The Varsity Challenge 2003
Beoþ ge gesunde, leofe gebroðru ond gesweostra æt Grantabrycge
Be you well, beloved brothers and
sisters at
Longe þeaw wæs, þæt leode uncer
It was long custom, that our peoples
gearlice gegadredon glæd ætsomne
yearly gathered gladly together
socon strælboran sumorlangne dæg
struggled archers the summer-long day
geflit fremedon mid flanbogan
strife perpetrated with bows
geornful geoguð Grantabrycges
the eager youth of
ond of Oxnaforde eorla gedryht
and from
Ond nu niowan stefne genægeð sumor
and now again approaches summer
Forðy we eow gretaþ ond to guðe hataþ:
for this we greet you and call you to
battle
sceal sigecempa gesyne wesan
shall victorious champions become
hwæþer ?tir gegæþ twegra þara heapa
the which to whom glory happens of those
two companies
Soð ic secge, sincfæte rosena
truth I speak, the precious vessel ?of
roses
butan an beaduwræda ætbredan mæg
only one fighting troop take away may
Ellen sculon ætiewan ond orþanc micel
courage they shall manifest and skill
great
myntað þe mercelses naterhwon missan
[we] resolve the trophy not at all to
miss
we seolforfæte for sigorleane habbaþ!
we the silver vessel as victory-reward
shall have!
Cumaþ ge to geardum larhuses on þæm xvii dæg þæs fiftan monaþes
Come ye to the yard of the lorehouse on the 17th day of the fifth month
(Challenge
translated by ‘Scary Beth’)