QAMPBELL COLLECTION
PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
ENGLISH SERIES No. XIII
AN ANGLO-SAXON VERSE-BOOK
Published by the University of Manchester at
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AN ANGLO-SAXON VERSE-BOOK
BY
W. J. SEDGEFIELD, M.A., LITT.D,
SMITH PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
MANCHESTER: AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONDON, NEW YORK, ETC. : LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.
1922
PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
No. CLIII
A II rights reserved
PREFACE
THIS Anglo-Saxon Verse-Book is an anthology in which the most representative and original parts of our earliest poetic literature are brought together. The selections are arranged under headings in accordance with their literary affinities, the idea of an organic whole being throughout emphasized. The anthology is intended to illus- trate a course of study, whether private or in university lectures, of Anglo-Saxon self-expression in literature. The requirements of the literary student receive, perhaps for the first time in such a book, as much attention as those of the philologist. The introductory notes make up a sort of running commentary which it is hoped will send the student to such works as The Cambridge History of English Literature, vol. i. ; A. Brandt's Geschichte der altenglischen Literatur ; ten Brink's History of English Literature, vol. i. ; and the valuable studies by Professors Earle, Chambers, Lawrence, Chadwick, and other English, American, German, and Scandinavian scholars, who have worked in the Anglo-Saxon field. The most novel features of the selections here given are the inclusion of Widsith and Exodus, and the full use that has been made of Beowulf, a poem which is in itself almost a literature. An Anglo-Saxon Prose-Book on lines similar to those of the present book is in preparation, which, if auspices are good, may see the light within a reasonable time.
W. J. SEDGEFIELD.
MANCHESTER, August 1922.
CONTENTS
PAGES
PREFACE ......
GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY . . 1-27
i) Widsith.
(2) Waldere.
(3) Deor.
(4) Legend and Story in Beowulf: (a) The Scyld-
ing Dynasty, (b) Sigemimd and Fitela. (c} Offa's Queen, (d) Frisians, Danes, and Jutes. (e) Danes and Heathobards. (/) Geats and Franks, (g) Geats and Swedes. (h} The Brosings' Necklace.
(5) The Fight at Finnsburh.
II. ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING . 28-48
(6) The Wanderer.
(7) The Seafarer.
(8) A Woman's Complaint.
(9) The Husband's Message.
(10) Wolf and Eadwacer.
(11) Elegiac and Moralizing Passages in Beowulf:
(a) The Arrogant Ruler, (b) Buried Treasure. (c) An Inexpiable Crime.
(12) A Bad Character.
( 1 3) The Fates of Men.
III. NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE . . 49-79
(14) Beowulf: (a] The Swimming-match, (b) The
Fight with Grendel. (c} The Haunts of the Ogres, (d) The Visit to the Pool of Monsters.
vii
viii CONTENTS
PAGES
(<?) Beowulf's Fight with the Dragon. (/) Beo- wulf's Obsequies, (g) Hero-Lays in the making. (ft) Scenes in Heorot. (/') Beowulf is made
«
a Hereditary Chief. (/) Weapons and Armour.
(15) The Battle of Brunanburh.
(16) The Battle of Maldon.
IV. BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN .... 80-103
(17) (a) Csedmon's Hymn. (b) Bede's Death-song.
(18) Biblical and Religious Passages in Beowulf: (a)
The Minstrel sings the Story of Creation. (b) The Curse of Cain. (c) Heathen Sacrifices. (d] Hidden Treasure. (e) Selected Shorter Passages.
(19) Exodus.
(20). Cynewulf: (a) Crist, (b} Elene.
V. MISCELLANEOUS ..... 104-124
(21) Gnomic and Didactic : (a) The Ways of Creation.
(b} The Gifts of Men. (<:) A Father's Advice.
(22) Riddles.
(23) Rhyme Poem.
(24) Late A.-S. and Transitional Verse.
APPENDIX ON ANGLO-SAXON VERSIFICATION . 125
NOTES ..... I31
V
GLOSSARY. . . 193
NAMES OF PERSONS AND PLACES 243
I. GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
1. WIDSITH
In this, one of the earliest surviving A.-S. poems, we have perhaps the first written expression in a vernacular speech of that race-consciousness of the Germanic peoples to which Latin and Greek writers, with Tacitus at their head, bear witness. In a few introductory lines (1-9) we are told how the minstrel Widsith, ' the far-travelled,' visited in the train of the Lady Ealhhild the court of the great Gothic king Ermanric. Widsith then in person proceeds to give a list of Germanic peoples and their rulers, occasionally adding comments of his own and boasting of his wide experience as a traveller (10-56). Next he gives another list, this time of widely scattered races and tribes which he claims to have visited (57-87). Then follows an account of a splendid gift made to him by Ermanric, of another made by Ealhhild, and of his visits to the various rulers of peoples allied with or owing allegiance to Ermanric (88-134). The poem ends with a few lines on the functions of a minstrel.
Scholars are agreed that the poem consists of an original nucleus with later additions. There can be little doubt, for example, that 11. 75-87, where Greeks, Egyptians, Indians, Israelites, Scots, Picts, etc. are mentioned haphazard, are the addition of some well-meaning monk who wished to bring his gazetteer up to date, or at least to make it more complete. But the original version of the poem may well have included lists of Germanic tribes and their rulers, as such mnemonic lists are met with elsewhere in old Germanic records, e.g. in Bede's Ecclesiastical History, and the Introduction to the Winchester version of the A.-S. Chronicle, as well as in the Icelandic muster-rolls and hero-lays. The mere recital by the bard of the names of famous heroes and their peoples would deeply stir the hearers, to whom each hero's name would recall lays in which his deeds were sung. As the Germanic chiefs mentioned in Widsith lived be- tween the middle of the third and the middle of the sixth century A.D., it is clear that the poem cannot be regarded as the actual record of a traveller. Its real value is, as Dr. Chambers well says, * that it shows us what was the stock- in-trade of the old Anglian bard.' He says further, 'We have such a survey of Germanic geography and legend as might have been made by a gleeman who drew his lore from the traditions of the ancient Angel. From this point of view everything drops into its right place : the knowledge shown of the Anglo-Frisian tribes and of their legends, of their immediate neighbours, and the more or less complete ignorance of everything else, with the one exception of Gothic saga, become at once intelligible. ' * Professor W. P. Ker, in his Medieval English Literature, p. 28, says, ' The poem is a kind of fantasia, intended to call up by
1 Widsith, p. 165.
I B
2 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
allusion the personages of the most famous stories ; it is not an epic poem, but it plays with some of the plots of heroic poetry familiar throughout the whole Teutonic region.'
Widsitk is preserved in a MS. written in the West-Saxon literary dialect of the end of the tenth century. The original poem must have been composed in Northumbria, perhaps before the end of the seventh century. The .early date of the original nucleus of the poem is established by considerations of geography and heroic legend, supported by the evidence of language and metre.
WldslS maSolade, wordhord onleac se pe (monna) masst mae^pa ofer eor]?an, folca geondferde ; oft he (on) flette gepah mynelicne mappum. Him from Myrgingum 5 3e]?ek> onwocon. He mid Ealhhilde, fselre freo]?uwebban, forman sl]?e HreScyninges ham gesohte eastan of Ongle, Eormanrlces, wra]?es wabrlogan. Ongon J?a worn sprecan j 10 * Fela ic monna gefraegn mabgjmm wealdan ; ' sceal ]?eod(n)a gehwylc ]?eawum lifgan, 1 eorl aefter 6]?rum e<51e rsedan, ' se ]?e his ]?eodenstol gepeon wilej
Para waes (H)wala hwlle selasf"
ond Alexandreas ealra ricost
monna cynnes, ond he msest gej»ah
]?ara ]?e ic ofer foldan gefrsegen haebbe^)
weold Hunum, Eormanrlc Gotum,
* Becca Baningum, Burgendum Gifica. \ 20 ' Casere weold Creacum ond Gaelic Finnum,
' Hagena Holmry^um ond He0den Glommum. ' Witta weold Swabfum, Wada Haelsingum, ' Meaca Myrgingum, Mearchealf Hundingum.
* Peodrlc weold Froncum, Pyle Rondingum, 2 5 ' Breoca Brondingum, Billing Wernum,
' Oswine weold Eowum, ond Ytum Gefwulf, ' Fin Folcwalding Fresna cynne.) ' Sigehere lengest Sae-Denum weold, c Hnaef Hocingum, Helm Wulfingum, ,0 ' Wald Woingum, Wod Pyringum,
2. masr]>a. 4. hine. 5. asjjele.
21. holmrycum ; henden
I. WIDSITH ;
' Saeferft Sycgum, Sweom Ongend^eow,
' Sceafthere Ymbrum, Sceafa Longbeardum,
' Hun Haetwerum, ond Holen Wrosnum. J ^
1 Hringweald waes haten Herefarena cyning^, *
35 'Offa weold Ongle, Alewih Denum_y
' se waes ]mra manna modgast ealra ;
' no hwae]?re he ofer Offan eorlscype fremede,
' ac Offa geslog aerest monna
( cnihtwesende cynerlca maest ; 4° * nsenig efeneald him eorlscipe maran
' on orette ane sweorde
' merce gemaerde wi5 Myrgingum
1 bl Flfeldore ; heoldon forS si}?]?an
' Engle ond Swaefe swa hit Offa geslog.) 45 * Hro]?wulf ond HroSgar heoldon lengest
* sibbe aetsomne, suhtorfaedran,
* si]?]?an hy forwrsecon Wicinga cynn ' ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan,
' forheowan aet Heorote HeaSobeardna ]?rym.) 50 ' Swa ic geondferde fela fremdra londa
' geond ginne grund ; godes ond yfles
"/
1 freomeegum feor folgade wide.
ic cunnade cnosle bidseled,
X
' For]?on ic maeg singan ond secgan spell, 55 'm'jenan fore mengo in meoduhealle,
' hu me cynegode cystum dohten.y c Ic waes mid Hunum ond mid Hre5-Gotum,
' mid Sweom ond mid Geatum ond mid Su]?-Denum.
' Mid Wenlum ic waes ond mid Waernum ond mid Wlcingum. 60 ' Mid Gef ]?um ic waes ond mid Winedum ond mid Gefflegum.
' Mid Englum ic waes ond mid Swsefum ond mid J^nenum.
1 Mid Seaxum ic waes ond (mid) Sycgum ond mid Sweordwerum.
'Mid Hronum ic waes ond mid Deanum ond mid Hea]?o- Reamum.
' Mid Pyringum ic waes ond mid Prowendum 65 { ond mid Burgendum, ]?£er ic beag ge]?ah ;
' me J?ser GuShere forgeaf glaedlicne ma]?]?um
' songes to leane ; naes ]?aet saene cyning.^/
' Mid Froncum ic waes ond mid Frysum ond mid Frumtingum.
4 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
' Mid Rugum ic wses ond mid Glommum ond mid Rumwalum./ 70 ' Swylce ic wses on Eatule mid ^Elfwine, 1 se haefde moncynnes mine gefrsege
* leohteste bond lofes to wyrcenne,
* heortan unhneaweste hringa gedales, ' beorhtra beaga, beam Eadwines.7
75 'Mid Sercingum ic wses ond mid Seringum.
c Mid Creacum ic wses ond mid Finnum ond mid Casere,
* se ]?e wmburga geweald ante,
' vfiolena ond wilna ond Wala rices./
' Mid Scottum ic waes ond mid Peohtum ond mid Scride-Finnum. 80 ' Mid Lid-Wlcingum ic waes ond mid Leonum ond mid Long- beardum,
* Mid HseSnum ond mid HsereJ^um ond mid Hundingum, ' Mid Israhelum ic wses ond mid Exsyringum,
c mid Ebreum ond mid Indeum ond mid Egyptum. ' Mid Moidum ic wses ond mid Persum ond mid Myrgingum, 'ond Mofdingum ond ongend Myrgingum ' ond mid Amothingum. Mid East-Pyringum ic wses ' ond mid Eolum ond mid Istum ond Idumingum.y 1 Ond ic wses mid Eormanrice ealle J?rage, ' }?ser me Gotena cyning gode dohte ; go ' se me beag forgeaf, burgwarena fruma, 1 on ]?am siexhund wses smsetes goldes ' gescyred sceatta scillingrlme ; *J?one ic Eadgilse on seht sealde, 'mlnum hleodryhtne, J»a ic to ham bicwom, 'leofum to leane, J>ses ]?e he me lond forgeaf, ' mines fseder e]?el, frea Myrginga. ' Ond me ]?a Ealhhild 6]?erne forgeaf, 'dryhtcwen dugu]?e, dohtor Eadwines. 1 Hyre lof lengde geond londa fela, 100 *J?onne ic be songe secgan sceolde 1 hwser ic under swegl(e) selast wisse 'goldhrodene cwen giefe bryttian. ' Donne wit Scilling sclran reorde ' for uncrum sigedryhtne song ahofan, 'hlude bi hearpan hleo)?or swinsade;
78. wiolane. 81. haelejmm.
I. WIDSITH 5
']?onne monige men modum wlonce
* wordum sprecan, ]?a J>e wel cu]?an, 'j?set hi nsefre song sellan ne hyrdon. 'Donan ic ealne geondhwearf e]?el Gotena;
no 'sohte ic a (ge)sl]?a J>a selestan ;
']?33t wses innweorud Earmanrlces^/
* HeScan sohte ic ond Beadecan ond Herelingas, ' Emercan sohte ic ond Fridlan ond Eastgotan,
~* ' frodne ond godne faeder Unwenes.y
115 'Seccan sohte ic ond Beccan, Seafolan ond peodric,
* Hea]?orlc ond Sifecan, Hli}»e ond Incgen]?eow.
* Eadwine sohte ic ond Elsan, ^Egelmund ond Hungar, — ' ond ]?a wloncan gedryht Wi]?-Myrgin^a.y
* Wulfhere sohte ic ond Wyrmhere ; ful oft j?aer wig ne alaeg, 120 {]?onne Hrseda here heardum sweordum ^ '
' ymb Wlstlawudu wergan sceoldon
'ealdne e]?elst6l ^Etlan leodum.^
' Rsedhere sohte ic ond Rondhere, Rumstan ond Glslhere,
' WiJ?ergield ond Freo]?eric, Wudgan ond Haman \\ 125 'ne waeran J>8et gesi]?a ]?a ssemestan,
' J»eah ]?e ic hy anihst nemnan sceolde.
c Ful oft of ]?am heape hwmende fleag
' giellende gar on grome J>eode ;
' wrasccan J>£er weoldan wundnan golde, 130 'werum ond wlfum, Wudga ond Hama./
' Swa ic J?set symle onfond on ]?£ere feringe,
*J?aet se bty leofast londbuendum,
' se J>e him God syleS gumena rice
' to gehealdenne, ]?enden he her 135 Swa scrl]?ende gesceapum hweorfaS
gleomen gumena geond grunda fela,
]?earfe secgaS, J>oncword spreca]?,
simle suS o]?]?e norS sumne gemetaS
gydda gleawne, geofum unhneawne, 140 se ]?e fore dugu]?e wile dom arseran,
eorlscipe asfnan, o}> ]?3et eal scaeceS,
leoht ond Hf somod ; lof se gewyrceS,
hafaS under heofonum heahfaestne dom.
GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
2. WALDERE
This fragment of a hero-lay, preserved by a happy chance on two vellum leaves in the Royal Library of Copenhagen, is important as confirming the testimony of Beowulf w\& Widsith to the fact that the Anglo-Saxons were inter- ested in the stories of Germanic heroes other than those of ' the two seas.' The tale of Walther (Waldere), the West Gothic hero of Aquitaine, is known to us from several continental versions, one of which, written about the middle of the tenth century by the St. Gall monk Ekkehard, comes nearer to the English version than the others. Walther, who has lived for years as a hostage at the court of Attila (/Etla), flees homeward, taking with him his lady-love the Bur- gundian princess Hildegund (Hildegyth) and much treasure. He is attacked in a mountain-pass by the Burgundian king Gunther (Guthhere) at the head of a small band of warriors including Hagen (Hagena) the Frank, Walther's old friend. Ekkehard tells us that after a desperate fight Walther slays all his foes except Gunther and Hagen, who retire to the plain. On the following day these two again fall upon Walther, as he comes down from the pass with Hilde- gund. After hours of fighting they make peace. According to the A.-S. fragment Waldere, exhausted by the struggle, offers Guthhere the famous sword Mimming and treasure for a respite. Guthhere refuses (1. 28) and the fight is renewed, Hagena succeeding Guthhere. In the first part of the fragment Hilde- gyth is encouraging her lover ; the second part contains the end of a speech by Guthhere followed by Waldere's reply. It is noteworthy that though the A.-S. poem is earlier than Ekkehard's version and nearer to the original story it shows a Christian editing which is hardly perceptible in Waltharius Manufortis. In early times A.-S. ecclesiastics were much more inclined than their successors to compromise with the popular interest in hero-legend, to which they dexterously imparted an edifying religious colouring.
We can only guess at the length of the original poem. The probability is that even with the discursive treatment shown in the fragment which has sur- vived the total number of lines did not much exceed one thousand.
1 hyrde hyne georne :
1 hum Welande[s] wore ne geswlceft 4 monna senigum ]?ara 5e Mimming can ' hear(d)ne gehealdan. Oft aet hilde gedreas 5 c swatfafg] ond sweordwund sec(g) setter 6]?rum. ' ^Etlan ordwyga, ne last 5ln ellen nu gy[t] 'gedreosan to dsege, dryhtscipe (feallan).
' ac is se daeg cumen,
' J?aet Su scealt aninga 6?>er twega, 10 'Iff forleosan oblfe lange dom 'agan mid eldum, .ZElfheres sunu. 1 Nalles ic Se, wine mm, wordum clde,
II. WALDERE
1 5y ic 5e gesawe aet 5am sweord/legan
'5urh edwitscype teniges monnes 15 'wig forbugan o55e on weal fleon,
'lice beorgan, 5eah ]?e la<5ra fela
{5mne byrnhomon billum heowun,
1 ac 5u symle furSor feohtan sohtest,
' mail ofer mearce. Dy ic 5e metod ondred, 20 ' ]?aet 5u to fyrenlice feohtan sohtest
' ast 5am se^stealle, oSres monnes
' wlgrsedenne. WeorSa 5e selfne
'godum dsedum, Senden 5ln God recce.
' Ne murn 5Q for Si mece ; <5e wearS maSma cyst 25 'gifeffe to eoce unc. Dy Su GuGhere scealt
' beot forblgan, <5ses 5e he 5as beaduwe ongan
* m(i)d unryhte Merest secan ;
* forsoc he 5am swurde ond 5am syncfatum, { beaga msenigo ; nu sceal bega leas
30 ' hworfan from 5isse hilde, hlafurd secan, ' ealdne e]?el, o55e her ser swefan, 'gif he5a
B
4 [me]ce bseteran
' buton 5am anum 5e ic eac hafw 35 ' on stanfate stille gehlded.
' Ic wat ]?aet (h)i/ Sohte Deodric Widian
' selfum ons[en]don ond eac sine micel
1 ma5ma mid 51 mece, monig o5res mid him
' golde gegirwan, iulean genam, 40 ' l^aes 5e hine of nearwum Nl5hades mseg,
1 Welandes beam, Widia ut forlet
' 5urh fffela gefeald for5 onejtte.' Waldere ma5elode, wiga ellenrof,
haefde him on handa hildefrofre,
gu5billa gripe, gyddode wordum :
' Hwset, 5u hum wendest, wine Burgenda,
1 ]?set me Hagenan hand hilde gefremede
13. sweordwlegan. 21. aststealle. 29. MS. has beaga for bega
34. hafa. 36. for hit Sohte MS. has ic Sohte.
8 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
' ond getwsemde [fe]<5ewigges ; feta, gyf Su dyrre, ' set <5us heaSuwerigan hare byrnan. 50 ' Stand<?S me her on eaxelum ^Ifheres laf
* god ond geapneb, golde geweorSod, 'ealles unscende aeSelinges reaf 'tohabbanne, bonne ha(n)d wereS
' feorhhord feondum : ne biS fah wiS me, 55 'bonne unmsegas eft ongynnaS, ' mecum gemetaS, swa ge me dydon. ' Deah mseg sige syllan se Se symle byS
* rec^n ond r^edfest ryh[ta] gehwilces ;
* se 5e him to 5am halgan helpe gelifeS, 60 ' to Gode gioce, he J>8er gearo findeS,
' gif Sa earnunga ser geSenceS ; 'J>onne moten wlance welan britnian, ' aehtum wealdan ; J?set is ....
