Originally published in “Songs of the Philologists” and included in Shippey’s “The Road to Middle-earth”. Translated from Anglo-Saxon.

Good luck to you, good man,
and to you, dear woman.
I give you lasting joy,
have praise and pleasant life.
He who worked you here so hard,
expounded runes and ancient texts,
may he be happy too, merry at his feasts,
and keep up good sense and learning.

May we be happy later as we are now,
may joy not fail, and drink enough
flow in the cups in times to come as times gone by – fill the cups and fill the pitchers!
Waiter, waiter, give us mead!
Doom is far enough though doom be strong,
give up work and pour us drink.
Joy is little and labour long.

Let’s sing a cheerful song,
praise the Birch and birch’s race,
the teacher, the student and the subject,
may we all have health and joy and happiness.
The oak will fall into the fire,
losing joy and leaf and life.
The birch shall keep its glory long,
shine in splendour over the bright plain.