Cædmon was an illiterate cow-herd who miraculously was able to
recite a Christian song of creation in Old English verse. This miracle
happened after Cædmon left a feast when they were passing a harp around
for all to sing a song. He left the hall after feeling ashamed that he
could not contribute a song. Later in a dream he said a man appeared to
him and asked him to sing a song. Cædmon responded that he could not
sing, yet the man told him that he could and asked him to “Sing to me
the beginning of all things.” Cædmon was then able to sing verses and
words that he had not heard of before.
And now Caedmon's Hymn in Old English and modernised form: