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The Dedication

Nu, broþerr Wallterr, broþerr min,
     Affter þe flæshess kinde;
Annd broþerr min i Crisstenndom
     þurrh fulluhht and þurrh trowwþe
Annd broþerr min i Godess hus,
     3et o þe þridde wise,
þurrh þatt witt hafenn takenn ba
     An re3hellboc to foll3henn,
Unnderr kanunnkess had annd lif,
     Swa-summ Sannt Awwsten sette;
Icc hafe don swa-summ þu badd
     Annd forþedd te þin wille,
Icc haf wennd inntill Ennglissh
     Goddspelless hall3he lare,
Affterr þatt little witt þatt me
     Min Drihhtin hafeþþ lenedd.
(Vv. 1-15)

The Dedication

Now Brother, Walter, my brother,
     in blood and nature
And my brother in Christendom
     by baptism and by faith
And my brother in the hous of God,
     And yet in a third way,
by which we both have taken
     to obey to the rule of the book,
Under the rank and life of canons,
     As St Augustine established it;
I have done as you asked me
     And carried out your will,
I have translated into English
     the holy lore of the Gospel,
According to the small ability
     which God granted to me
(Vv. 1-15)