Even so the Lord God, the Giver of joy, is gracious to all creatures, to every order of them, save only the dragon, the source of venom, that ancient enemy whom he bound in the abyss of torments; shackling him with fiery fetters, and loading him with dire constraints, he arose from darkness on the third day after he, the Lord of angels, the Bestower of victory, had for three nights endured death on our behalf. That was a sweet perfume throughout the world, winsome and entrancing. Henceforth, * * * * * on healfa gehwone, hēapum þrungon geond ealne ymbhwyrft eorþan scēat[a]. Swā se snottra gecwæð Sanctus Paulus: 70 'Monigfealde sind geond middangeard gōd ungnȳðe þe ūs tō giefe dǣleð and tō feorhnere Fæder ælmihtig, and se ānga Hyht ealra gesceafta uppe ge niþre.' Þæt is æþele stenc. * * * * * From every side all men whose hearts were true, Throughout the regions of the circled earth. Thus spoke the wise St. Paul: 'In all the world His gifts are many, which he gives to us For our salvation with unstinting hand, Almighty Father, he, the only Hope Of all in heaven or here below on earth.' This is that noble fragrance, rare and sweet, Which draws all men to seek it from afar. * * * * * through the whole extent of earth's regions, righteous men have streamed in multitudes from every side to that fragrance. As said the wise St. Paul: 'Manifold over the world are the lavish bounties which the Father almighty, the Hope of all creatures above and below, bestows on us as grace and salvation.' That, too, is a sweet odor. II THE WHALE (ASP-TURTLE) Nū ic fitte gēn ymb fisca cynn wille wōðcræfte wordum cȳþan þurh mōdgemynd, bi þām miclan hwale. Sē bið unwillum oft gemēted, 5 frēcne and fer[_h_]ðgrim, fareðlācendum, niþþa gehwylcum; þām is noma cenned, fyr[ge]nstrēama geflotan, Fastitocalon. Is þæs hīw gelīc hrēofum stāne, swylce wōrie bi wædes ōfre, 10 sondbeorgum ymbseald, sǣrȳrica mǣst, swā þæt wēnaþ wǣglīþende þæt hȳ on ēalond sum ēagum wlīten; and þonne gehȳd[_i_]að hēahstefn scipu tō þām unlonde oncyrrāpum, 15 s[_ǣ_]laþ sǣmearas sundes æt ende, * * * * *