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(Incipit gestis Rudolphi rangifer tarandus)
Hwaet, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor --
Naefde thaet nieten unsciende naesthyrlas!
Glitenode and gladode godlice nosgrisele.
Da hofberendas mid huscwordum hine gehefigodon;
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!"
Da gelufodon hira laddeor tha lyftflogan --
Waes glaednes and gliwdream;
hornede sum gegieddode
"Hwaet, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor,
Brad springth thin blaed: breme eart thu!"
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(Here begins 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!"
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