I
3. DEOR
A minstrel named Deor tells us that after years of service he has been sup- planted in his lord's favour by a rival, Heorrenda, who has received the land which had been previously granted to Deor. In his misery Deor tries to comfort himself by recalling unhappy events in hero-story which had at length passed away and lost their bitterness. This little piece, one of the very few A.-S. poems with a personal note, might well have been placed in the next section, but its references to famous events and personages of legend make it more convenient to include it with the other poems relating to Germanic story. Particularly notice- able is the refrain, unique in A.-S. poetry, which divides the main part of the poem into strophes (stanzas) of varying lengths.
Weland him be weamum wraeces cunnade, anhydig eorl earfo]?a dreag, hsefde him to gesi]?be sorge ond longa]?, wintercealde wrace ; wean oft onfond, c siJ?J?an hine Ni<5had on nede legde, swoncre seonobende on syllan monn. Pass ofereode, pisses swa maeg.
Beadohilde ne waes hyre bro]?ra dea]? on sefan swa sar swa hyre sylfre ]?ing ; 10 ]?32t heo gearollce ongieten hsefde, ]?set heo eacen wses ; sefre ne meahte ge]?encan hu ymb J?set sceolde.
50. standatS. 58. recon. 62. mtoten. i. wurman. 4. wrsece.
III. DEOR 9
Paes ofereode, ]?isses swa mseg.
We ]?aet (be) MseShilde monge gefrugnon : 15 wurdon grundlease Geates frige,
J?set hi(m) seo sorglufu sleep ealle binom.
Paes ofereode, pisses swa mseg. Deodric ante J^ritig wintra
Mgeringa burg; ]?set waes monegum cuj?. 20 paes ofereode, ]?isses swa mseg. We geascodan Eormanrlces
wylfenne ge]?6ht ; ahte wide folc
Gotena rices ; ]?set wses grim cyning.
Sset secg monig sorgum gebunden, 25 wean on wenan, wyscte geneahhe
]?set ]?3es cynerlces ofercumen wsere.
Pses ofereode, pisses swa maeg. SiteS sorgcearig sselum bidaeled,
on sefan sweorceft; sylfum ]?ince5 30 ]?set sy endeleas earfoSa dsel.
Maeg ]?onne ge]?encan J>set geond ]?as woruld
witig Dryhten wende]? geneahhe :
eorle monegum are gesceawaS,
wislicne blaed, sumum weana dabl. 35 Pset ic bi me sylfum secgan wille,
]?set ic hwlle waes Heodeninga scop,
dryhtne dyre ; me waes Deor noma.
Ahte ic fela wintra folgacS tilne,
holdne hlaford, o]? J>aet Heorrenda nu, 40 leoScraeftig monn, londryht ge]?ah,
J?aet me eorla hleo ser gesealde.
Paes ofereode, ]?isses swa maeg.
4. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF
Beo'w^tlf, the longest and finest of the surviving A.-S. poems, is a story or rather two stories of adventure, and is perhaps the first romance to be written in a Germanic language. It consists of two parts, (i) the visit of Beowulf the young Geat prince to the court of Hrothgar the Danish king, his slaying in the royal hall Heorot of two man-eating ogres, Grendel by name, and his return home laden with gifts ; (2) the fight, fifty years later, of Beowulf with a fire- breathing dragon, his death and funeral obsequies. The poem thus consists of two folk-tales recounting the slaying of monsters, set in a framework of Germanic
10 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
hero-story. Some of the details in BeowulPs adventure and even some of the names have their counterparts in Icelandic sagas of a much later date than our poem, while the dragon-slaying story meets us several times in Germanic legend, e.g. in the Volsunga saga and the Nibelungenlied.
To the student of Germanic origins the most interesting part of Beowulf lies perhaps in the passages which recall the old stories of feuds and battles between various Germanic (including Scandinavian) peoples. At least one of these * digressions ' from the main narrative (No. 4 F) has been shown to rest on a his- torical basis, while the rest, though unconfirmed by other sources save for a few of the names, most probably contain a nucleus of historical fact with an accretion of legend. It is interesting to note that some of the names of Germanic peoples and their rulers which figure in the Widsith lists come to life, as it were, in these digressions of Beowulf > while another A.-S. poem, the Fight at Finns bur h (No. 5), is generally considered to be a lay describing the details of a fight alluded to in one of the Beowulf episodes (No. 4 D).
When and where was Beowtilf written, what manner of man wrote it, was it an original work or a translation, what were its sources, have we the original form of the poem or a later interpolated version ? These questions and others have been discussed with much learning and acumen by many scholars during the last hundred years. The general view nowadays is that the poem was written down, if not actually composed, in the north of England early in the eighth century by an Englishman, probably but not necessarily an ecclesiastic, familiar with courts and refined, i.e. aristocratic, society ; further, that we have in the sole extant MS. a copy of the original form of the poem, which was not a translation or adaptation of a Scandinavian original but the work of a man of talent, well versed in legendary lore and a master of the Old English poetical technique. It is possible that Beowulf was composed for a particular occasion and for a particular circle of hearers, such as a royal court or the brethren of a monastery, who, as we learn from several sources, were fond of listening to tales of heroic prowess and adventure. The biblical and religious allusions and sentiments scattered through our poem would still further commend it to a religious society. Though Beowulf deals exclusively with continental Germanic story, its tone, style and metre are entirely English, being quite different from those of the much later Scandinavian poetry. The author was familiar, as were his hearers (or readers), with the countless lays about Danes, Swedes, etc. which were still sung by gleemen all over the land.
Beowulf represents the highest level reached by the surviving A.-S. poetry, both in its plan and in its execution, as well as in its language and versification. The tone is invariably grave, wise and restrained ; the narrative sustained and sinewy, the scenes and events clearly visualized and portrayed.
The text of the poem is written in the West-Saxon literary dialect of the tenth century, into which the early Northumbrian poems were turned in later times for the sake of southern readers and hearers.
A. THE SCYLDING DYNASTY 11. 1-63
This is the opening passage or prologue of the poem ; it is a recapitulation of part of the history of the Danish royal family, doubtless familiar to those for whom the poet wrote.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF I I
Hwset, we Gar-Dena in geardagum
}?eodcyninga ]?rym gefrunon,
hu Sa se]?elingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing scea]?ena ]?reatum 5 monegum m£eg]?um meodosetla ofteah ;
egsode eorl(as), sy<5<5an aerest wearS
feasceaft funden ; he }>33s frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, weorftmyndum ]mh,
oS J>aet him seghwylc ymbsittendra 10 ofer hronrade hyran scolde,
gomban gyldan ; ]?get wses god cyning.
Daim eafera wses sefter cenned
geong in geardum, Jxme God sende
folce to frofre ; fyrenSearfe ongeat, 15 ]>d hie £er drugon aldor[le]ase
lange hwile. Him j^ses Hffrea,
wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf ;
Beowulf wses breme — bleed wide sprang —
Scyldes eafera, Scedelandum in. 20 Swa sceal [geong g]uma g5de gewyrcean,
fromum feohgiftum, on fseder [ser]ne
J7aet hine on ylde eft gewunigen
wilgestyas, ]?onne wig cume,
leode gelsesten ; lofdsedum sceal 25 in mseg}?a gehw^w man ge]?eon.
Him Sa Scyld gewat to gescaephwile
felahror feran on frean waere ;
hi hyne ]?a astbseron to brimes faroSe,
swsese gesij^as, swa he selfa bsed, 30 ]?enden wordum weold wine Scyldinga,
leof landfruma, lange ante.
Pair set hylSe stod hringedstefna
Isig ond utfus, ae]?elinges faer ;
aledon ]?a leofne ]?eoden, 35 beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes,
maerne be mseste. Paer waes madma fela
of feorwegum fraetwa gelseded.
Ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan
9. J>ara ymbsittendra. 15. ])aet. 25. gehwsere.
I 2 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
hildewsepnum ond heaSowsedum, 40 billum ond byrnum ; him on bearme laeg
madma msenigo, J?a him mid scoldon
on flodes sent feor gewitan.
Nalaes hi hine labssan lacum teodan,
J>eodgestreonum, J?on(ne) ]?a dydon 45 be hine set frumsceafte for<5 onsendon
ainne ofer ySe umborwesende.
pa gyt hie him asetton segen g[yl]denne
heah ofer heafod, leton holm beran,
geafon on garsecg ; him wses geomor sefa, 50 murnende mod. Men ne cunnon
secgan to soSe selenedenafe,
hasleS under heofenum, hwa ]?sem hlseste onfeng. Da W85S on burgum Beowulf Scyldinga,
leof leodcyning, longe ]?rage 55 folcum gefrsege — fasder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde — o}> ]?set him eft onwoc
heah Healfdene ; heold ]?enden lifde
gamol ond guSreouw glaede Scyldingas.
Deem feower beam for5 gerimed 60 in worold wocun, weoroda rabswa
Heorogar, ond HroSgar ond Halga til ;
hyrde ic J?aet (. . . . waes On)elan cwen,
Heafto-Scilfingas healsgebedda.
B. SlGEMUND AND FlTELA
11. 874-900
While the party of thanes is riding home to Heorot after a visit to Grendel's haunts, one of them, to beguile the journey, chants lays about Sigemund the famous outlaw and dragon-slayer and his nephew Fitela.
Welhwylc gecwseS
]?set he fram Sigemunde(s) secgan hyrde ellendsedum, uncu]?es fela, Wselsinges gewin, wide siSas ]?ara ]?e gumena beam gearwe ne wiston, fsehSe ond fyrena, buton Fitela mid hine,
51. seleraedenne.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF I 3
70 ]?onne he swulces hwaet secgan wolde,
earn his nefan, swa hie a waeron
set niSa gehwam nydgesteallan ;
haefdon ealfela eotena cynnes
sweordum gesseged. Sigemunde gesprong 75 sefter deaSdsege dom unlytel,
sy]?<5an wiges heard wyrm acwealde,
hordes hyrde ; he under harne stan,
ae]?elinges beam, ana geneSde
frecne dsede ; ne wses him Fitela mid ; 80 hwae]?re him gesselde Sset ]?aet swurd ]?urhwod
wrsetlicne wyrm, J>aet hit on wealle aetstod,
dryhtlic iren ; draca morSre swealt.
Hsefde aglseca elne gegongen
]?3et he beahhordes brucan moste 85 selfes dome ; saebat gehlod,
baer on bearm scipes beorhte fraetwa
Waelses eafera ; wyrm hat gemealt.
Se waes wreccena wide mserost
ofer wer]?eode, wigendra hleo 90 ellendsedum ; he f>aes ser onSah.
C. OFFA'S QUEEN 11. 1931—1962
The Beowulj poet, speaking of Hygd, the gentle, kindly, young queen of Hygelac, king of the Geats, contrasts her with the queen of Offa, king of the Angles, who before her marriage displayed a most violent and bloodthirsty temper. The princess who kills her suitors is a common theme of legend. The story of Offa the Angle was in later times transferred to Offa, the Mercian king ; see Widsith (No. 1) 1. 35 n.
wseg
fre(o)mu folces cwen, firen ondrysne ; neenig ]?aet dorste deor gene]?an swaesra gesiSa nefne sinfrea 95 ]?aet hire andseges eagum starede, ac him waelbende weotode tealde handgewri]?ene ; hra]?e seoJ>San waes
85. gehleod. 91. mod |>rySo.
14 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
sefter mundgripe mece ge^inged,
]?aet hit sceadenmael scyran moste, 100 cwealmbealu cySan ; ne biS swylc cwenlic J>eaw
idese to efnan, ]?eah 5e hio aenlicu sy,
]?aette freoSuwebbe feores ons^ce
aefter ligetorne leofne mannan ;
huru ]?aet onhohsnod(e) Hemwinges mseg. 105 Ealodrincende 63er ssedan,
}?aet hio leodbealewa l^s gefremede,
inwitniSa, sySSan Merest wearS
gyfen goldhroden geongum cempan,
aetfelum diore, sySSan hio Offan flet 1 10 ofer fealone flod be fseder lare
siSe gesohte ; Saer hio sySSan wel
in gumstole gode maere
Hfgesceafta lifigende breac,
hiold heahlufan wiS haele]?a brego, 115 ealles moncynnes mine gefrsege
Ipone selestan bi ssem tweonum,
eormencynnes ; for)?am Offa waes
geofum ond guSum garcene man
wide geweorSod, wisdome heold 120 e5el sinne; ]?onon Eom^ir woe
haeleSum to helpe, Hem(m)inges maeg,
nefa Garmundes, nI5a crseftig.
joi. efnanne. 102. onsaece. 104. hem ninges.
in. well. 116. ]>aes. 120. geomor.
D. FRISIANS, DANES, AND JUTES The Tragic Story of Finn and Hengest (11. 1063-1 1 59)
After the banquet in Heorot at which Beowulf and his little band are the guests of honour, the court minstrel begins to chant a lay recounting the tragic story of Finn, king of the Frisians, and Hengest, the Danish chief. The poet does not give us the actual lay, but an account, partly narrative, partly allusive comment, of the events leading to Finn's death. These events, familiar as they must have been to the poet's hearers or readers, are rather obscure to us, and various attempts have been made by scholars to reconstruct the story. The sequence of events seems to have been as follows : Finn is away from his
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF I 5
central kingdom (the Frisian islands), perhaps on the mainland opposite (Holland) ; he has brought with him a bodyguard of Jutes. These Jutes quarrel with a band of Danes, countrymen of Finn's wife Hildeburh, and make an attack on the hall of Hnaef the Danish prince, Hildeburh's brother. The attack, which lasts five days, is described in the Fight at Finnsburh (No. 5), which should be read in conjunction with the Beonvulf episode. Finn finds himself obliged to intervene and joins in the assault on the hall. Hnsef is slain, but the leadership of his Danes passes to Hengest, who makes such a good defence that Finn, who has by this time lost most of his officers (11. 140, 141 infra), offers him terms of peace. The terms are, that Hengest and his Danes shall have equal honour and privileges with Finn's Jutes, and further that they shall not be taunted with having made peace with the slayers of their chief Hnsef. Hengest agrees to the terms and the peace is solemnly ratified, after which the bodies of the slain princes, Hildeburh's brother(s) and son(s), are placed together on the funeral pile and burned, while the queen laments her dead (11. 177, 178). Hengest accompanies Finn to Friesland and stays there during the winter, loyally observing the treaty of peace. But with the advent of spring, thoughts of revenge stir within his breast ; he returns to his people and takes service with Hunlafing the Dane. Egged on by Guthlaf and Oslaf, who are, perhaps, survivors of the fight in Hnsef's hall, a party of Danes sets out for Friesland, slays Finn, burns and plunders his palace, and returns home with Finn's Danish queen.
The story is a tragedy of inner conflict. Honour and loyalty require that Hengest shall not make peace with the slayer of his prince, but fight on to death or victory. Yet, he reflects, Finn did not kill Hnsef by treachery but in fair fight, moreover in the offered peace-terms Finn shows delicacy and consideration for the feelings of Hengest and his Danes ; there is no dishonour then, no betrayal of the dead ; so he accepts peace. During the winter his conscience gives him no rest ; the inbred ideas of honour and loyalty reassert themselves in full strength. We are not told that Hengest helped to kill Finn, but we may be sure that he ' took it out ' of the Jutes.
The Beowulf story of Finn and Hengest, together with the account of the egging on of the young Heathobard warrior (see next Selection), and the passage about the slaying of one brother by another, show us what a wealth of dramatic motives must have lain in the old hero-lays, and how finely the Anglo-Saxon minstrel-poets were able to handle them.
wses sang ond sweg samod aetgaedere fore Healfdenes hildewisan, I2c gomenwudu greted, gid oft wrecen ; Sonne healgamen Hr6J?gares scop aefter medobence rnaenan scolde
* • • • •
Finnes eaferum, Sa hie se fser begeat. HseleS Healf-Dena, Hnaef Scyldinga, 130 in Freswsele feallan scolde.
Ne huru Hildeburh herian ]?orfte Eotena treowe ; unsynnum wearS
I 6 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
beloren leofum set j?am /mdplegan,
bearnum ond broSrum ; hie on gebyrd hruron *35 gare wunde; J?set wses geomuru ides.
Nalles holinga Hoces dohtor
meotodsceaft bemearn sy]?San morgen com,
Sa heo under swegle geseon meahte
mor]x)rbealo maga, J?3er he(o) ser mseste heold 140 worolde wynne. Wig ealle fornam
Finnes ]?egnas nemne feaum anum,
J?85t he ne mehte on J>£em meSelstede
wig Hengeste wiht gefeohtan
ne ]?a wealafe wige for]?ringan 145 }?eodnes Segne ; ac hig him ge]?ingo budon
]?3et hie him 6<5er flet eal gerymdon,
healle ond heahsetl, ]?aet hie healfoe geweald
wiS Eotena beam agan moston,
ond aet feohgyftum Folcwaldan sunu 150 dogra gehwylce Dene weor]x)de,
Hengestes heap, hringum wenede
efne swa swISe, sincgestreonum
fsettan goldes, swa he Fresena cyn
on beorsele byldan wolde. 155 Da hie getruwedon on twa healfa
fseste frioSuwaere ; Fin Hengeste
elne unflitme aSum benemde
J»aet he )?a wealafe weotena dome
arum heolde, ]?3et Sser senig mon 1 60 wordum ne worcum wsere ne braece,
ne J»urh inwitsearo sefre gemsenden,
Seah hie hira beaggyfan banan folgedon
Seodenlease, ]?a him swa ge]?earfod waes.
Gyf J?onne Frysna hwylc freeman spruce 165 Saes mor]?orhetes myndgiend wsere,
]?onne hit sweordes ecg setifan scolde.
A3 wses gesefned, ond icge gold
ahsefen of horde. Here-Scyldinga
betst beadorinca wass on bsel gearu ;
133. hildplegan. 147. healfre.
164. frecnen. 166.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF I 7
170 aet j?aem ade waes e]?gesyne
swatfah syrce, swyn ealgylden,
eofer irenheard, seeding manig
wundum awyrded ; sume on waele crungon.
Het Sa Hildeburh set Hnsefes ade 175 hire selfre suna sweoloSe befaestan,
banfatu baernan ond on bail don,
eame on eaxle ; ides gnornode,
geomrode giddum ; guS^rin^ astah,
wand to wolcnum, waelfyra maest 1 80 hlynode for hlawe ; hafelan multon, :
bengeato burston ; Sonne blod setspranc
laSbite lices. Lig ealle forswealg,
gsesta gifrost, ]?ara Se J>a^r guS fornam
bega folces ; wsss hira blsed scacen. 185 Gewiton him 5a wigend wica neosian
freondum befeallen, Frysland geseon,
hamas ond heaburh. Hengest Sa gyt
waelfagne winter wunode mid Finn(e)
el(ne) un/litme ; eard gemunde, 190 ]?eah ]?e he (ne) meahte on mere drifan
hringedstefnan ; holm storme weol,
won wi5 winde ; winter y]?e beleac
isgebinde, o]? 5aet o]?er com
gear in geardas, swa nia gyt de5 195 ]?a(m) Se syngales sele bewitiaS,
wuldortorhtan weder. Da waes winter scacen,
faeger foldan bearm ; fundode wrecca,
gist of geardum ; he to gyrnwraece
swISor J>6hte ]?onne to seelade, 200 gif he torngemSt ]?urhteon mihte "
]?aet he (wiS) Eotena beam inne gemunde.
Swa he rie forwyrnde worodraedenne
]?onne him Hunlafing hildeleoman,
billa selest, on bearm dyde ; 205 ]?aes weeron mid Eotenum ecge cu<5e.
Swylce ferhSfrecan Fin eft begeat
175. sunu. 177. earme. 178. guSrinc.
1 88. finnel unhlitme. 202. woroldraedenne.
I 8 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
sweordbealo sliSen set his selfes ham,
sibSan grimne gripe GuSlaf ond Oslaf
sefter ssesiSe sorge msendon, 210 setwiton weana dsel; ne meahte wsefre mod
forhabban in hrebre. Da wses heal roden
feonda feorum, swilce Fin slaegen,
cyning on corbre, ond seo cwen numen.
