The Rime of King William

The Rime of King William is an Old English poem about William the Conqueror.

The Words
Old English

Castelas he let wyrcean, ⁊ earme men swiðe swencean. Se cyng wæs swa swiðe stearc, ⁊ benam of his underþeoddan manig marc goldes ⁊ ma hundred punda seolfres. Det he nam be wihte ⁊ mid micelan unrihte of his landleode, for littelre neode. He wæs on gitsunge befeallan, ⁊ grædinæsse he lufode mid ealle He sætte mycel deorfrið, ⁊ he lægde laga þærwið þet swa hwa swa sloge heort oððe hinde, þet hine man sceolde blendian. He forbead þa heortas, swylce eac þa baras. Swa swiðe he lufode þa headeor swilce he wære heora fæder. Eac he sætte be þam haran þet hi mosten freo faran. His rice men hit mændon, ⁊ þa earme men hit beceorodan; ac he wæs swa stið þet he ne rohte heora eallra nið. Ac hi moston mid ealle þes cynges wille folgian, gif hi woldon libban, oððe land habban, land oððe eahta, oððe wel his sehta. Walawa, þet ænig man sceolde modigan swa, hine sylf upp ahebban ⁊ ofer ealle men tellan. Se ælmihtiga God cyþæ his saule mildheortnisse, ⁊ do him his synna forgifenesse.

Mainstream English

Castles he had made, & had poor men toil much. The king was so very stark, & took from his underlings many marks of gold & moreover hundreds of pounds of silver. This he took by weight & with much injustice from his land's people, & there was little need for him to do this. He had fallen into avarice, & greed he loved greatly. He set many deer preserves, & he laid laws so that whoever slew a hart or hind should be blinded. He forbade killing the harts, & also the boars. So greatly he loved the highdeer it was as though he were their father. Plus for the hares he set it up so that they might go about freely. His rich men bemoaned his policies, & the poor men murmured about his policies; but he was so stubborn that he never considered all their enmity. But they had to follow the king's will if they wanted to live, or have land. They had to choose between either land & property, or the king's reconciliation. Alas, that any man should get so arrogant as to consider himself heaved up above everyone else. May the almighty God show his soul mercy, & forgive his sins.

Anglish (conservative translation)

Castles he let work, ⁊ arm men swithe swink. The king was so swithe stark, ⁊ benome of his underlings many marks of gold ⁊ moreover hundreds of pounds of silver. This he nome by weight ⁊ with much unright from his landleed, for little need. He was in yitesing befallen, ⁊ greediness he loved with all. He set much deerfrith, ⁊ he laid laws therewith that so who so slew a hart or hind, that him man should blind. He forbade the harts, such eke the boars. So swithe he loved the highdeer such as if he were here father. Eke he set for the hares that hie moot free fare. His rich men it bemoaned, ⁊ the arm men it becheared; ake he was so stithe that he ne recked all here nithe. Ake hie must with all of the king's will follow, if hie would live, or land have; land or aught, or well his saught. Welaway, that any man should moody so, himself up aheave ⁊ over all men tell. The almighty God kithe his soul mildheartness, ⁊ do for him his sins foryiveness.

Anglish (liberal translation)

Castles he had wrought, ⁊ to arm men swink brought. The king was so swithe stark, ⁊ benome his underlings of here marks. Both gold ⁊ silver he nome from his landleed, ⁊ for little need. He was in yitesing befallen, ⁊ with greediness he was all in. He set much deerfrith, ⁊ he laid laws therewith so that whoever slew a hart or hind, that he should be made blind. He forbade the harts, eke the boars. So swithe he loved the highdeer it were as if he were here father. Eke he set for the hares that hie may freely fare. His rich men bemoaned it, ⁊ the arm men becheared it. Ake he was so stithe that he never recked here nithe. Ake hie must follow the king's will if hie would live, or have land. Land ⁊ aught, or the king's saught. Welaway, that any man should become so proudhearted ⁊ heave himself up ⁊ tell himself over all men. May the almighty God kithe his soul mildheartness, ⁊ do for him his sins foryiveness.