Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

Excerpt

With you I lament your misfortunes, dearest brother,
My face flows with tears, my grieving heart aches,
Oft groaning to myself in silent murmur
How painful that day was, alas, for all,
When a heathen host, come from the ends of the earth,
Fell suddenly by ship on our shores;
And, despoiling the venerable tombs of our fathers of their glory,
Also desecrated the temples dedicated to God;
And Sorek [border between the pagan Philistines and the Israelite Tribe of Dan], purest vine of the divine Christ,
Was suddenly food for the teeth of foxes;
And the living stones perish about the altars,
Wherefore – behold! – my lyre sighs all the more.

Comment

Comment

Peter Godman (Alcuin 1985) and June-Ann Greeley (Greeley 2020) have also translated this passage.

The D and E versions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle date the massacre to 8 January:

This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and whirlwinds, and fiery, dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made lamentable havoc in the church of God in Holy-island, by rapine and slaughter (Ingram 1823).

But the Danish historian Johannes C.H.R. Steenstrup suggested that 8 June was correct, and has not as far as I know been contradicted, though he is rarely credited:

(1) it is highly unlikely that Vikings would cross the sea at mid-winter; (2) the chronicle itself says that omens followed by famine preceded, which pushes the event forward in the year; (3) Symeon of Durham ([Libellus de Exordio atque Procursu istius, hoc est Dunhelmensis, Ecclesie] II. c. 5) and Annales Lindisfarnenses …, both particularly good sources with regard to this expedition, have “septimo Iduum Juniarum”; and finally (4) Alcuin speaks of a prior warning that had occurred at Lent, so that the next voyage would not be … that same year, but the following one… (Steenstrup 1878).

Alcuin’s cithara is a type of lyre, although the King James Version makes it a harp in Job 30:31: “My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.”

I’ve heard it said that the sacking of Lindisfarne was England’s 9/11 moment, but it was obviously far more profound than that.