Sceotend Scyldinga to scypon feredon 215 eal ingesteald eorScyninges,
swylce hie set Finnes ham findan meahton
sigla searogimma. Hie on sablade
drihtlice wrf to Denum feredon,
Iseddon to leodum.
E. DANES AND HEATHOBARDS Inciting to Revenge (11. 2020—2069)
On his return home Beowulf relates to King Hygelac his adventures. De- scribing how Hrothgar's daughter Freawaru, betrothed to Ingeld the Heathobard prince, moved among the revellers at Heorot, encouraging them to drink, he prophesies a renewal of the disastrous feud between the Danes and the Heatho- bards, and describes how an old Heathobard warrior will incite a young one to murder a Dane. We have here a dramatic * moment,' rising above mere narrative. The feud between the Danes and the Heathobards is mentioned in Widsith (No. 1), 11. 45-49.
220 'Hwllum for [djugufte dohtor HroSgares
'eorlum on ende ealuwsege bser,
*]?a ic Freaware fletsittende
'nemnan hyrde, bser hlo [nae]gledsinc
' haeleSum sealde ; slo gehaten [is], 225 'geong goldhroden, gladum suna Frodan;
1 [h]afaS bses geworden wine Scyldinga,
f rices hyrde, ond J>aet rsed talaS,
' J>aet he mid Sy wife waelfsehSa dsel,
' ssecca gese/^te. Oft selS <?nhw<?ar(f) 230 *aefter leodhryre; lytle hwile
' bongar bugeS, J>eah seo bryd duge.
* Maeg bses bonne of byncan Seod«<? HeaSobeardna
211. hroden. 229. gesette ; oft selS onhwearf S. ; oft seldan hwaer MS.
232. fteoden.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF I 9
' ond ]?egna gehwam ]?ara leoda,
* ]?onne he mid faemnan on flett gaeS, 235 'dryhtbearn Dena, dugutfe biwenede.
' On him gladiaS gomelra lafe,
' heard ond hringmael, HeaS<?bear(d)na gestreon,
'J?enden hie Sam waepnum wealdan moston,
' oS Saet hie forlseddan to Sam lindplegan 240 ' swsese geslSas ond hyra sylfra feorh.
' Ponne cwiS get beore se Se beo(r)n gesyhS,
' eald aescwiga se Se call gem[an]
'garcwealm gumena — him biS grim sefa —
'onginneS geomormod geong[um] cempan 245 'Jmrh hreSra gehygd higes cunnian,
* wigbealu weccean, ond J>aet word acwyS : " Meaht Su, mm wine, mece gecnawan, "jxme ]?m (frod) faeder to gefeohte baer
" under heregriman hindeman siSe, 250 " dyre Iren, J?aer hyne Dene slogon,
" weoldon wselstSwe, sySSan WiSergyld laeg
<( sefter hsele]?a hryre, hwate Scyldungas.
" Nu her ]?ara banena byre nathwylces
"frsetwum hremig on net gseS, 255 "morSres gylpeS ond ]?one ma3]?um byreS,
"J?one )?e Su mid rihte rsedan sceoldest."
( ManaS swa ond myndgaS msela gehwylce
* sarum wordum oS Saet ssel cymeS
* ]?set se fasmnan j^egn fore faeder dsedum 260 ' aefter billes bite blodfag swefeS,
' ealdres scyldig ; him se 63er ]?onan MosaS [lijfigende, con him land geare. 'Ponne bioS [ajbrocene on ba healfe
* aSsweor^ eorla ; [syS]5an Ingelde 265 ' weallaS waelniSas ond him wiflufan
' aefter cearwselmum colran weorSaS.
* Py ic HeaSobear(d)na hyldo ne telge, { dryhtsibbe dsel, Denum unfsecne, 'freondscipe fsestne.'
235. duguffa. 237. heaSa bearna.
241. beah. 264.
20 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
F. GEATS AND FRANKS
In the following three passages we find allusions to an event which has a foundation in historical fact. Gregory of Tours relates in his Historia Francorum that ' Danes ' under their king Chochilaicus attacked the Attoarii, a Prankish tribe dwelling on the lower Rhine, and were defeated by the Frankish king Theudebert, son of Theuderic, and their king Chochilaicus slain. In another early account of the event the leader of the invaders is spoken of as Huiglaucus qui imperavit Getis. These events took place near the site of the modern city of Cleves about the year 517 A. D. It is to be noted that the three allusions in Beowulf 'to the invasion are made by the poet, by Beowulf himself, and by a retainer of the hero respectively (see also infra, 11. 430 ff.). For the origin of the Franks see Widsith (No. 1), 1. 24 n.
1. 11. 2354-2366
270 No ]?aet Isesest waes
hondgemot(a), J?air mon Hygelac sloh, sySSan Geata cyning guSe rsesum, freawine folca, Freslondum on, HreSles eafora, hiorodryncum swealt
275 bille gebeaten ; ]xman Biowulf com sylfes crsefte, sundnytte dreah ; haefde him on earme [ana] J^rittig hildegeatwa, ]?a he to holme [sta]g. Nealles Hetware hremge ]?orf[t]on
280 feSewiges, ]?e him foran ongean linde baeron ; lyt eft becwom fram J?am hildfrecan hames niosan.
2. 11. 2501-2508
Sy55an ic for dugeSum Dseghrefne wearS to handbonan, Huga cempan j
285 nalles he 5a fraetwe Frescyning(e), breostweorSunge, bringan moste, ac in compe gecrong cumbles hyrde, seeding on elne. Ne wses ecg bona, ac him hildegrap heortan wylmas,
290 banhus gebraec.
3. 11. 2910-2921
Nu ys leodum wen orleghwlle, sySSan under(ne)
287. cempan.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF 2 I
Froncum ond Frysum fyll cyninges wide weorSeS. Waes sio wroht scepen
295 heard wiS Hugas, sySSan Higelac cwom faran flotherge on Fresna land, basr hyne Hetware hilde genaegdon, elne geeodon mid ofermaegene J?set se byrnwiga bugan sceolde,
300 feoll on feSan ; nalles fraetwe geaf ealdor dugoSe ; us waes a sySSan Merewioingas milts ungyfeSe.
G. GEATS AND SWEDES
The references to the feuds between these peoples are more detailed than any other of the Germanic ' digressions ' in Beowulf. The Swedes at the beginning of the sixth century A.D. dwelt to the N. and N. E. of the two great lakes Wener and Wetter ; the Geats occupied part of the territory now known as Gotarike to the S. and S.W. of these lakes and thus were a maritime people whose coasts were within easy sail of the Danish islands. The chief city of the Geats was probably situated near the modern Goteborg. At a later period the Geats were conquered by the Swedes and became part of the Swedish kingdom, retaining however for centuries their national characteristics.
1. 11. 2472-2489
Beowulf, while taking leave of his followers before going to fight the dragon, recalls the events of his youth. He tells of the wars which followed the death of his grandfather Hrethel.
Pa waes synn ond sacu Sweona ond Geata
ofer wid [wjaeter, wroht gemsene, 305 hereniS hearda, sySSan HreSel swealt.
OngenSeowes eaferan waeran
frome, fyrdhwate ; freode ne woldon
ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hreosna-Beorh
eatolne inwitscear oft gefremedon. 310 Paet maegwine mine gewraecan,
faahSe ond fyrene, swa hyt gefrsege waes,
]?eah 5e 6Ser hi/ ealdre gebohte,
heardan ceape j HaeScynne wearS,
Geata dryhtne, gu5 onssege.
297. gehnaegdon. 306. o$5e him ongenSeowes. 312. his.
22 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
315 Pa ic on morgne gefrsegn mseg oSerne
billes ecgum on bonan stselan,
J?£er Ongenbeow Eofores niosaS;
guohelm toglad, gomela Scylfing
hreas (hilde)blac ; bond gemunde 320 fsehSo genoge, feorhsweng ne ofteah.
2. 11. 2922-2998
,The messenger who announces to the Geats the death of Beowulf recalls past feuds between Swedes and Geats. He continues the story begun by Beowulf.
Ne ic \.o SweoSeode sibbe o5Se treowe
wihte ne wene, ac waes wide cu<5
]?3ette OngenSIo ealdre besnySede
HaeScen Hre]?ling wiS Hrefna-Wudu, 325 J?a for onmedlan serest gesohton
Geata leode GuS-Scilfingas.
Sona him se froda fseder Ohtheres,
eald ond egesfull, ondslyht ageaf,
abieat brimwisan, bryd a/feorde 330 gomela iomeowlan golde berofene,
Onelan modor ond Ohtheres,
ond 5a folgode feorhgeniSlan
oS Saet hi oSeodon earfoSlice
in Hrefnes-Holt hlafordlease. 335 Besset 5a sinherge sweorda lafe
wundum werge, wean oft gehet
earmre teohhe ondlonge niht,
cwaeS he on mergenne meces ecgum
getan wolde, sum(e) on galgtreowu(m) 340 (fuglum) to gamene. Frofor eft gelamp
sarigmodum somod serdsege,
sySSan hie Hygelaces horn ond byman,
gealdor ongeaton, J?a se goda com
leoda dugoSe on last faran. 345 Wses sio swatswaSu Sw(e)ona ond Geata,
wselrees weora, wide gesyne,
hu Sa folc mid him fsehSe towehton.
321. te. 328. hondslyht. 329. abreot ; aheorde.
IV. LEGEND AND STORY IN BEOWULF 23
Gewat him Sa se goda mid his gaedelingum,
frod felageomor, fsesten secean, 350 eorl Ongenjno ufor oncirde —
hsefde Higelaces hilde gefrunen,
wlonces wigcrseft, wiSres ne truwode
]?aet he ssemannum onsacan mihte,
heaSolISendum, hord forstandan, 355 beam ond bryde; beah eft ]x>nan
eald under eorSweall. Pa waes sent boden
Sweona leodum, segn Higelace ;
freoSowong ]?one for5 ofereodon,
sySSan HreSlingas to hagan J?rungon. 360 pser wearS OngenSiow ecgum sweordtf,
blondenfexa, on bid wrecen,
]?aet se ]?eodcyning Safian sceolde
Etffores anne dom ; hyne yrringa
Wulf Wonreding wsepne gersehte, 365 )?3et him for swenge swat aedrum sprong
forS under fexe. Naes he forht swaSeh,
gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraSe
wyrsan wrixle waelhlem ]?one,
sySSan Seodcyning J?yder oncirde. 370 Ne meahte se snella sunu Wonredes
ealdum ceorle hondslyht giofan,
ac he him on heafde helm jer gescer,
]?aet he blode fah bugan sceolde,
feoll on foldan ; nses he f^ege ]?a git, 375 ac he hyne gewyrpte, ]?eah 5e him wund hrine.
Let (J?a) se hearda Higelaces J>egn
brad(n)e mece, ]?a his broSor laeg,
ealdsweord eotonisc entiscne helm
brecan ofer bordweal ; Sa gebeah cyning, 380 folces hyrde waes in feorh dropen.
Da wseron monige )>e his mseg wriSon,
ricone arserdon, 5a him gerymed wearS
)?set hie waelstowe wealdan moston.
Penden reafode rinc oSerne, 385 nam on OngenSIo irenbyman,
360. sweordum. 363. eafores.
24 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
heardswyrd hilted ond his helm somod,
hares hyrste Higelace bser.
He <5[am] frsetwum feng ond him faegre gehet
leana [mid] leodum ond gelseste swa ; 390 geald bone guSrses Geata dryhten,
HreSles eafora, J?a he to ham becom,
lofore ond Wulfe mid ofermaSmum,
sealde hiora gehwaeSrum hund busenda
landes ond locenra beaga — ne Sorfte him Sa lean oSwitan 395 mon on middangearde, sySSa(n) hie Sa mserSa geslogon —
ond Sa lofore forgeaf angan dohtor
hamweorSunge, hyldo to wedde.
3. 11. 2379-2396
The Beowulf poet relates events long subsequent to those described in the preceding passages. Ongentheow, the Swedish king, was succeeded on the throne by his son Ohthere, who in turn was followed by his brother Onela. The former's two sons, having quarrelled with their uncle Onela, fled to the court of Hygelac's son, Heardred, now king of the Geats. Onela pursued his nephews and killed Heardred, who had taken their part. Beowulf succeeded Heardred as king of the Geats and afterwards helped Eadgils to take vengeance on his uncle Onela.
Hyne wrsecmsecgas
ofer sae sohtan, suna Ohteres ; 400 hsefdon hy forhealden helm Scylfmga,
]?one selestan sabcyninga
bara 5e in Swiorice sine brytnade,
meerne beoden ; him beet to mearce wearS.
He basr (f)or feorme feorhwunde hleat 405 sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelaces,
ond him eft gewat OngenSioes beam
hames mosan, syc^an Heardred laeg ;
let Sone bregostol Blowulf healdan,
Geatum wealdan ; baet wses god cyning. 410 Se Saes leodhryres lean gemunde
uferan dogrum, Eadgilse wearS
feasceaftum freond, folce gestepte
ofer sse side sunu Ohteres
wigum ond waepnum ; he gewraec sy^an 415 cealdum cearsISum, cyning ealdre bineat.
389. gelaesta. 404. orfeorme.
V. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH 25
H. THE BROSINGS' NECKLACE 11. 1192-1211
Hrothgar's queen, Wealhtheow, gives Beowulf a splendid collar as a reward for having slain the two Grendel monsters. It was comparable to the legendary Brosinga mene, the Brisinga men of the Icelandic Edda, where the necklace is worn by the goddess Freyja. But in the Edda there is no mention of Eormenric's possession of the treasure.
Him waes ful boren ond freondlajm
wordum bewaegned, ond wunden gold
estum geeawed, earmreade twa,
hraegl ond hringas, healsbeaga msest 420 ]?ara ]?e ic on foldan gefraegen haebbe.
Nsenigne ic under swegle selran hyrde
hordmaSm haelejm, sy]?San Hama setwaeg
to )>2ire byrhtan byrig Brosinga mene,
sigle ond sincfaet ; searoniSas Ueah 425 Eormenrices, geceas ecne rsed.
Pone bring haefde Higelac Geata,
nefa Swertinges, nyhstan siSe,
siS]?an he under segne sine ealgode,
wselreaf werede ; hyne wyrd fornarn 43° sy]?(5an he for wlenco wean ahsode,
fsehSe to Frysum ; he J?a frsstwe wseg,
eorclanstanas, ofer ySa ful,
rice ]?eoden ; he under rande gecranc.
Gehwearf ]?a in Francna fse]?m feorh cyninges, 435 breostgewsedu, ond se beah somod.
5. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH
This fragment of a lay, describing the attack on Hnsef's hall by Finn's followers, must be read in connexion with the Finn ' episode ' in Beowulf (see No. 4 D supra). The relation to each other of the two narratives has been touched on in the introductory note to that episode. With its mixture of narrative and speeches the Fight at Finnsburh has a literary affinity with Waldere and the Battle of Maldon. That its subject and the names in it are part of the Germanic hero-story is not of itself clear proof of antiquity, for these stories were current till at least the beginning of the tenth century. The evidence of the language and style of the poem is not conclusive, though both
423. here. 424. fealh.
26 GERMANIC LEGEND AND STORY
differ from those of the early poetry. The versification also differs considerably from that of Widsith, Beowulf and other A.-S. poems generally admitted to be of early date.
[ horjnas byrnaS nsefre.'
HleoJ?rode Sa hea/ogeong cyning :
' Ne Sis ne dagaS eastan, ne her draca ne fleogeS,
* ne her Sisse healle hornas ne byrna<5, 5 * ac her for}? beraS
fugelas singaS,
* gylleS grseghama, guSwudu hlynneS,
' scyld scefte oncwyS. Nu scyneS ]?es mona
' waSol under wolcnum ; nu arisaS weadseda 10 'Se Sisne folces niS fremman willaS.
1 Ac onwacnigeaS nu, wigend mine,
eowre ^anda, hkgea)? on ellen, on orde, wesaS on mode.'
Da aras maenig goldhladen Segn, gyrde hine his swurde ; 15 Sa to dura eodon drihtlice cempan,
SigeferS and Eaha hyra sword getugon,
and set 6]?rum durum Ordlaf and Gu]?laf,
and Hengest sylf hwearf him on laste.
Da gyt Garulf GuSere styr^de, 20 Saet he swa freolic feorh forman si]?e
to Ssere healle durum hyrsta ne babre,
nu hyt ni]?a heard anyman wolde ;
ac he fraegn ofer eal undearninga,
deormod haele]?, hwa 3a duru heolde. 25 ' Sigefer]? is mm nama, ic com Secgena leod,
' wrec^rea wide cuS ; faela ic weana gebad,
' he^rdra hilda. De is gyt her witod,
* swae]?er Su sylf to me secean wylle.'
Da wses on zoealle waelslihta gehlyn, sceolde cel(/)<?^ bor^/ ^renum on handa, banhelm berstan ; buruhSelu dynede, oS set Ssere gu5e Garulf gecrang ealra ierest eorSbuendra,
2. hearo geong. 12. habbaS landa ; hie gea]?.
13. ]>indaS. 19. styrode. 21. baeran.
25. nama cwej) he ic. 26. wrecten. 27. heordra.
29. healle. 30. celses bortJ genumon handa.
V. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH 27
GuSlafes sunu, ymbe hyne godra faela, 35 hwearnYcra hrsea;. Hraefen wandrode
sweart and sealobrun ; swurdleoma stod,
swylce eal Finn(e)s burh fyrenu wsere.
Ne gefrsegn ic nsefre wur)?licor set wera hilde
sixtig sigebeorna sel gebaeran, 40 ne nefre sw/tne medo sel forgyldan,
Sonne Hnaefe guldan his haegstealdas.
Hig fuhton fif dagas swa hyra nan ne feol,
drihtgesISa, ac hig Sa duru heoldon.
Da gewat him wund haelecS on waeg gangan, 45 ssede }?aet his byrne abrocen wsere,
heresceorpum hror, and eac waes his helm <5yr(e)l.
Da hine sona fraegn folces hyrde
hu 5a wigend hyra wunda genseson hwae]?er Saera hyssa
35. hwearflacra hraer. 37. finnsburuh.
40. ne nefre swa noc hwitne medo.
II. ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
This section contains practically all that has,' survived of what a modern reader will regard as the most permanent and poetical part of Anglo-Saxon verse, i.e. the subjective element, which bears witness that our remote ancestors were men and women with sentiments and emotions like ourselves. When we read the lyrics of ancient China, of Greece and Rome, the centuries fall away and our mood attunes itself to that of old-time singers ; even so is it when we listen to the complaint of an Anglo-Saxon minstrel who has lost his lord and is a wanderer in distant lands, or of an Anglo-Saxon woman who longs for her absent lover ; or again, to the musings of a wise old man on the ways of mankind and the world.
6. THE WANDERER
This poem, like the next one, expresses longing, regret and disillusion ; both of them speak the language of the heart. The Wanderer is a monologue by an old or elderly man who has long survived his lord and now, journeying far from home, has no friend to whom he may confide his sorrows, for he is too proud and sensitive to unbosom himself to strangers. He yearns to see the old faces and lives the old days over again, then awakes to the dreary present. He moralizes on the vanity of earthly things, the passing away of men and of the world itself, and finally he seeks consolation in his heavenly Father. In this poem and the next, the first sixty lines or so are the expression of personal feeling ; the remaining lines are somewhat trite moralizing.
Judged by their language and metre these poems may be nearly as old as Beowulf^ but here, as in other cases, the internal evidence is not decisive as to the date of composition. There is a noticeable absence in the Wanderer of 'kennings ' or equivalents, which are such a prominent feature of A.-S. poetry ; see Appendix, § 5.
Oft him anhaga are gebideS, Metudes miltse, }?eah J>e he modcearig geond lagulade longe sceolde hreran mid hondum hrimcealde SJE, 5 wadan wraeclastas ; wyrd biS ful arsed. Swa cwaeS eardstapa earfeba gemyndig,
28
VI. THE WANDERER 29
wraj>ra wselsleahta, winemaga hryre :
Oft ic sceolde ana uhtna gehwylce
mine ceare cwij^an ; nis nu cwicra nan 10 ]>e ic him modsefan minne durre
sweotule asecgan. Ic to so]?e wat
]?35t bi]? in eorle indryhten ]?eaw
j?ajt he his fer(h)Slocan faeste binde,
healde his hordcofan, hycge swa he wille. 15 Ne maeg werig mod wyrde wiSstondan,
ne se hreo hyge helpe gefremman ;
for Son domgeorne dreorigne oft
in hyra breostcofan bindaS faeste.
Swa ic modsefan minne sceolde 20 oft earmcearig, eSle bidseled,
freomsegum feor feterum sselan,
si]?]?an geara iu goldwine mm(n)e
hrusan heolster biwrah ond ic hean Jjonan
wod wintercearig ofer wa]?ema gebind, 25 sohte sele dreorig sinces bryttan,
hwaer ic feor o]?]?e neah findan meahte
J?one }>Q in meoduhealle min(n)e wisse,
o]?)?e mec freondleas(n)e frefran wolde,
wenian mid wynnum. Wat se J>e cunnaS 30 hu slij?en biS sorg to geferan
]?am )?e him lyt hafaS leofra geholena ;
waraS hine wrseclast, nales wunden gold,
fer(h)Sloca freorig, nalaes foldan blabd ;
gemon he selesecgas ond sinc]?ege, 35 hu hine on geoguSe his goldwine
wenede to wiste ; wyn eal gedreas.
For Ipon wat se }>e sceal his winedryhtnes
leofes larcwidum longe for]x)lian,
Sonne sorg ond slaip somod aetgaedre 4° earmne anhogan oft gebindaS —
SinceS him on mode J?aet he his mondryhten
clyppe ond cysse ond on cneo lecge
honda ond heafod, swa he hwilum aer
in geardagum giefstolas breac.
14. healdne. 23. heolstre.
30 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
45 Donne onwsecneS eft wineleas guma,
gesihS him biforan fealwe wegas,
banian brimfuglas, braedan fe]?ra,
hreosan hrim ond snaw hagle gemenged.
Ponne beoS J?y hefigran heortan benne, 50 sare aefter swsesww ; sorg bi5 geniwad
J»onne maga gemynd mod geondhweorfeS ;
greteS gliwstafum, georne geondsceawaS
secga geseldan ; swimmaS eft on weg,
fleotendra fer(h)5 no ]?£er fela bringeS 55 cuSra cwidegiedda ; cearo biS geniwad
]?am }>e sendan sceal swlj^e geneahhe
ofer waj»ema gebind werigne sefan.
For J?on ic ge]?encan ne mseg geond ]?as woruld
for hwan modsefa min ne gesweorce 60 ]?onne ic eorla Hf eal geond]?ence,
hu hi fserlice flet ofgeafon,
modge maguj^egnas. Swa ]?es middangeard
ealra dogra gehwam dreoseS ond fealle]? ;
for J?on ne mseg we^rSan wis wer ser he age 65 wintra dael in woruldrice. Wita sceal ge]?yldig,
ne sceal no to hatheort, ne to hraedwyrde,
ne to wac wiga, ne to wanhydig,
ne to forht, ne to faegen, ne to feohgifre,
ne nsefre gielpes to georn, ser he geare cunne. 7° Beorn sceal gebidan, ]?onne he beot spriceS,
o]) ]?aet collenfer(h)5 cunne gearwe
hwider hre]?ra gehygd hweorfan wille.
Ongietan sceal gleaw hsele hu gaestlic biS,
J>onne ealre }>isse worulde wela weste stondeS, 75 swa nu missenlice geond }?isne middangeard
winde biwaune weallas stonda]?,
hrime bihrorene, hrySge ]?a ederas.
WoriaS ]?a winsalo, waldend HcgaS
dreame bidrorene ; duguS eal gecrong 80 wlonc bi wealle ; sume wig fornom,
ferede in forSwege ; sumne fugel o]?b3er
50. swaesum S., swaesne MS. 53. oft. 64. weariSan.
74. ealle.
VI. THE WANDERER 3 I
ofer heanne holm ; sumne se hara wulf
deaSe gedselde ; sumne dreorighleor
in eorSscraefe eorl gehydde. 85 YJ?de swa J?isne eardgeard selda Scyppend,
o}> ]?33t burgwara breahtma lease,
eald enta geweorc idlu stodon.
Se ]?onne ]?isne wealsteal wise gej?ohte
ond ]?is decree lif deope geond]?ence9, 9° fr5d in fer(h)(5e, feor oft gemon
waelsleahta worn ond J>as word acwiS :
' Hwaer cwom mearg ? hwser cwom mago ? hwslr cwom ma]?)>um. gyfa?
4 hwser cw5m symbla gesetu ? hwser sindon seledreamas ?
* Eala, beorht bune ! eala, byrnwiga !
95 « eala, }?eodnes ]?rym ! hu seo J?rag gewat,
* genap under nihthelm swa heo no waere ! ' StondeS nu on laste leofre dugu]?e
* weal wundrum heah, wyrmlicum fah ; ' eorlas fornoman asca ]?ry]?e,
ico 'wsepen wselgifru, wyrd seo msere,
' ond J?as stanhleo]?u stormas cnyssaS ;
'hr!5 hreosende hrusa(n) bindeS,
' wintres woma, }>onne won cymeS,
1 nipeS nihtscua, nor]?an onsendeS 105 'hreo haeglfare haelejmm on andan.
' Eall is earfoSlic eorj?an rice,
' onwendeS wyrda gesceaft weoruld under heofonum ;
' her biS feoh Isene, her biS freond laene,
' her biS mon laene, her biS mseg Isene ; no 'eal J)is eor)?an gesteal idel weor]?eS.'
Swa cwaeS snottor on mode, gesset him sundor aet rune.
Til bi]> se J?e his treowe gehealdeS; ne sceal njefre his torn to rycene
beorn of his breostum acyj^an, nem]?e he ser ]?a bote cunne,
eorl mid elne gefremman. Wei biS )?am ]?e him are seceS, n^ frofre to Faeder on heofonum, J?aer us eal seo fsestnung stondeS.
102. hruse.
32 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
7. THE SEAFARER
We can hardly doubt that this poem is by the same author as the preceding one ; there is the same sadness, self-pity, longing and weariness. If anything, the feeling is more intense, with alternations of phase ; now the hardships of sea-life are uppermost in the writer's thoughts, now the irresistible call of that life. After 1. 64 the poem, like the preceding one, relapses into conventional moralizing. We have omitted 22 or 23 lines with which the poem ends in the MS., as they are definitely religious rather than moralizing. It is possible that the latter part of this poem and of the Wanderer may have been later ' tail- pieces ' added by some monk for purposes of edification.
Mseg ic be me sylfum soSgied wrecan,
sibas secgan, hu ic geswincdagum
earfoShwile oft browade,
bitre breostceare gebiden hsebbe, 5 gecunnad in ceole cearselda fela,
atol yba gewealc, baer mec oft bigeat
nearo nihtwaco set nacan stefnan,
bonne he be clifum cnossa<5. Calde gebrungen
mine fet wseron, forste gebunden, 10 caldum clommum ; beer ba ceare seofedun
hat ymb heortan ; hungor innan slat
merewerges mod. Paet se mon ne wat,
be him on foldan faegrost limpe<5,
hu ic earmcearig iscealdne see 15 winter wunade wrseccan lastum,
( ), winemeegum bidroren,
bihongen hrimgicelum ; haegl scurum fleag.
Peer ic ne gehyrde butan hlimman sae,
iscaldne wseg, hwilum ylfete song ; 20 dyde ic me to gomene ganetes hleobor
ond huilpan sweg fore hleahtor wera,
msew singende fore medodrince.
Stormas beer stanclifu beotan, beer him stearn oncwaeS
isigfebera ; ful oft baet earn bigeal 25 urigfebra (.
). Neenig hleomsega,
feasceaftig fer(h)3, feran meahte.
For bon him gelyfeS lyt se be ah Hfes wyn,
9. waeron mine fet.
VII. THE SEAFARER 33
gebiden in burgum bealosijm hwon,
wlonc ond wmgal, hu ic werig oft 30 in brimlade bidan sceolde.
Nap nihtscua, nor)?an sniwde,
hrim hrusan bond, haegl feol on eor]?an,
corna caldast. For ]?on cnyssaS nu
heortan ge]?ohtas, J?aet ic hean streamas, 35 sealty]?a gelac, sylf cunnige ;
monaS modes lust majla gehwylce
fer(h)S to feran, J?ast ic feor heonan
el]?eodigra card gesece.
For J>on nis ]?aes modwlonc mon ofer eor]?an 40 ne his gifena ]?aes g5d, ne in geogu]?e to J?3es hwset,
ne in his d^edum to J?aes deor, ne him his dryhten to J?aes hold,
}>3et he a his ssefore sorge nsebbe,
to hwon hine dryhten gedon wille.
Ne bi]? him to hearpan hyge ne to hring]?ege 45 ne to wife wyn ne to worulde hyht
ne ymbe owiht elles nefne ymb y5a gewealc,
ac a hafaS longunge se ]?e on lagu fundaS.
Bearwas blostmum nimaS, byrig faegriaS,
wongas wlitig(i)a3, woruld onetteS ; 50 ealle ]?a gemoniaS modes fusne
sefan to si<5e, )?am ]?e swa ]?ence5
on flodwegas feor gewita^ ;
swylce geac monaS geomran reorde,
singeS sumeres weard, sorge .beodeS 55 bitter in breosthord. Past se beorn ne wat,
secg esteadig, hwaet ]?a sume dreogaS
]?e ]?a wraaclastas widost lecgaS.
For ]?on nu mm hyge hweorfeS ofer hre]?erlocan,
mm modsefa mid merefl5de 60 ofer hwaeles e]?el hweorfeS wide,
eor}?an sceatas ; cyme<5 eft to me
gifre ond grsedig, gielleS anfloga,
hweteS on (h)waelweg hre]?er unwearnum
ofer holma gelagu ; for J>on me hatran sind 65 Dryhtnes dreamas J?onne ]?is deade lif,
52. gewitaft. 56. easteadig secg.
D
34 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
Isene on londe ; ic gelyfe no
]?aet him eorSwelan ece stondaS.
Simle ]?reora sum J?inga gehwylce,
ser his tid aga, to tweon weor]?eS : 70 adl o]?]?e yldo o]?]?e ecghete
fsegum fromweardum feorh o<5]?ringe(5.
For Jxm (is) ]?aet eorla gehwam seftercwe]?endra,
lof lifgendra, lastworda betst,
]?aet he gewyrce, ser he on weg scyle : 75 fremman on foldan wiS feonda mj?
deorum dsedum deofle togeanes
]?aet hine aelda beam aefter hergen
ond his lof si]?]?an lifge mid englum
awa to ealdre, ecan Hfes blsed, 80 dream mid duge]?um. Dagas sind gewitene, ealle on median eor]?an rices ; ne (a)ron nu cyningas ne caseras ne goldgiefan swylce iu waeron, jxmne hi msest mid him ni3er]?a gefremedon 85 ond on dryhtlicestum dome lifdon ;
gedroren is ]?eos duguS eal, dreamas sind gewitene ; wuniaS ]?a wacran ond f>as woruld healda]?, brucaS ]?urh bisgo. Bleed is gehnseged, eorj^an indryhto ealdaS ond searaS, sw^ nu monna gehwylc geond middangeard ; yldo him on fareS, onsyn blacaS, gomelfeax gnornaS, wat his iuwine, se]?elinga beam, eor]?an forgiefene.
Ne maeg him J>onne se flseschoma, ]?onne him J»aet feorg losaS, ne swete forswelgan ne sar gefelan ne hond onhreran ne mid hyge J>encan. Peah he grsef wille golde stregan, broker his geborenum, by^gan be deadum ma]?mum mislicum f>aet he ne mid wille, 100 ne mseg ]?8ere sawle J?e bi}> synna ful gold to geoce for Godes egsan, Jxmne he hit ser hydeS, ]?enden he her leofaS.
• •••••«.
67. stondeS1, 69. ege, 82. naeron. 98. byrgan. 99. hi.
VIII. A WOMAN'S COMPLAINT 35
8. A WOMAN'S COMPLAINT
A woman gives utterance to her despair and longing for her lover, who has been driven into exile by his enemies. She is forced to live in a cave hollowed beneath an oak in a wild mountain glen, where she spends her days in sorrow. She calls down misfortune on the head of the man who is the cause of her troubles.
This moving little poem is a genuine lyric, which for sincerity and direct appeal to our hearts challenges comparison with the songs of any literature. Together with Wolf and Eadivacer and the Husband's Message it represents all that has survived of A.-S. love poetry. Fortunately they have escaped the attentions of the moralizing ecclesiastics who have come near spoiling some of the genuine poetry of the Anglo-Saxons. At the same time we must not forget that more of the A.-S. lyrics might have survived if they had received such attentions.
Ic J?is giedd wrece bi me ful geomorre ;
mmre selfre siS ; ic baet secgan mseg,
hwaet ic yrm]?a gebad sibban ic up weox,
niwes obbe ealdes, no ma bonne nu ; 5 a_ic wite wonn minra wrsecsiba.
^Erest mm hlaford gewat heonan of leodum
ofer yba gelac ; haefde ic uhtceare
hwsbr mm leodfruma londes wsere ;
Sa ic me feran gewat folgaS secan, TO wineleas wrsecca, for minre weaj>earfe.
Ongurmon ]?get J?ses monnes magas hycgan
J>urh dyrne ge]?oht ]?9et hy todaelden unc,
]?ast wit gewidost in woruldrice
lifdon laSlicost ond mec longade. 1 5 Het mec hlaford mm her heard niman ;
ahte ic leofra lyt on bissum londstede,
holdra freonda. ForJ?on is min hyge geomor,
<5a ic me ful gemaecne monnan funde
heardsaeligne, hygegeomorne, 20 rnod mibendne, morbor hycgend(n)e.
Ful oft wit beotedan blibe gebaerum
)?set unc ne gedselde, nemne deaS ana,
owiht elles. Eft is ]?aet onhworfen,
is nu ( . . .) swa hit no wsere, 25 freondscipe uncer. Sceal ic feor ge neah
2 1 MS. order of half lines reversed.
36 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
mines felaleofan fsehSu dreogan.
Heht mec mon wunian on wuda bearwe
under actreo in ]?am eorSscrsefe ;
eald is ]?es eorSsele, eal ic eom oflongad ; 30 sindon dena dimme, dunu uphea,
bitre burgtunas, brerum beweaxne,
wic wynna leas. Ful oft mec her wra]?e begeat
fromsi]? frean. Frynd sind on eor]?an
leofe lifgende, leger weardiaS, 35 bonne ic on uhtan ana gonge
under actreo geond ]?as eorSscrafu.
Peer ic sittan mot sumorlangne daeg,
bser ic wepan mseg mine wraecsi]?as,
earfo]?a fela, forj»on ic sefre ne mseg 40 ]?3ere modceare mlnre gerestan,
ne ealles ]?3es longaj>es ]?e mec on J?issum life begeat
A scyle geong mon wesan geomormod,
heard heortan ge}>oht, swylce habban sceal
bll]?e gebsero, eac ]?on breostceare, 45 sinsorga gedreag ; sy aet him sylfum gelong
eal his worulde wyn, sy ful wide fah
feorres folclondes, ]?aet mm freond siteS
under stanhli]?e storme behrimed,
wine werigmod, wsetre beflowen
on dreorsele. DreogeS se mm wine
micle modceare ; he gemon to oft
wynlicran wic. Wa biS J?am f>e sceal
of lango]?e leofes abidan.
9. THE HUSBAND'S MESSAGE
A piece of wood with letters carved on it is speaking to a woman. After telling her its own history it says that it has been sent with a message by the man with whom in former days she exchanged vows of love and constancy. Forced by his enemies to flee from his native land, he has now won wealth and position in a foreign country, and he sends the wooden messenger to exhort his mistress to cross the sea as soon as ever the cuckoo sings, and share with him his good fortune. On the wood are carved five rune-letters, which when re- arranged, form the word 'sword.' By this the man shows his mistress that he
45. sinsorgna.
ix. THE HUSBAND'S MESSAGE 37
remembers the vows which once he swore on his sword, the most solemn way of taking an oath ; (for another interpretation see note to 11. 66 ff. ).
We print here as one poem the two short pieces which immediately follow Riddle No. 59 of the collection of A.-S. riddles in the codex known as the Exeter Book. The first of these two pieces has always been regarded as a riddle and printed as No. 61 of the collection. The second has hitherto been printed separately under the title of the Husband's Message. But, as Blackburn pointed out in \he Journal of Germanic Philology , iii. I (1900), the two pieces treat of the same theme, are in fact one poem ; moreover the first does not end like the other riddles by asking the reader to guess its meaning. The compiler of the collection failed to notice that the two pieces are one poem. While the form of the whole piece, especially the use of the first personal pronoun by an inanimate object and the use of rune-letters to form an anagram, might perhaps justify its inclusion in our selection of riddles (see No. 24), its tender feeling places it alongside the Woman's Complaint, of which, indeed, it may have been intended to be the complement.
Parts of the text, illegible or destroyed in the MS., have been conjecturally restored by the present editor.
Ic waes be sonde, ssewealle neah,
set merefaro]?e, minum gewunade
frumsta]?ole fsest ; fea eenig waes
monna cynnes bset minne )?£er 5 on aneede eard beheolde,
ac mec uhtna gehwam y5 sio brune
lagufaeSme beleolc. Lyt ic wende
]?aet ic ear oj?}?e sI5 sefre sceolde
ofer meodu(bence) muSleas sprecan, 10 wordum wrixlan. paet is wundres dsel,
on sefan searolic, ]?am J>e swylc ne conn,
hu mec seaxes ord ond seo swtyre bond,
eorles ingejxmc, ond ord samod,
]?ingum ge]?ydan, ]?set ic wij? ]?e sceolde 15 for unc anum twam serendspraece
abeodan bealdlice, swa hit beorna ma,
uncre wordcwidas, widor ne msenden.
Nu ic onsundran ]>e secgan wille
[be] treocyn[ne]. Ic tudre aweox, 20 [ond] mec sel[ces] sceal ellor londes
setftan on siSas], sealte strea[mas
fus oferferan frean be hse]se.
Ful oft ic on bates [bosme] gesohte
]?ser mec mondryhten mm [onsende]
17. widdor.
38 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
25 ofer heahhtffu ; com nu her cumen
on ceol]?ele, ond nu cunnan sceal
hu ]?u ymb modlufan mines frean
on hyge hycge. Ic gehatan dear
]?aet J>u J?ier tirfaeste treowe findest. 30 Hwaet, J>ec ]?onne biddan het, se J?isne beam agrof,
]?aet J»u sinchroden sylf gemunde
on gewitlocan wordbeotunga
]>e git on serdagum oft gespraecon,
J>enden git moston on meoduburgum 35 card weardigan, an lond bugan,
freondscype fremman. Hine f^hj>o adraf
of sigef>eode ; heht nu sylfa ]>e
lustum Isera^ )^aet J?u lagu drefde,
si)?J?an J?u gehyrde on hlij^es oran 4° galan geomorne geac on bearwe.
Ne laet ]>u }?ec si]?J>an si]?es getwsefan,
lade gelettan, lifgendne monn ;
ongin mere secan, maewes e]?el,
onsite ssenacan, J?3et J>u suS heonan 45 ofer merelade monnan findest,
J>ser se J>eoden is J>m on wenum.
Ne maeg him worulde willa (gelimpan)
mara on gemyndum, ]?aes )?e he me saegde,
)x)nne inc geunne alwaldend God 50 [])3et git] setsomne sij?}?an motan
secgum ond gesi]?um [sine brytnian,
njseglede beagas ; he genoh hafaS
fse/(t)an go[ldes. Frea sylfa cwaeS
J>aet he on] elj>eode e]?el healde, 55 fsegre fold[an, folgaS haebbe
wlanc]ra haslej>a, ]?eah ]?e her min wi[nedryhten]
nyde gebaeded nacan ut a}>rong,
ond on y]?a (be) gong [ana] sceolde
faran on flotweg, fort5si)?es georn 60 mengan merestreamas. Nu se mon hafaG
wean oferwunnen ; nis him wilna gad,
ne meara ne maSma, ne meododreama
25. heah hofu. 26. scealt. 38. kseram. 53. fedan.
X. WOLF AND EADWACER 39
senges ofer eor^an, eorlgestreona, ]?eodnes dohtor, gif he ]?in beneah,
65 ofer eald gebeot incer twega.
Gecyr(r)e ic setsomne S(igel), E(ad) geador, EO(lh), W(en) ond D(aeg), a]?e benemnan ]?aet he ]?a wsere ond J?a winetreowe be him lifgendum laestan wolde,
70 ]?e git on serdagum oft gesprsecon.
