The two quotations in front are as follows: it will be seen that the
cross itself is supposed to be the speaker.
1. [on]gered{ae} hin{ae} god almechttig
tha he walde on galgu gistiga,
modig fore all{ae} men; buga [ic ni darst{ae}.]
2. [ahof] ic riicn{ae} kyningc,
heafun{ae}s hlafard; h{ae}lda ic ni darst{ae}.
bism{ae}radu ungket men ba {ae}t-gadre.
ic w{ae}s mith blod{ae} bistemid bigoten of [his sidan.]
The two quotations at the back are these:
3. Crist w{ae}s on rodi;
hwethr{ae} ther fus{ae} fearran cwomu
{ae}ththil{ae} til anum; ic th{ae}t al biheald.
sare ic w{ae}s mith sorgum gidr{oe}fid;
hnag [ic hwethr{ae} tham secgum til handa.]
4. mith strelum giwundad
alegdun hi{ae} hin{ae} limw{oe}rign{ae};
gistoddum him {ae}t his lic{ae}s heafdum,
bihealdun hi{ae} ther heafun[{ae}s hlafard.]
The literal meaning of the lines is as follows:
1. God almighty stripped Himself
when He would mount upon the gallows (the cross),
courageous before all men; I (the cross) durst not bow down
2. I (the cross) reared up the royal King,
the Lord of heaven; I durst not bend down.
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