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

IX
Postquam primus homo paradisi liquerat hortos,
Et miseras terras exul adibat inops,
Exilioque gravi poenas cum prole luebat,
Perfidiae quoniam furta maligna gerit,
Per varios casus mortalis vita cucurrit,
Diversosque dies omnis habebat homo.
Fatali cursu miscentur tristia laetis,
Nulli firma fuit regula laetitiae;
Nemo dies cunctos felices semper habebat,
Nemo sibi semper gaudia certa tenet.
Nil manet aeternum, celso sub cardine caeli,
Omnia vertuntur temporibus variis.
Una dies ridet, casus cras altera planget,
Nil fixum faciet tessera laeta tibi.
Prospera conturbat sors tristibus impia semper,
Alternis vicibus ut redit unda maris.
Nunc micat alma dies, veniet nox atra tenebris,
Ver floret gemmis, hiems ferit hocque decus.
Sidereum stellis culmen depingitur almis,
Quas nubes rapiunt imbriferae subito.
Et sol ipse die media subducitur ardens,
Cum tonat undosus auster ab axe poli.
Saepius excelsos feriunt et fulgura montes,
Summaque silvarum flamma ferire solet:
Sic maior magnis subito saepissime rebus
Eveniet casu forte ruina malo.
Haec exempla dedit periturus et undique mundus,
Divitiis florens, qui perit in pelago.
Voce prophetarum partes per quatuor orbis
Iam praedicta vides subruta regna modo.
Nobilis urbs regno et prima potentia regum
Perdidit, o, Babilon Caldea regna potens.
Egregium bello et magnis te, Persa, triumphis
Obruit, heu, iaculis femina sola suis.
Victorem mundi medio sors, ecce, secundis
Rebus Alexandrum invida flore tulit.
Roma, caput mundi, mundi decus, aurea Roma,
Nunc remanet tantum saeva ruina tibi.
Gloria castrensis gladiis aequata remansit,
Lutea pars tegetum sola videtur iners.
Quid te, sancta, canam, David urbs inclita regis,
In mundo nullis aequiperanda locis?
In te templa dei, cultus, laus, gloria, virtus,
In te mansit ovans sancta propago patrum.
Dum tua, quis teneat lacrimas, nunc ultima cernit:
Gens inimica deo iam tua tecta tenet.
Heu, Iudea, tuis habitator in urbibus errat
Rarus in antiquis, laus tua tota perit.
Nobile nam templum, toto et venerabile in orbe,
Quod Salomon fecit, Caldea flamma vorat.
Deicit hoc iterum Romana potentia bellis,
In cineres solvens moenia, tecta simul.
Ecce, relicta domus Siloe per secla remansit,
In qua sancta dei arca potentis erat.
Sic fugit omne decus, hominis quod dextera fecit,
Gloria seclorum sic velut umbra volat.
Ut sitiens liquidas frustra sibi somniat undas,
Sic gazas mundi dives habebit inops.
Tempora cur tantum luctu longinqua retexam,
Et veterum miseros carmine plango dies,
Dum praesens aetas patitur peiora per orbem,
Et misera mundus nunc ditione dolet.
Asia lata gemit paganis pressa catenis,
Quam premit et spoliat gens inimica deo.
Africa iam servit, magni pars tertia mundi,
Pro dolor, heu, tota pestiferis dominis.
Hesperiae populus, quondam gens inclita bello,
Invisis sceptris servit et ipsa modo.
Quicquid habent pulchri domini vel templa decoris
Vastavit, rapuit ethnica dextra sibi.
Hoc generale malum relevet speciale per orbem,
Quod patitur solus quisque, ferat levius.
Iam domus alma dei, princeps qua corpore pausat
Petrus, apostolica primus in arce pater,
Perfidiae manibus fertur vastata fuisse,
Dum preciosa domus impia dextra tulit.
Planxerat Italia Gothorum tempore tota,
Vastavit templa hostis ubique dei,
Et natat effusus sanctorum sanguis in aula,
Qua prius almus honor omnipotentis erat.
Hunorum gladios ter ternis senserat annis
Gallia tota, suis expoliata bonis.
Ecclesias, urbes, vicos, castella, sacratas
Cum populis pariter ignis edax rapuit.
Talia, cur, Iesu, fieri permittis in orbe
Iudicio occulto, non ego scire queo.
Vita tuis alia servatur in arve polorum,
Qua pax alma viget, praelia nulla fiunt.
Aurum ut flamma probat, iustos temptatio mundat,
Purior utque anima sidera celsa petat.
Haec est vita viro iusto temptatio tota,
Auribus ut cecinit pagina sacra tuis.
Quemque pater natum caro complectit amore,
Saepius huic tristi dura flagella dabit:
Sic deus omnipotens sanctos per saeva probavit
Verbera, post reddens premia laeta polo.
Non vos conturbet, sancti, inconstantia, fratres,
Nec mundana quidem gurgitibus variis.
Sic fuit atque fiet secli versatilis ordo,
Laetitiae numquam sit cui certa fides.
Qui iacet in lecto, quondam certabat in arvis
Cum cervis, quoniam fessa senectus adest.
Qui olim strato laetus recubabat in ostro,
Vix panno veteri frigida membra tegit.
Longa dies oculos atra caligine claudit,
Solivagos athomos quae numerare solet.
Dextera, quae gladios, quae fortia tela vibrabat,
Nunc tremit atque ori porrigit aegre cibos.
Clarior ecce tuba subito vox faucibus haesit,
Auribus adpositis murmura clausa ciet.
Quid iam plura canam? marcescit tota iuventus,
Iam perit atque cadit corporis omne decus,
Et pellis tantum vacua vix ossibus haeret,
Nec cognoscit homo propria membra senex.
Quos fuit, alter erit, iam nec erit ipse, quod ipse:
Fur erit ipse suus temporibus variis.
Sic ventura dies mentes mutabit et artus,
Atque utinam melior proficiat meritis!
Quapropter potius caelestia semper amemus,
Et mansura polo, quam peritura solo.
