The second year seems less tricky than the first.

Of the first, 8 is "We three kings of Orient are" and 9 is "While shepherds watched their flocks by night", I think. (Do those have names other than their first words?)
Both firm childhood favourites if only because of the Many Variations on the words to be sung.

Picks two at random from the second set.

8. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

9. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

rot13ed anyway

1.5 Sebfgl gur Fabjzna -- ohg V ybir gur anzr Sbefgvt, fr fanjprbey, nffhzvat gung vf uvf anzr
1.6 Bu Ubyl Avtug
1.8 Jr Guerr Xvatf
2.8 V qba'g xabj, ohg raqf jvgu n jbeq V guvax V'ir qrpvqrq zrnaf "xvat"

Second set, #1: I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day

2.3 On the first day of Christmas my truelove sent to me....

I definately find the older carols easier, perhaps because I know them better? I can't work out 1.1, though.

1.4: Qb lbh urne jung V urne
1.6: B ubyl avtug
1.7: Znel'f obl-puvyq

2.4: Qrpx gur unyyf
2.5: Qvat, qbat zreevyl ba uvtu
2.10: Natryf sebz gur ernyzf bs tybel

I had two semesters of Old English, so this wasn't too difficult, except that in some cases I know what the words mean but am not sure of the songs!

Anyway, without looking too much, and in rot13:

1.2. B Pbzr Nyy Lr Snvgushy
1.4. Qb Lbh Urne Jung V Urne?
1.5. Sebfgl gur Fabjzna
1.6. B Ubyl Avtug
1.8. Jr Guerr Xvatf
1.9. Jura Furcureqf Jngpurq Gurve Sybpxf Ol Avtug
1.10. Gur Ubyyl naq gur Vil

2.1 V Fnj Guerr Fuvcf
2.2 V Fnj Zbzzl Xvffvat Fnagn Pynhf
2.3 Gur Gjryir Qnlf bs Puevfgznf
2.4. Qrpx gur Unyyf
2.5. Qvat Qbat Zreevyl Ba Uvtu
2.6. Njnl Va N Znatre
2.7. Wbl Gb gur Jbeyq
2.8. Unex gur Urenyq Natryf Fvat
2.9. Juvgr Puevfgznf
2.10. Natryf Jr Unir Urneq Ba Uvtu

My answers otherwise match Lea's, except for the ones where I hadn't heard of them in *modern* English.

I'm not at all familiar with 1.4 - though I managed to translate almost all of it, I have no idea of tune or title. 1.6 I've never sung, likewise 2.7 (though both I translated, again) and I managed a scrappy half-translation of 2.10.

This is a fun game!

4. “Fnvq gur yvggyr ynzo gb gur furcureq obl, ‘Qb lbh urne jung V urne’?”
5. Sebfgl gur fabjzna, jnf n wbyyl, unccl fbhy…
6. B ubyl avtug! Gur fgnef ner oevtugyl fuvavat. Vg vf gur avtug bs bhe qrne Fnivbhe’f ovegu.
8. Jr guerr Xvatf bs Bevrag ner Ornevat tvsgf, jr geniry fb sne…
9. Jura furcureqf jngpurq gurve sybpxf ol avtug…
10. Gur ubyyl naq gur vil, jura gurl ner obgu shyy tebja, bs nyy gur gerrf gung ner va gur jbbq, gur ubyyl ornef gur pebja…

=-=-=-=

1: V fnj guerr fuvcf pbzr fnvyvat va, ba Puevfgznf qnl, ba Puevfgznf qnl
2: V fnj Zbzzl xvffvat Fnagn Pynhf
3: Ba gur svefg qnl bs Puevfgznf, zl gehr ybir frag gb zr…
4: Qrpx gur unyyf jvgu obhtuf bs ubyyl
Sn yn yn yn yn yn yn yn yn
‘Gvf gur frnfba gb or wbyyl
Sn yn yn yn yn yn yn yn yn
6: Njnl va n znatre, ab pevo sbe uvf orq
Gur yvggyr ybeq Wrfhf ynl qbja uvf fjrrg urnq
7: Wbl gb gur jbeyq, gur Ybeq vf pbzr
Yrg rnegu erprvir ure Xvat
8: Unex! Gur urenyq natryf fvat; tybel gb gur arjobea xvat.
9: V’z qernzvat bs n juvgr Puevfgznf, whfg yvxr gur barf V hfrq gb xabj.
10: Natryf jr unir urneq ba uvtu, fjrrgyl fvatvat b’re gur cynvaf

Ybat gvmr ntb va Orguyrurz, fb gur ubyl ovoyr fnl
Znel'f obl-puvyq Wrfhf Puevfg jnf obea ba Puevfgznf qnl...

Anyone think this is likely?

Ignoring other peoples ROT-13 for the moment and trying a few more on my own. Apologies for spelling errors, I used to be able to do this in my head...

1.3 Gur Svefg Abry

1.5 Sebfgl gur Fabjzna

1.7 B Yvffyr Gbja bs Orguyrurz

1.8 Jr Guerr Xvatf

And that is where I'll stop for the moment. ROT-13 shifting in my head is harder than I remembered.

