Until somewhat spent in years he had never learnt any poems.

Therefore at a feast, when all sang in turn, so soon as he saw the harp coming near him, he would rise and leave the table and go home.
Once when he had gone thus from the feast to the stables, where he had night-charge of the beasts, as he yielded himself to sleep One stood over him and said, greeting him by name, "Caedmon, sing some song to me." "I cannot sing," he said, "and for this cause left I the feast." "But you shall sing to me," said the Vision.

"Lord, what shall I sing ?" "Sing the Creation," said the Vision.

Caedmon sang, and in the morning remembered what he had sung.

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