Hic variat tempus, nil non mutabile cernis:
Illic una dies semper erit, quod erit.
Quo tu, queso, meus, mentem, rogo, dirige, lector:
Invenies quicquid cor cupit ecce tuum.
Qua tua te numquam fallit spes, advena mundi,
Aspicies patriam, quam tuus optat amor.
Invenies veniens illic bona gaudia vitae
Perpetuae, quae tu semper habere potes.
Laetus in aeternum Christo sociabere civis,
Ille manet semper, tu quoque semper eris.
Quid tu pertristis aurum te perdere plangis?
Est auro melius lucrificare deum.
Quid species vanas lacrimosis, nate, querellis
Prosequeris, haec tu cur peritura cupis?
Talia iam mundi, non Christi luget amator,
Sit, rogo, non aurum, sit tibi Christus amor.
Ad vos, o fratres,, vertam, mea cura, camenas
Alloquar et paucis vos modo versiculis.
Vos regale genus, sobolis veneranda parentum
Sanctorum, qui vos iam genuere deo.
Illorum bibulas meritis caelestibus aures
Nunc adhibete pio pectore, mente, manu.
Ut sanctum precibus conservet semper ovile,
Pectore concordi quod statuere deo.
Horrida non frangat vestras temptatio mentes,
Impia quam vobis gessit iniqua manus.
Sed magis ad studium vitae melioris abundet,
Incitet et mentes semper adesse deo,
Erigit elisos, qui vulnerat atque medetur,
Qui ferit atque sanat, conterit atque levat.
Nocte dieque simul precibus insistite sanctis,
Ut vos conservet Iesus ubique pius.
Et si quae placeant concordi addiscite corde,
Atque implete manu, quod pia mens cupiat.
Sic tandem vobis clipeus descendit ab alto,
Et domini dextra proteget atque reget.
Vos estote patrum memores, quis semper ab alto
Venerat auxilium, dante tonante, pium.
Iam Moyses melius precibus quam fortis in armis,
Expandens palmas praelia sacra gerit.
Plurima pro lacrimis sternuntur milia morte
Ezechiae regis pestiferi populi,
Huic quoque ter quinos clemens deus addidit annos
Pro prece, quam moriens fundit ab ore deo.
Vobis nota canam, fratres, quae fecerat olim
Ecclesiae vestrae pontificalis apex.
Praesulis egregii precibus se flamma retorsit
Aedani quondam Bebban ab urbe procul.
Conposuit precibus Eadbert minitantia mortem
Flabra, pius praesul vester et ipse pater.
Magnus et ipse pater, praesul pastorque sacerdos
Cudbertus, vestrae iam decus ecclesiae,
Quanta piis precibus, domino donante, peregit,
Non opus est nostris dicere versiculis.
Dum prius heroicis praeclarus Beda magister
Versibus explicuit inclita gesta patris,
Laudibus ac celebrat quem tota Britannia crebris.
Et precibus rogitat se auxiliare piis.
Hi simul atque alii, si si praecepta tenetis
Illorum fixo semper amore dei,
Instanter precibus vestrum tueantur ovile,
Hostibus expulsis moenia vestra favent.
Posteriora vobis meliora prioribus esse,
Legistis, fratres: sic quoque vestra fient,
Si in domino tot speratis pectore, qui post
Iam maiora solet verbera dona dare.
At tu, sanctorum praesul successor avorum,
Qui pascis populum, qui loca sancta tenes,
Es magno, ut video, curarum pondere pressus,
Quod tam dira fuit tempore plaga tuo.
Tecum plango tuos casus, karissime frater,
Ora fluunt lacrimis, pectora mesta dolent.
Saepius ingeminans tacito sub murmure mecum,
Omnibus, heu, quam sit illa dolenda dies,
Qua pagana manus, veniens a finibus orbis,
Navigio subito litora nostra petit;
Expoliansque patrum veneranda sepulcra decore,
Necnon foedavit templa dicata dei,
Atque dei Christi mundissima vinea Sorehc
Vulpinis subito dentibus esca fuit.
Et lapides vivi pereunt altaria circum,
Quapropter cithara plus gemit ecce mea.
Victima facta fuit, domino quae ferre solebat
Munera; credo, pium munus et ipsa fuit.
Felix illa dies illis, si tristia nobis
Pectora fecisset, sic petiere polum;
Et sanctis socii facti sunt sanguine sacro,
Qui se pro Christo subiciunt gladiis.
Hos puto quapropter nobis non esse gemendos,
Quos melior caelo vita sibi rapuit.
Desine quapropter lacrimis hos plangere, praesul,
Quos sibi perpetuo Christus habet socios.
Teque magisque tua facias virtute paratum,
Ut, quo pervenias, tristia nulla fiant.
Inclita perpetuam praestat patientia vitam,
Ut vox veridica iusserat ipsa dei.
Fer patienter onus Christi tu triste sacerdos,
Iob exempla dabit victor et ipse tibi,
Miles et ecclesiae Paulus per mille triumphos,
Qui sua non doluit vulnera mente potens.
Quis sine vel miles capiat certamine palmam,
Bella nefanda dabunt praemia magna suis.
Per gladios, mortes, pestes, per tela, per ignes
Martyrio sancti regna beata petunt.
Stemmate iam gaudet belli, qui stemmate vincit,
Praelia post terrae regnat in arce poli.
Si quid displicuit Christo iam cuncta videnti,
Moribus in vestris corrigite hoc citius,
Ut pius egregium conservet pastor ovile,
Ne rapidis capiat hoc lupus insidiis.
Non est quippe deus poenis culpandus in istis,
Sed nostra in melius vita ferenda cito,
Et pia flectenda est precibus clementia nostris,
Quatenus a nobis transferat ipse plagas:
Atque suis clemens praeste solacia servis,
Tempora concedens prospera cuncta quibus,
Hymnidicas laeta laudes ut mente canamus
Celsithroni cuncti semper ubique simul,
Laus cui, cultus, honor, virtus, benedictio, carmen
Semper in aeternum gloria magna deo.

