The syntax and punctuation of these lines varies depending on the interpretation of "forð eode". There are three possibilities: a) (assuming that "eode" is the past of the verb "gan") "forð"; gan" with "forð" as an adverb; b) (assuming that "eode" is the past of "gan") "forðgan" as a prefixed verb; c) that this is the past of the verb "for + ðeon", a contracted wkII verb - "to oppress". Either of the first two possibilities fits the MS which writes "forð" "eode" as two separate words, since division of compounds into their separate elements is common in OE MSS. However, the third possibility cannot be ruled out on these grounds since a scribe at some point in the poem's copying history could have imposd this division on an earlier form which was not so divided. Of the first two possibilities the metre seems a little more regular if "forð- is treated as an unstressed prefix to the verb. "forþeon" seems to be an otherwise unevidenced compound of the verb but the base verb in various spellings (e.g. þeowan) and also with other prefixes is evidenced. The fact that it appears an unusual compound could be argued to account for an earlier scribe's misinterpretation of it. The current punctuation has "scārne scāman" as a parallel object with "Wealdendes hraw" to "bewrigen" - "Darkness had covered with clouds the corpse of the Ruler, the shining radiance. Shadow, black beneath the clouds, advanced". If "forðeon" is preferred, "scirne sciman" becomes its object and the semi-colon should follow "hraw" giving "Darkness had covered the Ruler's corpse with clouds; shadow overcame its bright radiance". Parallels have been drawn by earlier editors with Andreas 835 ff. "oðþaet dryhten forlet dagcandelle/ scire scinan. Sceadu sweðerodon, /wonn under wolcnum". (NB "sceadu" here is neuter nom.pl. - the noun appears to have two forms). This probably merely indicates the formulaic nature of Old English poetry.
This image reflects the gospel narrative e.g. Luke 23v.44 et tenebrae factae sunt in universa terra usque in nonam horam. 45 Et obscuratus est sol. Lindisfarne Gospels translate:" ðiostro aworden woeron on alle eorðo wið on non tid. fore-awrigen was sunna". Rushworth Gospels : " ðiostro giwordne werun on alre eorðo oððo on non tide. forwrigen was sunne." In the Gospels this precedes the moment of Christ's death which this text avoids.