incipit gestis Rudolphi rangifer tarandus



Hwaet, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor --

naefde thaet nieten unsciende naesthyrlas!

Glitenode and gladode godlice nosgrisele.

Tha hofberendas mid huscwordum hine gehifogodon;

nolden tha geneatas Hrodulf naeftig

to gomene hraniscum geador aetsomne.

Tha in Cristesmaesseaefne stormigum clommum,

Halga Claus thaet gemunde to him mathelode:

Neahfreond nihteage nosubeorhtende!

Min hroden hraedwaen gelaed thu, Hrodulf!

Tha gelufodon hira laddeor tha lyftflogan --

waes glaednes and gliwdream; hornede sum gegieddode:

Hwaet, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor,

Brad springth thin blaed: breme eart thu!



Here begin the deeds of Rudolph, Tundra-Wanderer



Lo, Hrodulf the red-nosed reindeer --

That beast didn't have unshiny nostrils!

The goodly nose-cartilage glittered and glowed.

The hoof-bearers taunted him with proud words;

The comrades wouldn't allow wretched Hrodulf

To join the reindeer games.

Then, on Christmas Eve bound in storms

Santa Claus remembered that, spoke formally to him:

'Dear night-sighted friend, nose-bright one!

You, Hrodulf, shall lead my adorned rapid-wagon!'

Then the sky-flyers praised their lead deer --

There was gladness and music; one of the horned ones sang

'Lo, Hrodulf the red-nosed reindeer,

Your fame spreads broadly, you are renowned!'