1752 words.

Tags

Tags are assigned inclusively on the basis of an entry’s original text and any comment. You may find this confusing if you only read an entry excerpt.

• Aidan of Lindisfarne (?-651) (1), Irish missionary credited with converting the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity in Northumbria, founder of Lindisfarne Priory ·
• Alcuin of York (ca. 735-804) (1), scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher from York, leading figure at the court of Charlemagne and in the Carolingian Renaissance ·
• Anglo-Saxons (10) ·
• Bamburgh (1) ·
• Bede (672/3-735) (3), Northumbrian monk, theologian, calendar-nerd and historian ·
• Book of Job (1) ·
• Carolingian Renaissance (1) ·
• Celtic Christianity (1) ·
• Charlemagne (1) ·
• Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England (2) ·
• Church music (8) ·
• Cuthbert (2) ·
• Kithara (1) ·
• Libellus de exordio (2) ·
• Lindisfarne (2) ·
• Massacre (4) ·
• Music (25) ·
• Northumbria (8) ·
• Paul the Apostle (2) ·
• Sailing ship (5) ·
• September 11 attacks (1) ·
• Symeon of Durham (?-after 1129) (2), chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory ·
• Viking Age (3) ·
• Viking expansion (4) ·
• Vikings (6) ·

All tags.

Similar

• 23 March 0867: Viking mercenaries draw the Anglo-Saxons of Ælla of Northumbria into the streets of York and slaughter them
• 12 October 0709: St Wilfrid of York’s soul departs with the birds to the sound of Psalm 104 at Oundle (Northants)
• 25 September 1880: Thomas Harper reveals to the Leeds Mercury’s young readers a mnemonic song of monarchs (except Oliver) used in the village school at Weldrake (York) in the 1770s
• 25 September 1066: The Stamford Bridge massacre by Harold Godwinson’s army of Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson’s force symbolises the end of the Viking Age
• 12 April 0627: In a triumph for his Kentish wife, Edwin of Northumbria is baptised on Easter Sunday by Paulinus, in the latter’s wooden oratory on the site of York Minster
• 12 October 0633: Edwin of Northumbria is killed and his army defeated by Gwynedd and Mercia at Hatfield Chase near Doncaster
• 30 March 1866: On Good Friday, lost northwest of Jan Mayen in the Arctic Ocean and battered by old sea ice in a terrible gale, the crew of the whaler Diana of Hull stoically awaits death
• 29 February 1824: Prophet John Wroe is baptised on the Leap Day in the Aire near Apperley Bridge before an audience of 30,000
• 3 January 1638: On the eve of the civil war, Henry Slingsby witnesses Royalist cavalry exercising near Wetherby
• 28 January 1069: In the first major northern battle after Hastings, Tynesiders slaughter a Norman army at Durham, whereupon William the Conqueror ravages the north