10. WOLF AND EADWACER
Again a woman is speaking ; her lover, an outlaw named Wolf, is, she says, in danger of his life from her kinsmen ; her heart is filled with desire to see him again. Then she seems to fling a taunt at another man, Eadwacer, with whom apparently she is forced to live. The form of this little poem is interest- ing, as it reveals a crude attempt to divide the whole into stanzas of irregular length. The refrain ungelic(e] is us reminds us of the refrain in Deor (No. 3). Each of 11. 4, 9, 13 begins with the name of the woman's lover. We seem to have here an early example of verse-forms which centuries afterwards received such varied development in the Icelandic Ij6<5ahattr. Till recently this poem, which in the MS. immediately precedes the collection of A.-S. Riddles^ was regarded as the first of the riddles and ascribed to Cynewulf.
Leodum is mmum swylce him mon lac gife :
WillaS hy hine a]?ecgan, gif he on J>reat cymeS.
Ungelic is us :
Wulf is on lege, ic on oj^erre ; 5 faest is J?3et eglond, fenne biworDen ;
sindon wselreowe weras J?ser on ige ;
willaS hy hine a]?ecgan, gif he on J»reat cymeS.
Ungelice is us :
Wulfes ic mines widlastum wenum /fogode 10 ]?onne hit wses renig weder ond ic reotugu sset,
J>onne mec se beaducafa bogum bilegde ;
waes me wyn to ]?on, waes me hwaej^re eac Ia5.
Wulf, mm Wulf, wena me ]?ine
seoce gedydon, ]?ine seldcymas, 15 murnende mod, ' nales meteliste.
Gehyrest J?u, Eadwacer ? Uncerne ear(m)ne hwelp
bireS Wulf to wuda ;
^
9. dogode.
40 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
f>aet mon ea]?e tosliteS, ]?sette naifre gesomnad wses, uncer giedd geador.
11. ELEGIAC AND MORALIZING PASSAGES IN
BEO WULF
Apart from the three passages here reproduced, the moralizing and elegiac vein is not obtrusive in Beowulf, being confined to occasional pithy comments of a line or two. The first of the passages treats of a favourite theme of ancient and mediaeval writers, the progress to power of the arrogant, vainglorious ruler and his ultimate fall. The second passage begins with an apostrophe to the earth, in which the dragon's treasure is hidden, and goes on to dwell on the fate of those who once possessed the treasure and are now passed away. The theme and tone are those of the Wanderer and the Seafarer. The third selection is interesting as presenting us with an example of a moral dilemma in a tragic situation. The tragic note we have already seen in the incident of the old Heathobard warrior who incites the young one to avenge his father on the Dane who slew him and in the story of Finn (see Nos. 4 D and E).
A. THE ARROGANT RULER 11. 1724-57
Hrothgar is speaking in a moralizing vein to Beowulf.
Wundor is to secgan
hu mihtig God manna cynne
}?urh sidne sefan snyttru brytta<5,
card ond eorlscipe ; he ah ealra geweald. 5 Hwilum he on (h)lwan hworfan laiteS
monnes modge]?onc maeran cynnes,
seleS him on ej?le eorban wynne
to healdanne, hleoburh wera,
gedeS him swa gewealdene worolde dailas, 10 side rice, J>aet he his selfa ne maeg
his unsnyttrum ende ge)?encean ;
wunaS he on wiste, no hine wiht dwele<5
adl ne yldo, ne him inwitsorh
on sefan sweorceS, ne gesaca ohwser 15 ecghete eoweS, ac him eal worold
wendeS on willan ; he j?set wyrse ne con
oS ]?set him on innan oferhygda dsel
5. lufan IseteS hworfan ; hlisan S. 14. gesacu.
XI. ELEGIAC AND MORALIZING PASSAGES IN BEOWULF 41
weaxe<5 ond wridaS, J?onne se weard swefeS,
sawele hyrde — biS se slabp to fsest — 20 bisgum gebunden, bona swISe neah
se ]?e of flanbogan fyrenum sceoteS.
Ponne biS on hrej^re under helm drepen
biteran strsele, him bebeorgan ne con
worn wundorbebodum wergan gastes ; 25 ]?ince<5 him to lytel ]?£et he lange heold,
gytsaS gromhydig, nallas on gylp seleS
fse//e beagas, ond he ]?a forSgesceaft
forgyteS ond forgymeS, ]?8es ]?e him ser God sealde,
wuldres waldend, weorSmynda dsel. 2o Hit on endestaef eft gelimpeS
J?aet se lichoma Isene gedreoseS,
fsege gefealleS ; fehS 6]?er to,
se ]?e unmurnllce madmas dsele]?,
eorles sergestreon, egesan ne gymeS. 35 Bebeorh J?e Sone bealoniS, Beowulf leofa,
secg(a) betsta, ond ]?e ]?set selre geceos,
ece rsedas ; oferhyda ne gym,
msere cempa. Nu is )?ines msegnes blsed
ane hwile ; eft sona bi5 40 ]?aet ]?ec adl o53e ecg eafo]?es getwsefeS, fyres feng, o5Se flodes wylm, gripe nieces, oS3e gares fliht,
o55e atol yldo, oSSe eagena bearhtm
forsiteS ond forsworcecS ; semninga bi5 45 ]?set Sec, dryhtguma, dea5 oferswySeS.
B. BURIED TREASURE 11. 2231-66.
waes swylcra fela
in Sam eor5[hu]se sergestreon a,
swa hy on geardagum gumena nathwylc,
eormenlafe £e]?elan cynnes,
]?anchycgende >aer gehydde,
deore maSmas. Ealle hie deaS fornam
27. faedde.
42 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
serran mgelum, ond se an Sa gen
leoda duguSe, se Sser lengest hwearf,
wearS winege5mor ; wende >aes ylcan, 55 ]?3et he lytel faec longgestreona
brucan moste. Beorh eallgearo
wunode on wonge waeterySum neah,
niwe be naesse, nearocraeftum fsest ;
)?£er on innan bser eorlgestreona 60 hringa hyrde h^rdwyrSne dael,
faettan goldes, fea worda cwseS :
' Heald ]?u nu, hruse, nu haeleS ne m^ston,
' eorla sehte. Hwaet, hyt 33r on 6e
' gode begeaton ; guSdeaS fornam, 65 'feorhbealo frecne, fyra gehwylcne
' leoda mmra )?ara 5e J?is (lif ) ofgeaf ;
'gesawon seledream. [Ic] nah hwa svveord wege,
'o33e f[eormie] fseted wsege,
' dryncfaet deore ; dug[u5] ellor s<roc. 70 { Sceal se hearda helm [hyrjsted golde
' fsetiim befeallen ; feormynd swefaS
' J>a Se beadogriman by wan sceoldon,
* ge swylce seo herepad, sio set hilde gebad
* ofer borda gebraec bite iren(n)a,
75 ' brosnaS sefter beorne. Ne maeg byrnan hring
' aefter wigfruman wide feran
' hseleSum be healfe ; n/'s hearpan wyn,
1 gomen gleobeames, ne god hafoc
4 geond ssel swingeS, ne se swifta mearh 80 * burhstede beateS. Bealocwealm hafaS
* fela feorhcynna f [or5] onsended.'
C. AN INEXPIABLE CRIME 11. 2444—62
Beowulf has been speaking of a sad event in the life of Hrethel, king of the Geats, the father of Herebeald, Haethcen and Hygelac. Haethcen accidentally killed Herebeald with an arrow (miste mercelses). This death is called feohleas
52. si. 60. hardwyrSne. 62. maeston.
69. seoc. 77. nass.
XII. A BAD CHARACTER 43
gefeoht, i.e. manslaughter for which no sum of money could compensate, a case unprovided for by tribal law. Beowulf then goes on to moralize on the sad fate of an old father whose son has to pay the penalty of death.
Swa biS geomorlic gomelum ceorle
to gebidanne J?set his byre ride
giong on galgan ; ]?onne he gyd wrece(S), 85 sarigne sang, ]?onne his sunu hangaS
hrefne to hroSre, ond he him help^ ne mseg,
eald ond infrod, ainige gefremman.
Symble biS gemyndgad morna gehwylce
eaforan ellorsiS; oSres ne gymeS 90 to gebidanne burgum in innan
yrfeweardas, jxmne se an hafaS
]?urh deaSes nyd dseda gefondad.
GesyhS sorhcearig on his suna bure
winsele westne, windgereste 95 reote berofene ; ridend swef^S,
haeleS in hoSman ; nis ]?£er hearpan sweg,
gomen in geardum, swylc t>abr iu wseron.
GewiteS }?onne on sealman, sorhleoS gaeleS
an aefter anum ; ]?uhte him call to rum, oo wongas ond wicstede. Swa Wedra helm
aefter Herebealde heortan sorge
weallinde wseg, wihte ne meahte
on Sam feorhbonan fseghSe gebetan ;
no Sy ser he j^one heaSorinc hatian ne meahte 05 laSum dsedum, ]?eah him leof ne waes.
12. A BAD CHARACTER
The character and behaviour of an arrogant, spiteful man are described, and his fate is contrasted with that of a good, kind-hearted man. These lines are obviously written by an ecclesiastic as a warning example. The last part of the poem, consisting of thirty-five lines, which describes the punishment after death of the bad man and the heavenly reward of the good, is here omitted. The date cannot be early.
Hwset, me frod wita on fyrndagum
saegde, snottor ar, sundorwundra fela ;
wordhord onwrah witgan larum
86. helpan. 95. swefaS. 3. onwearh.
44 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
beorn boca gleaw, bodan aircwide, 5 ]?aet ic soSlice si'SSan meahte
ongitan bi J?am gealdre Godes agen beam,
wilgest on wlcum, ond ]?one wacran swa some
scyldum bescyredne on gescead witan.
Paet maeg aeghwylc mon ea]?e ge]?encan, 10 se Ipe hine (ne) IseteS on J?as laenan tid
amyrran his gemyndum modes gselsan,
ond on his daegrime druncen to rice.
Ponne monige beo<5 msej^elhergendra,
wlonce wigsmi]?as, wmburgum in, 15 sitta]? set symble, soSgied wrecaS,
wordum wrixlaS, witan fimdia)?,
hwylc aescstede inne in raecede
mid werum wunige ; }?onne win hweteS
beornes breostsefan, breahtm stigeS, 20 cirm on cor]?re, cwide scralleta]?
missenlice. Swa beo)? modsefan
d^lum gedseled, sindon dryhtguman
ungelice. Sum on oferhygdo
)?rymme ]?ringe(3), ]?rinte5 him in innan 25 ungemedemad mod ; sindan to monige ]?3et.
BiS j?aet aef]?onca eal gefylled
feondes fligepllum, facensearwum ;
breodaS he ond bselceS, b65 his sylfes
swi]?or micle ]?onne se sella mon, ^o }>enceS J>3et his wise welhwam ]?ince
eal unforcu]?. Bi}? ]?aes 6]?er swice,
J>onne he ]?33S facnes fintan sceawaS ;
wrence]? he ond blence]?, worn ge]?ence}>
hinderhoca, hygegar leteS, 35 scurum sceote]?, he ]?a scylde ne wat
fseh]?e gefremede, feoh]? his betran
eorl fore aefstum, laete]? inwitflan
brecan )?one burgweal J?e him bebead Meotud,
J>33t he ]?aet wigsteal wergan sceolde. 40 Site]? symbelwlonc, searwum IseteS,
wine geweeged, word ut faran,
10. ne S. 19. breahtem. 22. dalum.
XIII. THE FATES OF MEN 45
brsefte ]?ringan brymme gebyrmed,
sefestum onaeled, oferhygda ful,
ni]?um, nearowrencum. Nu }>u cunnan meaht, 45 gif bu byslicne ]?egn gemittest
wunian in wicum ; wite ]?e be bissum
feawum forSspellum baet baet bib feondes beam,
flsesce bifongen ; hafaS frsete Hf
grundfusne gaest, Gode orfeorme, 50 wuldorcyninge. ......
13. THE FATES OF MEN
In this poem, with which may be compared portions of the Gifts of Men (No. 21 B), are described the various fortunes which await young men when they leave their parents and go out into the world. There are several pictures of striking vividness, e.g. those of the malefactor on the gallows and of the victim of strong drink. As in the case of the Wanderer and the Seafarer, the first sixty lines or so are superior in quality to the latter part of the poem, which may be a later addition.
Ful oft bset gegongeS mid Codes meahtum
bsette wer ond wif in woruld cennaS
beam mid gebyrdum ond mid bleom gyrwaS,
tew/a]? ond tse<rab, oj»]?3et seo tid cymecS, 5 gegseS gearrimum, J?aet ]?a geongan leomu,
liffaestan leo)?ti, geloden weorbaS.
FergaS swa ond fedaS fseder ond modor,
giefaS ond gierwa]? ; God ana wat
hwset him weaxendum winter bringaS. 10 Sumum bget gegongeS on geoguSfeore
J?set se endestaef earfeS msegum,
wealic weorbeS ; sceal hine wulf etan,
bar hseSstapa ; hinsib bonne
m5dor bimurneS ; ne bi<5 swylc monnes geweald. 1 5 Sumne sceal hunger ahjpban, sumne sceal hreoh fordrifan,
sumne sceal gar agetan, sumne gu5 abreotan.
Sum sceal leomena leas lifes neotan,
folmum aetfeohtan, sum on feSe lef,
4. tennaj) ond taetaj). n. earfeSmaecgum. 15. ahij>an.
46 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
seonobennum seoc, sar cwanian, 20 murnan meotudgesceaft, mode gebysgad.
Sum sceal on holte of hean beame
fij?erleas feallan, bi5 on flihte se]?eah,
laceS on lyfte, oj?]?£et hingre ne biS
w^stm wudubeames ; jxmne he on wyrtruman 25 sigeS sworcenfer(h)S sawle bireafod,
fealle]? on foldan, feor(h)S bij? on stye.
Sum sceal on fe)?e on feorwegas
nyde gongan ond his nest beran,
tredan uriglast etyeodigra 30 frecne foldan ; ah he feormendra
lyt lifgendra ; laS bij? seghwabr
fore his wonsceaftum wineleas haele.
Sum sceal on geapum galgan ridan,
seomian set swylte, o]?]?aet sawlhord, 35 bancofa blodig, abrocen weorj?e5,
]?3er him hrefn nimeS heafodsyne,
sliteS salwigpad saw^lleasne ;
no]?er he }>y facne mseg folmum biwergan,
la]?um lyftsceaj^an ; bi]? his Hf scaecen, 40 ond he feleleas, feores orwena,
blac on beame, bideS wyrde
bewegen waelmiste ; biS him werig noma.
Sum(ne) on bsele sceal brond
fretan frecne Hg fsegne monnan, 45 ]?ser him Hfgedal lungre weorSeS,
read re]?e gled ; reoteS meowle,
seo hyre beam gesihS brondas
Sumum meces ecg on meodubence
yrrum ealowosan ealdor o]?]?ringe(S, 50 were winsadum ; biS £er his worda to hraed.
Sum sceal on beore ]?urh byreles hond,
meodugal maecga, ]?onne he gemet ne con
gemearcian his mu]?e mode sine,
ac sceal ful earmlice ealdre linnan, 55 dreogan dryhtenbealo dreamum biscyred,
23. lungre 5. , lengre MS. 24. western. 37. sawelleasne.
43. brond ajjecgan S, , brondas j>encan MS. 47. J^ecgan S.t jjeccan MS.
XIII. THE FATES OF MEN 47
ond hine to sylfcwale secgas nemnaS,
iruenaS mid mu]?e meodugales gedrinc.
Sum sceal on geogu]?e mid Codes meahtum
his earfoSsij? ealne forspildan, 60 ond on yldo eft eadig weor]?an,
wunian wyndagum, ond welan ]?icgan,
magmas ond meoduful mgegburge on,
]?aes Ipe senig flra masge ford" gehealdan.
Swa missenlice meahtig Dryhten 65 geond eor]?an sceat eallum dseleS,
scyreS ond scrifeS ond gesceapo healdeS :
sumum eadwelan, sumum earfe)?a d^el,
sumum geogo}?e glaed, sumum gu]?e bleed,
gewealdenne wigplegan, sumum wyrp O\>]>Q scyte, 70 torhtlicne tir, sumum tsefle craeft,
bleobordes gebregd ; sume boceras
weor]?a3 wisfseste. Sumum wundorgiefw
J?urh goldsmi]?e gearwad weor]?eS ;
ful oft he gehyrdeS ond gehyrsteS wel 75 brytencyninges beorn, ond he him brad syleS
lond to leane ; he hit on lust ]?ige5.
Sum sceal on heape hsele]?uni cweman,
blissian set beore bencsittendum,
J>aer bi|> drincendra dream se micla. 80 Sum sceal mid hearpan set his hlafordes
fotum sittan, feoh ]?icgan,
ond a snellice snere wrsestan,
Isetan scralle(t)tan ; (s)^ear^/e]?e(r) hleapeS,
naegl neome^ende ; bi]? him neod micel. 85 Sum sceal wildne fugel wloncne atemian,
heafoc on honda, oj?]?set seo heoroswealwe
wynsum weorJ>eS ; dej? he wyrplas on,
fede]? swa on feterum fi]?rum dealne,
\{zre}> lyftswiftne lytlum gieflum, 90 o]?]?aet se waslisca wsedum ond dasdum
his setgiefan eaSmod weorJ?eS,
ond to hagostealdes honda gelsered.
63. forh. 70. tiir. 72. -giele.
83. sceardfej>er S. ; the MS. has geg.ro se J>e. 84. neome cende. 89. lepe)?.
48 ELEGIAC, LYRIC, AND MORALIZING
Swa wrsetlice weoroda geond middangeard monna crseftas 95 sceop ond scyrede, ond gesceapo ferede seghwylcum on eor]?an eormencynnes. For]?on him nu ealles jxrnc ^ghwa secge, J>e he fore his miltsum monnum scrifeS.
93. weoroda Nergend S., weorod anes god MS.
III. NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
In this section we have limited our choice to Beowulf , the Battle of Brunan- burh, and the Baffle of Mai don, as these are almost the only native poems of narration not adapted from Latin works or dealing with subjects taken from the Bible. A fine specimen of a narrative poem on a biblical theme is Exodus (No. 19) ; another is Judith. Some of the A.-S. Riddles (No. 22) contain striking descriptions of natural phenomena. Other good descriptive passages occur in the Phoenix ^ the Panther, etc.
14. BEOWULF
A. THE SWIMMING-MATCH 11. 499-589
Beowulf and his little band of followers have been admitted into King Hrothgar's hall and have taken their seats at the mead-bench. Unferth, the court orator and wit, is jealous of the attention shown to Beowulf, and tries to belittle his prowess. He makes a slighting mention of Beowulfs famous swimming-match with Breca, saying that Breca was the victor. Stung by the taunt, Beowulf describes the match in detail and ends his speech with a crushing attack on Unferth.
HunferS ma]?elode, Ecglafes beam, Ipe set fotum saet frean Scyldinga, onband beadurune — wses him Beowulfes sIS, modges merefaran, micel sefjmnca, 5 forjxm ]?e he ne u]?e bggt senig 65er man sefre mserSa ]?on ma middangeardes gehedde under heofenum J>onne he sylfa — : * Eart ]?u se Beowulf, se J>e wiS Brecan wunne, ' on sidne sse ymb sund flite, i o ' Seer git for wlence wada cunnedon ' ond for dolgilpe on deop waeter 1 aldrum ne]?don ? Ne inc senig mon,
49 E
5O NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
' ne leof ne laS, belean mihte
' sorhfullne sIS, ]?a git on sund reon.
1 5 ' Pair git eagorstream earmum J?ehton, ' mabton merestrieta, mundum brugdon, ' glidon ofer garsecg ; geofon y]mm weol ' (J?urh) wintrys wylm. Git on wseteres seht ' seofon niht swuncon ; he ]?e set sunde oferflat,
20 ' hsefde mare maegen. Pa hine on morgentid
* on Hea]?o-R^m«s holm up setbser ; 'Sonon he gesohte swsesne eSel,
' leof his leodum, lond Brondinga,
'freoSoburh faegere, j^ser he folc ahte, 25 * burh ond beagas. Beot eal wiS ]?e
' sunu Beanstanes soSe gelseste.