1.1. Nyy V Jnag Sbe Puevfgznf Vf Zl Gjb Sebag Grrgu
1.2. B Pbzr Nyy Lr Snvgushy
1.3. Gur Svefg Abry
1.4. Qb Lbh Urne Jung V Urne
1.5. Sebfgl gur Fabjzna
1.6. B Ubyl Avtug
1.7. Znel'f Obl Puvyq
1.8. Jr Guerr Xvatf
1.9. Juvyr Furcureqf Jnfurq Gurve Fbpxf
1.10. Gur Ubyyl naq gur Vil

2.1: V Fnj Guerr Fuvcf
2.2: V Fnj Zbzzl Xvffvat Fnagn Pynhf
2.3: Gur Gjryir Qnlf bs Puevfgznf
2.4: Qrpx gur Unyyf
2.5: Qvat Qbat Zreevyl Ba Uvtu
2.6: Njnl va n Znatre
2.7: Wbl gb gur Jbeyq
2.8: Unex Gur Urenyq Natryf Fvat
2.9: V'z Qernzvat bs n Juvgr Puevfgznf
2.10: Natryf Sebz gur Ernyzf bs Tybel

Points to note:
a. I have no Anglo-Saxon.
b. Nevetheless, I got all of these without looking at anybody else's suggestions.
c. The only one that gave me any serious trouble was 1.1.
d. I was going to say that, given how easily I got them, I probably got a few wrong - but, now that I have read everyone else's suggestions, I really don't think I did.

I believe that 2.10 is actually Natryf sebz gur Ernyzf bs Tybel (Jvat lbhe syvtug bire nyy gur rnegu).

They had an anglo-saxon consultant listed in the credits. Nevertheless, the actors all pronounced "Geat" wrong. I expect the anglosaxonist was called in after principal photography started and by then it was too late.

(actually if you are just ROT13ing the answers in modern English this is not a problem.)

I'm getting about half of them, based on my knowledge of Chritmas carols and a few context-based guesses (because the same phrase appears in one I know and one I don't, for example.) I have now added forma and cyssan to my vocabulary. Heh.

Anybody else want to throw a few more carols into the mix? It'll give the later readers something to work on.

About the only contribution I will be able to make to this subject is to point out that adding two characters would mean you'd ROT-14 it.

I wonder if this would be easier or harder if we could hear a person pronounce this authentically (not that we have any idea how). I can't tell what is throwing me off more, the differences in spelling or the true differences in words. For example, hwite probably is a lot more similar to white when spoken than when written.

Anyway, cool idea.

1. 1. Nyy gung vf arrqshy gb zr ba Lhyr vf gjnva grrgu...
1. 2. B pbzr, lbh snvgushy, cebfcrebhf, naq ivpgbel-snfg...
1. 3. Gur svefg Abry vg jnf fhat gur ...fbzrguvat...

Uhu. V'z abg fher bs gur shyy yvar gurer.

1.4. Fnvq gur yvggyr ynzo gb gur furcureq obl, Urnerfg gubh gung juvpu V urne?
1.5. Sebfgl, gur fabj-puhey, jnf n tyrr-rntre, cebfcrebhf zna...
1.6. B ubyl avtug! Gur fgnef oevtugyl fuvar. Gur avtug vf gur ovegu bs bhe orybirq Fnivbe.
1.7. Va qnlf bs lber va Orguyrurz, fb fnlf gur ubyl [bar] nyjnlf (??), bs Znel n yvggyr obl-puvyq jnf obea ba Puevfgznf qnl...
1.8. Jr bs gur Rnfg-sbyx xvatf guerr tvsg-ornevat geniry sne...
1.9. Juvyr furcureqf thneqrq n ureq avtugyl, gurl nyy fng ba gur tebhaq...
1.10. Gur ubyyl naq gur vil, jura gurl ner shyyl tebja, bs nyy gerrf va gur jbbq, gur ubyyl ornef n pebja...

2.1: V fnj guerr fuvcf fnvyvat va, ba Puevfgznf qnl, ba Puevfgznf qnl...
2.2: Vp frnu zbqbe plffna Fnapg Avpynf …
V fnj zbgure xvff Fnvag Avpubynf...
2.3: Ba gur svefg qnlf (?) bs Puevfgznf, zl qneyvat frag zr...
2.4: Ebhaq-unat(?) gur unyy jvgu gjvtf bs ubyyl
Sn yn yn rgp
Vg vf gur gvzr gb or oyvgur
Sn yn yn rgp
2.5: Qvat qbat zreevyl ba uvtuarff; gur Lhyr oryyf fbhaq
2.6: Njnl va n ova, ab pevo sbe uvf orq,
Gur yvggyr Puevfg-ybeq qbja-ynl uvf fjrrg urnq
2.7: Wbl gb gur jbeyq; urer vf gur Ybeq;
Gur rnegu zhfg erprvir (tenfc?) vgf xvat.
2.8: Unex! Gur natry-zrffratref fvat; tybel gb gur arj-obea xvat.
2.9: V qernz bs juvgr Puevfgznf, jvgu rnpu ehar-fgnss bs Lhyr V pneir.
2.10: Natryf sebz gur xvatqbz bs jbaqre, syl lbhe nve-syvtug bire Zvqtneq

