(a) ca. 737
Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uardmetudæs maecti end his modgidancuerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuaeseci dryctin or astelidæhe aerist scop aelda barnumheben til hrofe haleg scepen.tha middungeard moncynnæs uardeci dryctin æfter tiadæfirum foldu frea allmectig
primo cantauit Cædmon istud carmen.
(b) 746
Nu scilun herga hefenricæs uardmetudæs mehti and his modgithancuerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuæseci dryctin or astelidæ.he ærist scop ældu barnumhefen to hrofæ halig sceppendtha middingard moncynnæs uardeci dryctin æfter tiadæfirum foldu frea allmehtig
[MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Now let me praise the keeper of Heaven's kingdom, the might of the Creator, and his thought, the work of the Father of glory, how each of wonders the Eternal Lord established in the beginning. He first created for the sons of men Heaven as a roof, the holy Creator, then Middle-earth the keeper of mankind, the Eternal Lord, afterwards made, the earth for men, the Almighty Lord.
In the beginning Cædmon sang this poem.]
