaked with the flow of blood, awhile with treasure bedecked.

Yet I lying there a long while

beheld in penitent sorrow the Savior’s tree, 25

until I heard that it uttered speech.

Began then to speak words the most blest of woods.

“It was years ago, (I remember it yet),

that I was hewn down at the forest’s edge,

removed from my trunk. There mighty enemies seized me, 30

made me there into a spectacle, ordered me to bear their criminals.

Men bore me then on their shoulders, until they set me on a hill;

fastened me there enemies enow. Then I saw the Lord of mankind

hasten with great zeal when that He would ascend me.

There I dared not then against the Lord’s word 35

bow or break, when I saw trembling

the surface of the earth. I might all

the foes have felled, nevertheless I stood fast.