{ Donne wene ic to ]?e wyrsan gej'ingej,
' 5eah }>u heaSorsesa gehwa^r dohte,
' grimre guSe, gif >u Grendles dearst 30 ' nihtlongne fyrst nean bidan.'
Beowulf maj>elode, beam Ecg]?eowes :
* Hwset ! J?u worn fela, wine mm HunferS, 'beore druncen, ymb Brecan spraece,
' saegdest from his sI5e. S63 ic talige 35 ']?3et ic merestrengo maran ahte,
' earfe]?o on y)?um, Sonne aenig 6]?er man.
4 Wit J>aet gecwsedon cnihtwesende
' ond gebeotedon — wabron begen )?a git
' on geogoSfeore — ]?aet wit on garsecg ut 40 ' aldrum neSdon, ond ]?s3t geaefndon swa.
* Haefdon swurd nacod, ]?a wit on sund reon, ' heard on handa ; wit unc wiS hronfixas
' werian ]?6hton. No he wiht fram me ' flodyj^um feor fleotan meahte 45 'hra]?or on holme; no ic fram him wolde. ' Da wit setsomne on sse wseron 4 fif nihta fyrst o]> ]?aet unc flod todraf, 1 wado weallende, wedera cealdost, ' nipende niht, ond nor]?an wind ' heaSogrim onhwearf; hreo wasron y]?a.
21. heajjoraemes. 27. ge])ingea. 50. ondhwearf.
XIV. BEOWULF 51
'Wses merefixa mod onhrered,
' ]?aer me wiS la<5um Hcsyrce mm
1 heard hondlocen helpe gefremede,
1 beadohrsegl broden on breostum laeg, 55 'golde gegyrwed. Me to grunde teah
{fah feondscaSa, fssste haefde
' grim on grape ; hwse]?re me gyfe]?e wear<5
1 )?3et ic aglsecan orde genehte,
' hildebille ; heaj?orses fornam 60 ' mihtig meredeor J?urh mine hand.
' Swa mec gelome laSgeteonan
* ]?reatedon Dearie ; ic him }?enode
' deoran sweorde, swa hit gedefe wses. ' Naes hie Ssere fylle gefean hsefdon, 65 * manfordJedlan, ]?aet hie me ]?egon ; 1 symbel ymbsseton saegrunde neah,
* ac on mergenne mecum wunde
* be ySlafe uppe Isegon,
4 sweo(r)dum aswefede, ]?sst syS)?an na 70 ' ymb brontne ford1 brimliSende ' lade ne letton. Leoht eastan com, ' beorht beacen Codes ; brimu sw^redon, ' J?3et ic ssensessas geseon mihte,
* windige weallas. Wyrd oft nere<5
75 'unfsegne eorl, J^onne his ellen deah.
Hwae^ere me gesselde ]?&st ic mid sweorde ofsloh niceras nigene ; no ic on niht gefraegn ( under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,
* ne on egstreamum earmran mannon ; So ' hw^]?ere ic fara feng feore gedigde,
' sl]?es werig. Da mec sae oj>baer, 1 flod sefter faroSe, on Finna land, 1 wtfdu weallendu. No ic wiht fram ]?e ' swylcra searoniSa secgan hyrde, 85 ' billa brogan. Breca nsefre git ' set heaSolace, ne gehwae]?er incer, 1 swa deorlice dsed gefremede ' fagum sweordum — no ic ]?ass (fela) gylpe —
70. forS S. ; ford MS. 72. swa)>redon. 80. hwa]>ere. 83. wudu.
5 2 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
* ]?eah 5u binum broftrum to banan wurde, 9° ' heafodmsegum ; bses bu in helle scealt ' werhSo dreogan, beah bin wit duge.'
B. THE FIGHT WITH GRENDEL 11. 710-823
It is night-time, the feasting is over, Hrothgar and his Danes have left the royal hall. Beowulf remains behind waiting for the monster's coming ; his small band of followers lie around him sleeping ; he alone is awake. Grendel approaches, breaks in the door of the hall and enters. Beowulf seizes him by the arm and a terrific struggle takes place.
Da com of more under misthleobum
Grendel gongan, Godes yrre baer ;
mynte se manscaSa manna cynnes 95 sumne besyrwan in sele bam hean.
Wod under wolcnum to bass be he wmreced,
goldsele gumena, gearwost wisse
faettum fahne ; ne waes J>set forma sIS
baet he Hrobgares ham gesohte, ioo nsefre he on aldordagum £er ne sibSan
heardran haele healSegnas fand.
Com }?a to recede rinc siSian
dreamum bedseled. Duru sona onarn
fyrbendum fsest, sy]?San he hire folmum hran ; 105 onbrsed J?a bealohydig, Sa he gebolgen waes,
recedes muban. Rabe aefter bon
on fagne flor feond treddode,
code yrremod ; him of eagum stod
ligge gelicost leoht unfaeger. 1 10 Geseah he in recede rinca manige,
swefan sibbegedriht samod setgaedere,
magorinca heap. Pa his mod ahlog ;
mynte bast he geda^lde ser J?on daeg cwome,
atol aglseca, anra gehwylces 115 Hf wi5 lice, ba him alumpen wass
wistfylle wen. Ne waes [baet wy]rd ba gen
baet he ma moste manna cynnes
Sicgean ofer ba niht. prySswyS beheold,
XIV. BEOWULF 53
mabg Higelaces, hu se manscaSa 120 under faergripum gefaran wolde.
Ne ]?aet se aglseca yldan ]?ohte,
ac he gefeng hratte forman siSe
slaipendne rinc, slat unwearnum,
bat banlocan, blod edrum dranc, 125 synsnsedum swealh ; sona haefde
unlyfigendes eal gefeormod,
fet ond folma. ForS near aetstop,
nam ]?a mid handa higej?ihtigne
rinc on rseste, raehte ^gean(es) 13° feond mid folme ; he onfeng hra]?e
inwit]?ancum ond wiS earm gesset.
Sona ]?£et onfunde fyrena hyrde
]?set he ne mette middangeardes,
eor]?an sceata, on elran men J35 mundgripe maran; he on mode wearS
forht on ferhSe, no ]?y ser fram meahte ;
hyge waes him hinfus, wolde on heolster fleon,
secan deofla gedrseg ; ne waes his drohtoS ]?ser
swylce he on ealderdagum £er gemette. I4° Gemunde ]?a se wod(g)a mseg Higelaces
xfensprsece, uplang astod
ond him faeste wiSfeng. Fingras burston ;
eoten waes utweard, eorl fur]mr stop.
Mynte se maera, [}>2er] he meahte swa, J45 wide gewindan ond on weg ]?anon
fleon on fenhopu ; wiste his fingra geweald
on grames grapum. [Pset] waes geocor sIS
J?aet se hearmsca]?a to Heorute ateah.
Dryhtsele dynede, Denum eallum wearS, I5° ceasterbuendum, cenra gehwylcum,
eorlum ealuscer/en. Yrre waeron begen
re)?e renweardas ; reced hlynsode.
Pa waes wundor micel J>aet se winsele
wiShaefde hea]?odeorum, )?aet he on hrusan ne feol, X55 faeger fold(an) bold, ac he ]?3es faeste waes
innan ond utan irenbendum,
129. ongean. 140. se goda. 145, widre. 151. ealuscerwen.
54 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
searo]?oncum besmi]x)d. Peer fram sylle abeag
medubenc monig mine gefrsege
golde geregnad, J?£er ]?a graman wunnon. 1 60 pses ne wendon ear witan Scyldinga
]?set hit a mid gemete manna senig,
^etlic ond banfag, tobrecan meahte,
listum tolucan, nymj?e liges fae]?m
swulge on swajmle. Sweg up astag 165 mwe geneahhe; NorS-Denum stod
atelic egesa anra gehwylcum
]?ara J>e of wealle wop gehyrdon,
gryreleoS galan Codes andsacan,
sigeleasne sang, sar wanigean 170 helle haefton. Heold hine to faeste
se ]?e manna waes maegene strengest
on ]?sem dsege J?ysses Hfes ;
nolde eorla hleo senige J'inga
]?one cwealmcuman cwicne forlsetan, 175 ne his lifdagas leoda senigum
nytte tealde. PBSI genehost brsegd
eorl Beowulfes ealde lafe,
wolde freadrihtnes feorh ealgian,
mseres ]?eodnes, Sser hie meahton swa ; 1 80 hie ]?3st ne wiston, ]?a hie gewin drugon,
heardhicgende hildemecgas,
ond on healfa gehwone heawan J?6hton,
sawle secan, (J>8et) ]?one synscaSan
senig ofer eor]?an irenna cyst, 185 guSbilla nan, gretan nolde,
ac he sigewsepnum forsworen hsefde,
ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldorgedal
on Ssem daege )?ysses Hfes
earmlic wurSan, ond se ellorgast 190 on feonda geweald feor siSian.
Da J>83t onfunde se ]?e fela aeror
modes myrSe manna cynne
fyrene gefremede — he (waes) fag wiS God —
)?83t him se lichoma Isestan nolde,
162. hetlic.
XIV. BEOWULF 55
195 ac hine se modega mseg Hygelaces
haefde be honda ; waes gehwae]?er oSrum
lifigende laS. Licsar gebad
atol seglaeca; him on eaxle wear<5
syndolh sweotol ; seonowe onsprungon, 200 burston banlocan. Beowulfe wearS
guShreS gyfe]?e ; scolde Grendel ]?onan
feorhseoc fleon under fenhleoSu,
secean wynleas wic ; wiste ]?e geornor
]?aet his aldres waes ende gegongen, 205 dogera daegrim.
C. THE HAUNTS OF THE OGRES 11. 1345-76
King Hrothgar tells Beowulf about Grendel and his dam.
Ic ]?set londbuend, leode mine,
selersedende, secgan hyrde
]?set hie gesawon swylce twegen
micle mearcstapan moras healdan, 210 ellorgaestas; Ssera 65er waes,
J?aes ]?e hie gewislicost gewitan meahton,
idese onlicn^s ; 6Ser earmsceapen
on weres waestmum wrseclastas trsed,
naefne he waes mara ]?onne senig man 65er ; 215 ]?one on geardagum Grendel nemdo[n]
foldbuende ; no hie faeder cunnon,
hwse]?er him senig waes aer acenned
dyrnra gasta. Hie dygel lond
warigeaS, wulfhleoj>u, windige naessas, 220 frecne fengelad, Saer fyrgenstream
under naessa genipu nijper gewiteS,
flod under foldan. Nis ]?aet feor heonon
milgemearces J?aet se mere standeft,
ofer ]?aem hongiaS hrin(g)de bearwas, 225 wudu wyrtum faest waeter oferhelmaS.
Pser maeg nihta gehwaem niSwundor seon,
fyr on flode ; no J?aes frod leofaS
212. onlic noes.
56 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
gumena bearna >set (he) >one grund wite.
Deah J?e hseSstapa hundum geswenced, 230 heorot hornum trum, holtwudu sece,
feorran geflymed, ser he feorh seleS,
aldor on ofre, abr he in wille
hafelan (hydan). Nis )?aet heoru stow ;
]?onon ySgeblond up astlgeS 235 won to wolcnum, ]?onne wind styrej>
laS gewidru, o<5 ]?aet lyft drysmaj>,
roderas reotaS.
D. THE VISIT TO THE POOL OF MONSTERS
11. 1399-1441
Pa W3es HroSgare hors gebabted, wicg wundenfeax ; wisa fengel 240 geatolic gen(g)de ; gumfe]?aistop lindhsebbendra. Lastas wseron sefter waldswaj^um wide gesyne, gang ofer grundas, (]?xr heo) gegnum for ofer myrcan mor, magof>egna bser 245 ]?one selestan sawolleasne
]?ara J>e mid HroSgare ham eahtode. Ofereode ]?a 8eJ>elinga beam steap stanhliSo, stige nearwe, enge anpaSas, uncuS gelad, 250 neowle nsessas, nicorhusa fela; he feara sum beforan gengde
wisra monna wong sceawian,
o]? ]?8et he fseringa fyrgenbeamas
ofer harne stan hleonian funde, 255 wynleasne wudu ; wseter under stod
dreorig ond gedrefed. Denum eallum waes,
winum Scyldinga, weorce on mode
to gej?olianne, Segne monegum,
oncyS eorla gehwsem, syS]?an ^Escheres 260 on ]?am holmclife hafelan metton.
Flod blode weol — folc to ssegon —
hatan heolfre. Horn stundum song
XIV. BEOWULF 57
fuslic f [yrd]leo<5. Fe]?a eal gesaet.
Gesawon Sa asfter wsetere wyrmcynnes fela, 265 sellice saMracan, sund cunnian,
swylce on nseshleoSum nicras licgean,
Sa on undernmael oft bewitigaS
sorhfulne siS on seglrade,
wyrmas ond wildeor ; hie on weg hruron 270 bitere ond gebolgne, bearhtm ongeaton,
guShorn galan. Sumne Geata leod
of flanbogan f cores getwaifde,
ySgewinnes, j?aet him on aldre stod
herestreel hearda ; he on holme waes 275 sundes ]?e ssenra, 3e hyne swylt fornam;
hrae]?e wearS on ySum mid eoferspreotum
heorohocyhtum hearde genearwod,
niSa genseged, ond on nses togen,
wundorlic wsegbora ; weras sceawedon 280 gryrelicne gist.
E. BEOWULF'S FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON
11. 2538-2709
A fire -breathing dragon is devastating the land of the Geats by night in revenge for a theft from the treasure-hoard of which it is the guardian. Beowulf, now king of the Geats and an old man, resolves to attack the dragon in its den under the hillside. With the help of his faithful henchman Wiglaf he succeeds in killing it, but dies himself shortly afterwards. Fights with dragons are familiar subjects in the mythology of the Aryan and other peoples.
Aras Sa bi ronde rof oretta,
heard under helme ; hiorosercean baer
under stancleofu, strengo getruwode
anes mannes ; ne biS swylc earges sI8. 285 Geseah Sa be wealle se Se worna fela,
gumcystum god, guSa gedigde,
hildehlemma, Jxmne hnitan feSan,
sto(n)dan stanbogan, stream ut ]?onan
brecan of beorge ; waes ]?sere burnan wselm 290 heaSofyrum hat; ne meahte horde neah
unbyrnende senige hwile
58 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
deor gedygan for dracan lege.
Let Sa of breostum, <5a he gebolgen waes,
Weder-Geata leod, word ut faran ; 295 stearcheort styrmde, stefn in becom
heaSotorht hlynnan under harne stan.
Hete waes onhrered ; hordweard oncmow
mannes reorde ; naes Sser mara fyrst
freo<5<? to friclan. From aerest cwom 300 orut> aglsecean ut of stane,
hat hildeswat ; hruse dynede,
born under beorge ; bordrand onswaf
wiS Sam gryregieste Geata dryhten.
Da waes hringbogan heorte gefysed 305 saecce to secean. Sweord ssr gebrsed
god guScyning, gomele lafe
ecgum un^law : seghwasSrum waes
bealohycgendra broga fram oSrum.
StI5m5d gestod wi5 steapne rond 310 winia bealdor, 5a se wyrm gebeah
snude tosomne ; he on searwum bad.
Gewat Sa byrnende gebogen scriSan,
to gesci/e scyndan ; scyld wel gebearg
life ond lice laessan hwile 315 mserum ]?eodne J>onne his myne sohte,
Saer he ]>y fyrste forman dogore
wealdan moste ; swa him wyrd ne gescraf
hreS aet hilde. Hond up abraed
Geata dryhten, gryrefahne sloh 320 Incge(s) lafe, J?aet sio ecg gewac
brun on bane, bat unswISor J>onne his Siodcyning J>earfe haefde bysigum gebaeded. Pa waes beorges weard aefter heaSuswenge on hreoum mode, 225 wearp waelfyre; wide sprungon hildeleoman ; hreSsigora ne gealp goldwine Geata ; guSbill geswac nacod aet m<5e, swa hyt no sceolde,
292. deop. 299. freode. 302. biorn.
305. seceanne. 307. unglaw. 313. g scipe.
XIV. BEOWULF 59
Iren aergod. Ne wses ]?aet eSe sIS,
330 ]?aet se maera maga EcgSeowes grundwong ]xme ofgyfan wolde ; sceolde (ofer) willan wic eardian elles hwergen ; swa sceal seghwylc mon alsetan Isendagas. Naes Sa long to Son
335 ]?aet Sa aglaecean hy eft gemetton ;
hyrte hyne hordweard, hreSer seSme weoll niwan stefne ; nearo Srowode fyre befongen se Se ser folce weold. Nealles him on heape handgesteallan,
340 aeSelinga beam, ymbe gestodon hildecystum, ac hy on holt bugon ealdre burgan. Hiora in anum weoll sefa wiS sorgum ; sibb sefre ne mseg wiht onwendan J?am Se wel ]?enceS.
345 Wiglaf wses haten Weoxstanes sunu, leoflic lindwiga, leod Scylfinga, maeg ^Elf heres ; geseah his mondryhten under heregriman hat frowian. Gemunde Sa Sa are ]?e he him ser forgeaf,
350 wicstede weligne Wsegmundinga,
folcrihta gehwylc, swa his faeder ahte ; ne mihte Sa forhabban, hond rond gefeng, geolwe linde, gomel swyrd geteah ; ]?3et wses mid eldum Eanmundes laf,
355 suna Ohtere(s). . . .
• • • •
Wod ]?a ]?urh ]?one wselrec, wigheafolan baer
frean on fultum, fea worda cwaeS :
* Leofa Biowulf, l^est call tela,
' swa Su on geoguSfeore geara gecwsede
360 ' }?3et Su ne alaete be Se lifigendum
{ dom gedreosan ; scealt nu dsedum rof, ' asSeling anhydig, ealle msegene ' feorh ealgian ; ic Se fullsestu.'
^Efter Sam wordum wyrm yrre cwom,
365 atol inwitgsest, 6Sre siSe,
fyrwylmum fah, fionda niospan],
60 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
laSra manna; HgySum forborn bord wi3 rond(e) ; byrne ne meahte geongum garwigan geoce gefremman, 370 ac se maga geonga under his mseges scyld elne geeode, ]?a his agen w[ses] gledum forgrunden. Pa gen guScyning mfserSa] gemunde, maegenstrengo sloh hildebille, }?set hyt on heafolan stod 375 m]?e genyded ; Naegling forbaerst, geswac aet saecce sweord Biowulfes, gomol ond grsegmsel. Him J?aet gifeSe ne waes )?aet him irenna ecge mihton helpan aet hilde ; waes sio hond to strong, 380 se Se meca gehwane mine gefrsege
swenge ofersohte, J>onne he to saecce baer wsepen wund(r)um heard ; naes him wihte Se sel.
Pa waes ]?eodsceaSa J>riddan siSe, frecne fyrdraca, fsehSa gemyndig, 385 raesde on Sone rofan, ]?a him rum ageald. hat ond heatfogrim, heals ealne ymbefeng biteran banum ; he geblodegod wearS sawuldriore ; swat ySum weoll.
Da ic set ]?earfe (gefraegn) J?eodcyninges 390 andlongne eorl ellen cySan,
craeft ond cenSu, swa him gecynde waes ; ne hedde he ]?aes heafolan, ac sio hand gebarn modiges mannes, ]?aer he his mseges healp J»aet he ]?one niSgsest nioSor hwene sloh, 395 secg on searwum, ]?aet 5aet sweord gedeaf fah ond faeted ; ]>d Saet fyr ongon sweSrian sySSan. Pa gen sylf cyning geweold his gewitte, wselseax gebrsed biter ond beaduscearp, j?aet he on byrnan waeg ; 400 forwrat Wedra helm wyrm on middan, •< feond gefyld^ ; ferh ellen wraec, ond hi hyne }?a begen abroten haefdon, sibaeSelingas ; swylc sceolde secg wesan, }>egn aet tfearfe.
393. maegenes. 396. ]>aet. 398. wasllseaxe. 401. gefyldan.
XIV. BEOWULF 6 I
F. BEOWULF'S OBSEQUIES I 11. 3i37~3i77
The body of the dragon has been pushed over the cliff into the sea ; the treasure has been brought out of the cave ; the funeral pile is built and Beowulf s body placed on it, surrounded with weapons, armour and ornaments. The fire is lighted and the hero's widow breaks into lamentations and forebodings. Then the Geat warriors build a grave-mound and having placed in it ornaments and weapons, they ride round the barrow chanting the praises of their dead king.