Incipiunt gesta Rudolphi rangiferi tarandi
by Philip C. Chapman-Bell

Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor –
Næfde þæt nieten unsciende næsðyrlas!
Glitenode and gladode godlice nosgrisele.
Ða hofberendas mid huscwordum hine gehefigodon;
Nolden þa geneatas Hrodulf næftig
To gomene hraniscum geador ætsomne.
Þa in Cristesmæsseæfne stormigum clommum,
Halga Claus þæt gemunde to him maðelode:
“Neahfreond nihteage nosubeorhtende!
Min hroden hrædwæn gelæd ðu, Hrodulf!
“Ða gelufodon hira laddeor þa lyftflogan –
Wæs glædnes and gliwdream; hornede sum gegieddode”
Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor,
Brad springð þin blæd: breme eart þu!”

In modern English:

Hrodulf the Red-Nosed Reindeer

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!”

Clearly I was deprived as a child.

Eric: you can rot-anything; rot-13 just happens to give the same result forward and backward. (Yes, I'm feeling pedantic.)

Ruth's list:
1. "Nyy V jnag sbe Kznf vf zl gjb sebag grrgu"
2.
3. Gur Svefg Abjryy
4. "...Qb lbh urne jung V urne"
5. "Sebfgl, gur Fabjzna" (vf "puhey" fb zhpu yrff qronfvat va Natyb-Fnkba?
6. Pnagvdhr gb Abry ("B Ubyl Avtug")
7.
8. Jr Guerr Xvatf
9. Juvyr Furcureqf Jngpurq Gurve Sybpxf ol Avtug
10. Gur Ubyyl naq gur Vil (puhepu be qnapr irefvba, abg "Fnaf-Qnl")

Philip(?)'s list:
1. V Fnj Guerr Fuvcf
2. "V fnj zbzzl xvffvat Fnagn Pynhf"
3. Gur Gjryir Qnlf bs Kznf
4. Qrpx gur Unyyf
5.
6. Njnl va n Znatre
7. Wbl gb gur Jbeyq
8. Unex! Gur Urenyq Natryf Fvat
9. "V'z Qernzvat bs n Juvgr Kznf"
10. Natryf Jr Unir Urneq ba Uvtu

Yes, I realize that, but if we're encoding an ancient language a) we don't have the same character set
and
b) I am not sure whether alphabetical order existed or was the same in older times.

[Warning: I am not an Anglo-Saxonist]

Certainly the concept of an alphabetical order existed - abecedaria in latin & related alphabets go back to ancient times, & the runic alphabet is known as the Fuþorc from its order. The only contemporary ordering of the Anglo-Saxon alphabet I've been able to find online is that of Byrhtferð in 1011, cited in this document on the status of the Latin letter þorn and of its sorting order:

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z & ⁊ Ƿ Þ Ð Æ

(The authors do note the existence of other early English alphabets which may differ from this one.)

Discarding "&" & "⁊", which aren't exactly letters, that gives us a 27-letter alphabet. But if there's an odd number of letters no rotation will be involutary, so I'll arbitrarily & anachronistically split "U" from "V". (Alternatively I could merge "Þ" & "Ð", since they're pretty much interchangeable in Old English, but both are used in the examples so I'd rather preserve that.) & I'll say "W" is the same as "Ƿ" & write it as the former. That gives us the rot-14 table:

ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQRSTUVXYZWÞÐÆ
PQRSTUVXYZWÞÐÆABCDEFGHIKLMNO

& "Hwæt, Hrodulf readnosa hrandeor" becomes (by hand) "Xloe, Xcæsfwu ctpsðædp xlpðstæl".

I had a very hard time with 1.1 but most of the rest were much easier.

Special thanks to Evelyn at #40 for the literal translations back into modern English (via ROT-13).

(McMartin (#14): 1.7 can't be "B Lvggyr Tbja bs Orguyrurz" because the first line of "B Lvggyr Tbja bs Orguyrurz" is "B yvggyr gbja bs Orguyrurz, ubj fgvyy jr frr gurr yvr".)

Like Lois, I thank you for those translations.

(Anybody who might know: What's the Anglo Saxon for "Eia, nitet!"?)

Thanks! But I wouldn't swear to the accuracy of any of it; those are strictly rough-and-ready sight translations, and parts of it I really ought to have looked up.

Check out the end papers* on the Steve Martin kid's book The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z! , they have illustrations of the letters that didn't make it into the book, and the letters are talking about how they feel. My husband was wondering if we should get a one for ourselves instead of copies for the niece and nephews.

*abi, is that the right term, for the papers on the inside of the covers? It's what I've always heard, but now I'm anxious that I've been using/learning the wrong terminology.

I'm proudest of getting 2.7, and I learned something about The Lives of Christopher Chant, which has a character called the Dright.

Sian (1), you're right: Ruth has a trickier turn of mind than Horsfreond.

never mind.