405 Him Sa gegiredan Geata leode
ad on eorSan unwaclicne,
helm(um) beh<?ng0n, hildebordum,
beorhtum byrnum, swa he bena wses.
Alegdon <5a tomiddes mserne ]?eoden, 410 hseleS hiofende hlaford leofne.
Ongunnon }?a on beorge bselfyra meest
wigend weccan ; wud[u]rec astah
sweart ofer swi<?5ole, swogende le^
wope bewunden — windblond gelaeg — 415 oS J>aet he Sa banhus gebrocen hsefde,
hat on hreSre. Higum unrote
modceare msendon mondryhtnes cw[e]alm ;
swylce giomorgyd [sio geo]meowle
[aefter Biowulfe bjundenheorde 420 [song] sorgcearig, sae^v/e geneahhe
]?3et hio hyre [hearmdajgas hearde on[dr]ede,
wselfylla wom, [wigenjdes egesan,
hy(n)5o [ond] h[aeft]nyd ; heofon rece swe[a]lg.
Geworhton Sa Wedra leode 42S hl[aew] on (holmh)li5e, se wses heah ond brad,
[waeJgHSendum wide g[e]syne,
ond betimbredon on tyn dagum
beadurofes been ; bronda lafe
wealle beworhton, swa hyt weorSHcost 430 foresnotre men findan mihton.
Hi on beorg dydon beg ond siglu,
call swylce hyrsta swylce on horde ser
4
407. behongen. 413. swicftole ; let.
420. saelSe. 422. wonn. 425. on holmhliSe S.t on li^e MS.
62
NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
niShedige men genumen haefdon ;
forleton eorla gestreon : eorftan healdan, 435 gold on greote, >ser hit nu gen lifaS
eldum swa unnyt swa hi[t sero]r waes. Pa ymbe hlsew riodan hildedeore,
ae>elinga [b]ea[r]n ealra twelfe ;
woldon [hie] cwISan, kyning msenan, 44° wordgyd wrecan ond ymb w[er] sprecan ;
eahtodan eorlscipe ond his ellenweorc
duguftum demdon. Swa hit gedeffe] biS
J>aet mon his winedryhten wordum herge,
ferhSum freoge, J?onne he for5 scile, 445 of Hchaman [lysed] weorSan.
Swa begnornodon Geata leode
hlafordes [hryjre, heorSgeneatas,
cwsedon }>aet he waere wyruldcyning(a),
manna mildust ond mon[Sw]£erust, 450 leodum HSost ond lofgeornost.
G. HERO-LAYS IN THE MAKING
*
11.853-874
This passage, which immediately precedes the account of Sigemund and Fitela (see No. 4 B), is interesting as showing that the custom of singing lays of heroes was not confined to the banqueting-hall. A body of mounted Danes, gathered from far and wide on learning the news of the mighty struggle between Beowulf and Grendel in Heorot, are returning from a visit to the mysterious mere into which the wounded Grendel has plunged. The Beowulf poet may well have taken part himself in such an outing.
Panon eft gewiton ealdgesISas, swylce geong manig, of gomenwaj»e, fram mere modge, mearum ridan, beornas on blancum. Dser waes Beowulfes 455 mserSo gemsened; monig oft gecwseS ]?aette suS ne norS be ssem tweonum ofer eormengrund 6]?er nsenig under swegles begong selra nsere rondhaebbendra, rices wyrSra.
*
438. twelfa.
XIV. BEOWULF 63
460 Ne hie hum winedrihten wiht ne logon, glsedne HroSgar, ac )?aet wses god cyning.
Hwilum heaborofe hleapan leton, on geflit faran, fealwe mearas, Sser him foldwegas fsegere buhton,
465 cystum cuSe. Hwilum cyninges ]?egn, guma gilphlaeden, gidda gemyndig, se <5e ealfela ealdgesegena worn gemunde, word 6}?er fand soSe gebunden. Secg eft ongan
470 sIS Beowulfes snyttrum styrian ond on sped wrecan spel gerade, wordum wrixlan.
H. SCENES IN HEOROT
The scenes in the banqueting-hall described in Beowulf may be regarded as taken by the poet from his own society, rather than as traditional descriptions handed down by gleemen. In any case, it is unlikely that social conditions and customs changed much in a Germanic society uninfluenced by Roman culture.
1. Beowulf and his men in Heorot (11. 6 1 1-630)
Dser waes haelejra hleahtor, hlyn swynsode,
word wseron wynsume. Eode Wealhbeow for5, 475 cwen HroSgares, cynna gemyndig ;
grette goldhroden guman on healle,
ond ]?a freolic wif ful gesealde
serest East-Dena ej>elwearde,
bsed hine bliSne set ]?3ere beor]?ege, 480 leodum leofne ; he on lust ge]?eah
symbel ond seleful, sigerof kyning.
Ymbeode J>a ides Helminga
dugu^e ond geogo}?e dsel seghwylcne,
sincfato sealde, oj? J>33t ssel alamp 485 ]?aet hio Beowulfe, beaghroden cwen
mode ge]?ungen, medoful aetbser ;
grette Geata leod, Code bancode
wisfsest wordum baes 5e hire se willa gelamp
64 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
J?aet heo on senigne eorl gelyfde 490 fyrena frofre. He >set ful ge>eah, wselreow wiga, set Wealh]?eon, ond J?a gyddode gu]?e gefysed.
2. 11. 1008-1042
After the fight between Beowulf and Grendel, the hall Heorot is set in order and a banquet held, at which the grateful Hrothgar gives Beowulf splendid presents.
pa wses ssel ond msel
}?set t5 healle gang Healfdenes sunu ; 495 wolde self cyning symbel >icgan.
Ne gefraegn ic ]?a maeg]?e maran weorode
ymb hyra sincgyfan sel gebseran.
Bugon ]?a to bence blaed[agen]de,
fylle gefsegon, faegere ge]?3egon 500 medoful manig ; magas ze;ar0(n)
swiShicgende on sele J»am hean,
HroSgar ond Hro]?ulf. Heorot innan wses
freondum afylled ; nalles facenstafas
Deod-Scyldingas ]?enden fremedon. 505 Forgeaf >a Beowulfe beam Healfdenes
segen gyldenne sigores to leane,
hroden hiltecumbor, helm ond byrnan,
msere ma5]?umsweord ; manige gesawon
beforan beorn beran. Beowulf ge^ah 510 ful on flette ; no he baere feohgyfte
for sc(e)oten(d)um scamigan Sorfte.
Ne gefrsegn ic freondlicor feower madmas
golde gegyrede gummanna fela
in ealobence oSrum gesellan. 515 Ymb j?aes helmes hrof heafodbeorge
wirum bewunden wal^ utan heold,
]?aet him fe(o)la laf frecne ne meahtd
scurheard sce]?San, ]?onne scyldfreca
ongean gramum gangan scolde. 520 Heht t>a eorla hleo eahta mearas
500. )>ara. 505. brand. 516. walan. 517. meahton.
XIV. BEOWULF 65
fsetedhleore on flet teon in under eoderas ; ]?ara anum stod sadol searwum fan, since gewur]?ad ; ]?aet waes hildesetl heahcyninges 525 Sonne sweorda gelac sunu Healfdenes efnan wolde; nsefre on ore laeg widcu]?es wig, Sonne walu feollon.
3. Preparations for the night (11. 1232—1250)
After the banquet Hrothgar and his court retire, leaving Beowulf and his men in Heorot.
wses symbla cyst,
druncon win weras, wyrd ne cujxm, 530 geosceaft grimme, swa hit agangen wearS
eorla manegum. Sy]?5an sefen cwom,
ond him Hro]?gar gewat to hofe smum,
rice to rseste. Reced weardode
unrim eorla, swa hie oft ser dydon ; 535 benc]?elu beredon \ hit geondbrabded wearS
beddum ond bolstrum. Beorscealca sum
fus ond fsege fletrseste gebeag.
Setton him to heafdon hilderandas,
bordwudu beorhtan ; J?ser on bence waes 540 ofer as]?elinge y]?gesene
hea]?osteapa helm, hringed byrne,
]?recwudu ]?rymlic. Waes ]?eaw hyra
J?aet hie oft wseron anwiggearwe
ge aet ham ge on herge, ge gehwae]?er ]?ara, 545 efne swylce msela swylce hira mandryhtne
f>earf gesaelde ; waes seo ]?eod tilu.
I. BEOWULF is MADE A HEREDITARY CHIEF
11. 2190—99
On Beowulf's return home he presents his uncle, Hygelac king of the Geats with the gifts he has received from Hrothgar, the Danish king. Thereupon Hygelac confers on him a share in the royal domain, with appropriate endow- ment and privileges.
Het Sa eorla hleo in gefetian, heaSorof cyning, HreSles lafe
F
66 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
golde gegyrede ; rises mid Geatum Sa 550 sincmaSbum selra on sweordes had ;
]?aet he on Biowulfes bearm alegde,
ond him gesealde seofan busendo,
bold ond bregostol. Him wses bam samod
on 5am leodscipe lond gecynde, 555 card, eSelriht, 65rum swISor
side rice, bam (be) <5air selra wses.
J. WEAPONS AND ARMOUR
In Beowulf 'the chief weapon for close fighting is the sword, sweord, bill, mece, etc. ; for more distant attack the spear or javelin, spere, gar, cesc, cescholt, etc. ; also the bow, boga, and arrow, flan. The protective armour consists of a tunic of steel links, byrne, lusyrce, hringnet, etc., a helmet of iron or steel, helm, grimhelm ; in some cases surmounted by the image of a wild boar, eofor, eoforlic, ferh. The band or hoop round the helm is called walu. The circular shield of linden- wood, scyld, rand, bord, lind, etc., is covered with metal. Swords are valued for their age and history ; they are handed down from father to son and are a favourite form of valuable gift. They bear names, such as Hrunting, Nsegling, Mimming (in Waldere}.
1. Beowulf and his men march to Heorot (11. 321—331)
GuSbyrne scan
heard hondlocen, hringiren scir
song in searwum, ]?a hie to sele furftum 560 in hyra gryregeatwum gangan cwomon.
Setton ssemebe side scyldas,
rondas regnhearde, wi<5 bass recedes weal ;
bugon ]?a to bence. Byrnan hringdon,
guSsearo gumena ; garas stodon, 565 saimanna searo, samod aetgaedere,
aescholt ufan graeg ; waes se IrenJ?reat
wsepnum gewur]?ad.
2. Beowulf girds on his armour (11. 1441—64)
Gyrede hine Beowulf
eorlgewsedum, nalles for ealdre mearn ; 570 scolde hildebyrne hondum gebroden,
XIV. BEOWULF 67
sid ond searofah, sund cunnian,
seo Se bancofan beorgan cu]?e,
}?aet him hildegrap hre]?re ne mihte,
eorres inwitfeng, aldre gesce]?(5an ; 575 ac se hwlta helm hafelan werede,
se }>Q meregrundas mengan scolde,
secan sundgebland, since geweor<5ad,
befongen freawrasnum, swa hine fyrndagum
worhte waepna smiS, wundrum teode, 580 besette swinlicum, ]?aet hine sy5]?an no
bro^dne beadomecas bitan ne meahton.
Nses ]?aet J?onne msetost msegenfultuma
J?set him on Searfe lah Syle HroSgares ;
waes ]?sem haeftmece Hrunting nama ; 585 I'set wses an foran ealdgestreona,
ecg waes Iren, atertanum fah,
ahyrded hea]?oswate ; nsefre hit aet hilde ne swac
manna aengum ]?ara ]?e hit mid mundum bewand,
se Se gryresISas gegan dorste, 500 folcstede fara ; naes ]?aet forma sI5
]?aet hit ellenweorc asfnan scolde.
3. The Giant Sword dissolves in the monsters blood
(11. i
Sy]?San he eft astod, geseah Sa on searwum sigeeadig bil, ealdsweord eotenisc ecgum ]?yhtig, 595 wigena weorSmynd ; ]?aet (waes) waepna cyst, buton hit waes mare Sonne senig mon 63er to beadulace aetberan meahte, god ond geatolic, giganta geweorc.
• ••• ••••
Pa ]?aet sweord ongan 600 aefter hea]?oswate hildegicelum,
wigbil wanian \ ]?aet waes wundra sum ]?aet hit eal gemealt ise gelicost,
581. brond ne.
68 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
Sonne forstes bend Feeder onlseteS,
• ••• , • •••
Da wses gylden hilt gamelum rince, 605 harum hildfruman, on hand gyfen, enta sergeweorc ; hit on sent gehwearf setter deofla hryre Denigea frean, wundorsmi]?a geweorc,
• ••• •••*
HroSgar ma<5elode, hylt sceawode, 610 ealde lafe, on 5sem wses or writen
fyrngewinnes, sySban flod ofsloh,
gifen geotende, giganta cyn ;
frecne geferdon ; J?set wses fremde ]?eod
ecean Dryhtne ; him ]?ses endelean 615 burh waeteres wylm Waldend sealde.
Swa wses on Ssem scennum sciran goldes
]?urh runstafas rihte gemearcod,
geseted ond gesaed, hwam ]?9et sweord geworht,
iren(n)a cyst, serest wsere, 620 wreoj»enhilt ond wyrmfah.
15. THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH
This poem is of historical as well as of literary interest. It forms the entry for the year A. D. 937 in the A.-S. Chronicle and celebrates the overwhelming victory gained by yEthelstan, king of Wessex, and his brother Eadmund over the Northumbrian Danes, who were joined by Irish Scandinavians, Scots lender King Constantine, and the Welsh of Strathclyde, a victory which finally established the supremacy of Wessex in England. A number of places have been suggested as the site of the battle, e.g. Bromborough on the Mersey, Burnswark, a hill in Dumfriesshire, and Bramber near Preston, S. of the Ribble. In favour of the last named is the fact that in 1840 a large -hoard of silver ingots and coins, none of later date than 930, was unearthed at Cuerdale, a parish some two miles E. of Preston on the Ribble. It is presumed that the treasure was the war-chest of the confederate army.
The tone of the poem is one of triumph ; the versification is correct and the style vigorous, though somewhat hackneyed, with phrases and vocabulary of the older poetry. It is to be noted that the Battle of Brunanburh is the first of several annals written in the traditional alliterating metre, the others belonging respectively to the years 942, 073, 975, and 1065.
Her ^j^elstan cyning,
beorna bephgif?- ano bis ^rc^o" e'.c,
Eadmund se>eling, ealdorlangnc tlr
XV. THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH
69
aet-sggcce sweorda ecgum 5 ymbe Brunnan'burh. Bordweal(l) clufan, heowan hea]?olinde hamora lafom eaforan Eadweardes, s\va him gesej^ele wses from cneomsegum jpaet hi set campe oft wi}> laj'ra gehwsene land ealgodon,
10 hoid and hamas. Hettend crungon, Scotta-leode, and scipflotan fsege feollan, feld dennade s^cga swale, si$]>an sunne up on morgentid, T»a&ie-t*mgoi,
15 gl R d • oftX-grundas, Godes condelr beorht, eces Drihtnes, o"5' sio se^elc gesceaft
20 werig, wiges ssed. Westseaxe forS ondlongne dseg oered^ysttwii on last legdon la.]>ui»--]jeoxium, heowan herefleman hindan pearte Caecum mylenscearpum. MycoL-Qa wyradoti
25 heardes hondplegan iiade]?a nanum ^ara Se mid Anlafe ofer eargebland on lides bosme land gesohton, 4«&ge l^^feokte. Fife Isegon on }?am campstede cyningas geonge
30 sweordum aswefedc, swike seofene eac eorlas Anlafes, unrim hcnges
' o
flotan and Scotta. ])£er geflemed wearo
n^do gobrod
to lides stefne" ly-t-le 35'cread cnear on flot, cyning ut gewat
Swilce pser eac se froda mid^fleaigg cogi on his cy]^e norS, Constontinus, har hilderinc, hreman ne J^orfte. 40 aaeca gemanan ; he wses his mi feeonda gefylled, on folcstede
19. Scittisc.
70 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
beslagen set ssecce, and his sunu forlet on waelstowe wundum forgrunden, geongne- u3t: gufie ; gel pan ne borfte 45 beorn blandcufeax kilgeslehtes, v£ald inwidda, ne Anlaf ]ry ma mid heura herelafuni hlehhan ne ]?orfton J?aet hi beaduweorca
on campsrede, . .cwnbolgehnastes,
S^garm-ittinge, guinena gemotes,
waipengewrixles, J^ses hi on waelfelda \vi)> Eadweardc-s eaforan plegodon. Gewitoji him pa, Xurj?men naegl%dcnearr«*n dreprig daroSa laf, on Dynges mere
55-ofer d^op-wset&r Dyflen secan, eft Traland, -aewiscmode. •Swilcc ]>a gcbr (")]?< jr bjs^*?«-a£t§a^afi, cynirrg and aj^eiin-g, ey]?J>e sohton, We&tsejuijd IAIJI!, ' wige^-hrrrTTige.
60 Letan him b<.hindaa hraw bryttian saluvvigpadaii, fcoflfr*^ MUI- u i» hi a. Fi'i,
and
earn aeftan hwit, ^eses"hrae*n, grsedigne guShafoc, aud ]?a£t graege deor,
65 wutf on weatde. Nc wearS wael mare on ]?is iglande elfre gieta Iblces-gefyUod l^eforan jnssum sweordes ecgitm, i'ass ]?e us secgaS bee, ealde uSwitan, »i]?})an eastan hidet
70 Engle and Seaxe «p becon^an ofer brade brima, B^yiuitt-^dfrtJln, wlance wigsmiSas, Wealas ofercoman, eprlas arhwate, eard begeatan.
J^
16. THE BATTLE OF JALDON
The events described in this poem with such vigour and strong feeling are briefly mentioned in the A.-S. Chronicle anno 991. They were an incident in the Scandinavian attacks on Britain at the end of the tenth century, which culminated in the conquest by Cnut in 1012. Byrhtnoth, King ./Ethelred's ealdorman or deputy in Essex, is hurrying with his troop to give battle to a
XVI. THE BATTLE OF MALDON 71
Danish force which has sailed up the estuary of the river Panta, the modern Blackwater, near the site of the modern town of Maldon. On reaching the shore opposite the landing-place of the Danes, Byrhtnoth proceeds to marshal his little force and to instruct his men how best to fight. The rest of the poem is a spirited narrative of the incidents in the fight, which was in reality a losing one for the Englishmen. The old bond of loyalty between chieftain and retainer is still strong and is nowhere expressed with deeper feeling. The heroes of the fight are named in this earliest English * roll of honour ' and their deeds noted, while the cowardly flight of others is branded for ever. The language of the poem is simple, being/ almost free from the device of repeating the same idea in different words which is used so freely in the older verse. There are also com- paratively few compound nouns and adjectives. Considering the date of composi- tion the versification keeps fairly close to the traditional rules, but exhibits some relaxation of the strict standard of Beowulf and other older poems. The first lines of the poem have been lost.
brocen wurde ;
het ]?a hyssa hwsene hors forlastan,
feor afysan and for5 gangan,
hicgan to handum and t(6) hige godum. 5 P(a) bast Offan mseg merest onfunde,
]?aet se eorl nolde yrhSo ge]?olian,
he let him ]?a of handon leofoe fleogan
hafoc wi5 J>aes holtes, and to J?sere hilde stop ;
be ]?am man mihte oncnawan ]?aet se cniht nolde 10 wacian set bam w(I)ge, ba he to wajpnum feng.
Eac him wolde Eadric his ealdre gelsestan,
frean to gefeohte ; ongan J>a for5 beran
gar to gube ; he hsefde god ge]?anc
}?a hwile be he mid handum healdan mihte 15 bord and brad swurd; beot he gelseste,
ha he setforan his frean feohtan sceolde. Pa )?ser ByrhtnoS ongan beornas trymian,
rad and rsedde, rincum tsehte
hu hi sceoldon standan and ]?one stede healdan, 20 and bsed ]?set hyra randan rihte heoldon
fasste mid folman, and ne forhtedon na.
pa he haefde J?aet folc fsegere getrymmed,
he lihte ]?a mid leodon bser him leofost wses,
]?ser he his heorSwerod holdost wiste. 25 Pa stod on staefte, stiSHce clypode
wicinga ar, wordum mselde,
7. leofre. 20. randan.
NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
se on beot ahead brimli]?endra seraende to ]?am eorle, J>3er he on ofre stod : ' Me sendon to ]?e ssemen snelle ; 30 ' heton <5e secgan ]?aet ]?u most sendan raSe
* beagas wi<5 gebeorge, and eow betere is
' ]?aet ge J>isne garraes mid gafole forgyldon
4]?on(ne) we swa hearde (h)ilde dselon.
' Ne jmrfe we us spillan ; gif ge speda]? to ]mm,
35 'we willaS wiS J>am golde gri5 fasstnian. 4 Gyf ]?u ]?at gersedest, J>e her ricost eart, ' J>set J?u ]?me leoda lysan wille, ' syllan ssemannum on hyra sylfra dom ' feoh wiS freode and niman fri<5 aet us,
40 * we willa]? mid ]?am sceattum us to scype gangan, ' on flot feran, and eow frizes healdan.' ByrhtnoS ma]?elode, bord hafenode, wand wacne aesc, wordum maelde, yrre and anrsed, ageaf him an ds ware :
45 ' Gehyrst ]?u, sselida, hwset )?is folc segeS ? 'hi willaS eow to gafole garas syllan, ' settrynne ord and ealde swurd, ' J?a heregeatu ]?e eow ast hilde ne deah. ' Brimmanna boda, abeod eft ongean,
50 ' sege ]?inum leodum miccle la]?re spell, ' J>aet her stynt unforcuS eorl mid his werode,
* J?e wile gealgean e]?el ]?ysne, '^E]?elredes card, ealdres mines,
' folc and foldan ; feallan sceolon 55 'h8e]?ene aet hilde. To heanlic me ]?ince3
'j?3et ge mid urum sceattum to scype gangon
' unbefohtne, nu ge J>us feor hider
' on urne card in becomon.
' Ne sceole ge swa softe sine gegangan ; 60 ' us sceal ord and ecg ser geseman,
' grim guSplega, ser we gafol syllon.'
Het J>a bord beran, beornas gangan,
J>aet hi on J>am easteSe ealle stodon.
Ne mihte ]?2er for waetere werod to ]?am 65rum •
61. J>e gofol.
XVI. THE BATTLE OF MALDON 73
65 j?ser com flowende flod sefter ebban,
lucon lagustreamas ; to lang hit him jriihte
hwaenne hi togsedere garas beron.
HI J?aer Pantan stream mid prasse bestodon,
Eastseaxena ord, and se seschere ; 70 ne mihte hyra aenig 6}?riim derian,
buton hwa ]?urh flanes flyht fyl gename.
Se flod ut gewat ; ]?a flotan stodon gearowe
wicinga fela, wiges georne.
Het J?a haeleSa hleo healdan J>a bricge 75 wigan wigheardne, se wass haten Wulfstan,
cafne mid his cynne ; )?33t waes Ceolan sunu,
)?e 5one forman man mid his francan ofsceat,
]?e ]?ser baldlicost on }?a bricge stop.
P^r stodon mid Wulfstane wigan unforhte, 80 ^Elfere and Maccus, modige twegen \
}>& noldon set ]?am forda fleam gewyrcan,
ac hi faestlice wiS 5a fynd weredon,
J>a hwile ]?e hi wsepna wealdan moston.
Pa hi ]?aet ongeaton and georne gesawon, 85 J?32t hi ]?ser bricgweardas bitere fundon,
ongunnon lytegian ]?a l^Se gystas ;
bsedon J?aet hi upgang agan moston,
ofer )?one ford faran, fe]?an laedan.
Da se eorl ongan for his ofermode 90 alyfan landes to fela laj^ere Seode.
Ongan ceallian )?a ofer cald wseter
Byrhtelmes beam ; beornas gehlyston :
* Nu eow is gerymed, gaS ricene t5 us,
4 guman to gu)?e ; God ana wat 95 ' hwa ]?£ere waelstowe wealdan mote.'
Wodon ]?a waelwulfas, for wsetere ne murnon,
wicinga werod, west ofer Pantan,
ofer sclr waeter scyldas wegon,
lidmen to lande linde babron. 100 P^er ongean gramum gearowe stodon
ByrhtnoS mid beornum ; he mid bordum het
wyrcan ]?one wlhagan, and ]?set werod healdan
86. luSe. 97. pest.
74 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
faeste wiS feondum. Pa waes f(e)ohte neh,
tir aet getohte ; waes seo tid cumen 105 ]?aet ]?£er faige men feallan sceoldon.
Paer wearS hream ahafen, ^remmas wundon,
earn ssses georn ; wses on eor]?an cyrm.
Hi leton )?a of folman feolhearde speru,
gegrundene garas fleogan ; no bogan wseron bysige, bord ord onfeng,
biter wses se beadurabs ; beornas feollon
on gehwaeSere hand, hyssas lagon.
Wund wearfr Wulfmser, waslrasste geceas,
ByrhtnoSes mseg, he mid billum wearS, 115 his swustersunu, swISe forheawen.
Paer waerfir wciingum wi]?erlean agyfen ;
gehyrde ic >aet Eadweard anne sloge
swiSe mid his swurde, swenges ne wyrnde,
J>set him aet fotum feoll fsege cempa ; 120 ^^es him his Seoden J>anc gessede,
}?am bur)?ene, ]?a he byre hsefde.
Swa stemnetton stISh/(c)gende
hys(s)as set hilde, hogodon georne
hwa }?8er mid orde aerost mihte 12$ on fsegean men feorh gewinnan,
wigan mid wsepnum ; wael feol on eorSan.
Stodon staedefseste, stihte hi ByrhtnoS,
baed }?aet hyssa gehwylc hogode to wige,
]?e on Denon wolde dom gefeohtan. 130 Wod ]?a wiges heard, wsepen up ahof,
bord to gebeorge, and wiS ]?aes beornes stop ;
code swa anraed eorl to ]?am ceorle ;
aeg]?er hyra 65rum yfeles hogode.
Sende Sa se saerinc su]?erne gar, 135 ]?aet gewtmdod wearS wigena hlaford;
he sceaf ]?a mid Sam scylde, J?set se sceaft tobaerst,
and J?set spere sprengde, ]?aet hit sprang ongean.
Gegremod wearS se guSrinc ; he mid gare stang
wlancne wicing ]?e him ]?a wunde forgeaf. 140 Frod waes se fyrdrinc, he let his francan wadan
1 06. bremmas. 113. weard. 116. waerd. 122. stifthugende.
XVI. THE BATTLE OF MALDON 75
]?urh tfees hysses hals ; hand wisode
J?aet he on ]?am fsersceaSan feorh geraehte.
Da he 6]?erne ofstlice sceat,
J?aet seo byrne tobaerst ; he wses on breostum wund 145 )>urh 5a hringlocan, him set heortan stod
setterne ord. Se eorl waes ]?e bli]?ra,
hloh J?a modi man, ssede Metode ]?anc
Sses dsegweorces ]?e him Drihten forgeaf.
Forlet ]?a drenga sum daroS of handa, 150 fleogan of folman, J?set se to forS gewat
}?urh Sone se)?elan ^E)?elredes )?egen.
Him be healfe stod hyse unweaxen,
cniht on gecampe, se full caflice
brsed of )?am beorne blodigne gar, 155 Wulfstanes beam, Wulfmser se geonga,
forlet forheardne faran eft ongean ;
ord in gewod, ]?8et se on eor]?an Iseg,
)?e his ]?eoden ser Dearie gersehte.
Eode J>a gesyrwed secg to ]?am eorle ; 1 60 he wolde ]?ass beornes beagas gefe/gan,
reaf and hringas, and gerenod swurd.
Da ByrhtnoS brsed bill of sce<5e,
brad and brunecg, and on ]?a byrnan sloh ;
to ra]?e hine gelette lidmanna sum, 165 J>a he ]?3es eorles earm amyrde ;
feoll ]?a to foldan fealohilte swurd,
ne mihte he gehealdan heardne mece,
wsepnes wealdan. Pa gyt )?set word gecwseS
har hilderinc, hyssas bylde, 170 bsed gangan forS gode geferan ;
ne mihte ]?a on fotum leng fseste gest^ndan,
( ) he to heofenum wlat :
* (Ic) ge]?anc(i)e )?e, Seoda Waldend,
* ealra ]?3era wynna ]?e ic on worulde gebad ; 175 {nu ic ah, milde Metod, mseste ]?earfe
1 J?ast J»u minum gaste godes geunne, .* )?aet mm sawul to 5e siSian mote, {on Ipln geweald, Peoden engla,
1 60. gefecgan. 171. gestundan.
76 NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
' mid fri]?e ferian ; ic com frymdi to ]>e 1 80 ()?3et hi helsceaSan hynan ne moton.'
Da hine heowon hseftene scealcas,
and begen ]?a beornas }?e him big stodon,
JElfaoft and Wulmaer, begen lagon ;
5a onemn hyra frean feorh gesealdon. 185 Hi bugon ]?a fram beaduwe )?e ]?8er beon noldon.
Pser wurdon Oddan beam Merest on fleame,
Godric fram gu]?e, and ]?one godan forlet
]?e him maenigne oft mear gesealde ;
he gehleop ]?one eoh ]?e ahte his hlaford, 190 on ]?am ger^edum ]?e hit riht ne wses,
and his bro<5ru mid him begen aer(n)don,
Godz^ine and Godwig, guj?e ne gymdon,
ac wendon fram ]?am wige and J?one wudu sdhton
flugon on ]?8et fsesten, and hyra feore burgon, 195 and manna ma ]?onne hit senig maeS wsere
gyf hi Ipa. geearnunga ealle gemundon
]?e he him to dugu]?e gedon hsefde.
Swa him OfFa on daeg ser assede
on ]?am me]?elstede, Ipa. he gemot hsefde, 200 J?aet ]?ser modelice manege sprabcon
)?e eft set J»sere (]?earfe) j^olian noldon.
Da wearS afeallen ]?ses folces ealdor,
-^E]?elredes eorl ; ealle gesawon
heorSgeneatas J?set hyra heorra Iseg. 205 Pa 5aer wendon forS wlance J>egenas,
unearge men, efston georne ;
hi woldon J>a ealle 6<5er twega,
lif forlset^n oSSe leofne gewrecan.
Swa hi bylde forS beam ^Elfrices, 210 wiga wintrum geong, wordum mselde;
^Elfwine ]?a cwseS, he on ellen sprsec :
* Gemun«(S) j?a msela }?e we oft set meodo sprabcon, ' ]?onne we on bence beot ahofon,
* hseleS on healle, ymbe heard gewinn ; 215 'nu mseg cunnian hwa cene sy.
* Ic wylle mine se}>elo eallum gecy]?an,
192. godrine. 200. manega. 208. forlsetun. 212. gemunu ])a.
XVI. THE BATTLE OF MALDON 77
' j?aet ic waes on Myrcon miccles cynnes ;
' waes mm ealda feeder Ealhelm haten,
'wis ealdorman, woruldgesselig. 220 'Ne sceolon me on J?sere ]?eode }>egenas aetwitan,
1 )?aet ic of Sisse fyrde feran wille,
' eard gesecan, nu mm ealdor ligeS
'forheawen set hilde; me is J?set hearma msest ;
' he waes segcfer mm mseg and mm hlaford.' 225 pa he forS code, fJehSe gemunde,
J?set he mid orde anne gersehte
flotan on ]?am folce j?aet se on foldan laeg
forwegen mid his wsepne. Ongan ]?a winas manian,
frynd and geferan, ]?set hi forS eodon, 230 Offa gemselde, sescholt asceoc :
' Hwaet ]?u, ^Elfwine, hafast ealle gemanode
' f>egenas to ]?earfe : nu ure ]?eoden 115,
' eorl on eorSan, us is eallum ]?earf
'J?set ure ssghwylc oj^erne bylde 235 ' wigan t5 wige ]?a hwile ]?e he wsspen masge
'habban and healdan, heardne mece,
' gar and god swurd. Us Godric haefS,
' earh Oddan beam, ealle beswicene ;
' wende J?aes formoni man J>a he on meare rad, 240 'on wlancan ]?am wicge, ]?aet waere hit ure hlaford;
'for]?an wearS her on felda folc totwsemed,
* scyldburh tobrocen. AbreoSe his angin,
'J?aet he her swa manigne man aflymde.'
Leofsunu gemaelde, and his linde ahof, 245 bord to gebeorge ; he J>am beorne oncwaeS :
{ Ic ]?aet gehate, J?aet ic heonon nelle
' fleon fotes trym, ac wille furSor gan,
4 wrecan on gewinne minne winedrihten.
1 Ne ]?urfon me embe Sturmere stedefaeste haelaeS 250 'wordum aetwitan, nu mm wine gecranc,
']?8et ic hlafordleas ham siSie,
' wende fram wige ; ac me sceal wsepen niman,
'ord and iren.' He ful yrre wod,
feaht faestlice, fleam he forhogode.
224. aegder.
NARRATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE
255 Dunnere j?a cwaeS, daroS acwehte, unorne ceorl, ofer call clypode, bsed ]?aet beorna gehwylc ByrhtnoS wrsece : * Ne maeg na wandian se J?e wrecan j?ence3 ( frean on folce, ne for feore murnan.'
260 pa hi forS eodon, feores hi ne rob ton ; ongunnon J?a hiredmen heardlice feohtan, grame garberend, and God bsedon J?set hi moston gewrecan hyra winedrihten, and on hyra feondum fyl gewyrcan.
265 Him se gysel ongan geornlice fylstan ; he wses on NorShymbron heardes cynnes, Ecglafes beam, him waes <ZEscferS nama ; he ne wandode na set J?am wigplegan, ac he fysde forS flan genehe ;
270 hwilon he on bord sceat, hwilon beorn taesde ; aefre embe stunde he sealde sume wunde J>a hwile Se he wsepna wealdan moste. Pa gyt on orde stod Eadweard se langa, gear*? and geornful ; gylpwordum sprasc
275 )?3et he nolde fleogan fotmsll landes, ofer baec bugan, ]?a his betera leg ; he braec ]?one bordweall and wi5 5a beornas feaht, oS past he his sincgyfan on J>am sabmannum wurSHce wrec £er he on waele laege.
280 Swa dyde fltyenc, 8e]?ele gefera,
feaht eornoste, and swISe maenig 5J>er cene hi weredon ;
fus and forSgeorn, Sibyrhtes broSor clufon celled bord,
baerst bordes laerig, and seo byrne sang 285 gryreleoSa sum. Pa 33t guSe sloh
Offa ]?one sselidan, ]?aet he on eorSan feoll
and Sser Gaddes mseg grund gesohte.
RaSe wearS get hilde OrTa forheawen ;
he haefde 5eah gefor]?od ]?82t he his frean gehet, 290 swa he beotode aer wiS his beahgifan,
J>set hi sceoldon begen on burh ridan,
hale to hame, o33e on here crin<rgan,
274. gearc. 292. crintgan.
XVI. THE BATTLE OF MALDON 79
on waelstowe wundum sweltan ;
he laeg Segenlice Seodne gehende. 295 Da wearS borda gebrsec ; brimmen wodon,
guSe gegremode ; gar oft ]?urhw6d
fseges feorhhus. For5 (S)a code Wistan,
Purslanes sunz/, wiS ]?as secgas feaht ;
he wses on ge]?rang(e) hyra Jreora bana, 300 air him Wigelwes beam on ]?am wsele Isege.
Paer wses stiS gemot ; stodon fseste
wigan on gewinne, wigend cruncon,
wundum werge ; wael feol on eor]?an.
Oswold and Eadwold ealle hwile, 305 begen ]?a gebro]?ru, beornas trymedon,
hyra winemagas, wordon baedon
]?aet hi }?aer set Searfe ]?olian sceoldon,
unwaclice wsepna neotan.
Byrhtwold maj»elode, bord hafenode ; 310 se waes eald geneat, sssc acwehte,
he ful baldlice beornas Iserde :
' Hige sceal ]?e heardra, heorte J?e cenre,
' mod sceal ]?e mare, ]?e ure msegen lytlaS.
' Her 113 ure ealdor call forheawen, 315 'god on greote; a mseg gnornian
1 se 5e nu fram ]?is wigplegan wendan ]?ence3.
* Ic com frod feores ; fram ic ne wille,
*ac ic me be healfe mmum hlaforde,
'be swa leofan men, licgan ]?ence.' 320 Swa hi ^J?elgares beam ealle bylde
Godric to gu]?e ; oft he gar forlet
waelspere windan on ]?a wicingas,
swa he on ]?am folce fyrmest code ;
heow and hynde, o# J>set he on hilde gecranc ; 325 nses ]?ast na se Godric J?e Sa gii#e forbeah.
298. suna. 300. wigelines. 324. od. 325. gude.
IV. BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
In the preceding three sections, which illustrate the traditional lore and the mentality of the Anglo-Saxon poet, the influence of Christian ecclesiasticism is not prominent. In the present section we give specimens exhibiting Biblical subjects and Christian ethos and doctrine as viewed by earnest, naive Anglo- Saxon churchmen, and by them set down in the native verse. The happy idea, attributed by Bede to Caedmon as the result of a heavenly monition, of telling the Hebrew Scriptural story and inculcating Christian principles in the traditional poetic language and metre, must have seemed a veritable gift of God to the Anglo-Saxon churchmen.
17 A. CEDMON'S HYMN
This little poem is quoted by Bede in his Ecclesiastical 'History of the English People, written in A. D. 731, as the first poem composed by Csedmon after the visit of the heavenly messenger who told him to sing of the Creation. The original Northumbrian text of the poem has fortunately been preserved in one of the Latin MSS. of the History. It is one of the earliest specimens of Old English that we possess, as well as the earliest written version of an Anglo- Saxon poem.
1. Northumbrian Version
Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes Uard, Metudses maecti end his modgidanc, uerc uuldurfadur, sue he uundra gihuaes, eci Dryctin, or astelidae. 5 He serist scop selda barnum heben til hr5fe haleg scepen ; tha middungeard moncynnses uard, eci Dryctin, sefter tiadae firum folda, Frea allmectig.
80
xvii. C/EDMON'S HYMN 81
2. Later West Saxon Version \
Nu sculon herigean heofonrices Weard,
Meotodes meahte ond his modge]?anc,
weorc wuldorfseder, swa he wundra gehwses,
ece Drihten or onstealde.
He serest sceop eorSan bearnum,
heofon t5 hrofe, halig Scyppend j
]?a middangeard moncynnes Weard,
ece Drihten, sefter teode
firum foldan, Frea selmihtig.
B. BEDE'S DEATH-SONG
Bede died in the year A.D. 735 at the monastery of Jarrow, near the mouth of the Tyne. There is extant a letter from Cuthbert, Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow, to Cuthwine, a friend, describing Bede's last moments. Cuthbert says, ' In our own tongue also (for he was skilled in our native songs), speaking of the dread departure of the soul from the body, he sang :
10 Fore there neldfaerae nsenig ni uuirthit thoncsnotturra than him tharf sle to ymbhycggannae Jer his hiniongae huaet his gastae godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege dcemid uueorthae.'
Cuthbert also mentions that Bede translated into his own language part of St. John's Gospel and some extracts from the works of Bishop Isidore (A.D. 560-636).
18. BIBLICAL AND RELIGIOUS PASSAGES IN
BEO WULF
We have reproduced the chief passages in Beowulf of a biblical and religious character, as it is important to know their nature and extent in this poem, treating as it does of a period long anterior to the conversion to Christianity of any independent people of the Germanic race, yet probably composed in Bede's lifetime. At one time critics were of opinion that all these passages were later interpolations in a pre-Christian poem, but this view has been generally given up. The tone and phraseology of 11. 4-9 of the first passage remind us strongly of those of Caedmon's Hymn. Noteworthy is the nativte of the poet, who makes the scop sing the story of Creation in the hall Heorot Hrothgar the Danish king himself, like Beowulf the Geat, acknowledges the wisdom and power of God, and attributes to him success and victory. Yet, as we see in passage C, the poet calls the Danes 'heathen,' and pities their
G
82 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
benighted state, doubtless with an eye to the warning and edification of his readers or hearers. The religious passages, especially the numerous shorter ones, refer almost exclusively to the power of the Almighty (Metod, Dryhten, Alwealda, Wuldorcyning, etc.).
A. THE MINSTREL SINGS THE STORY OF CREATION
11. 89-98
Peer waes hearpan sweg, swutol sang scopes ; ssegde se J?e cu]?e frumsceaft fira feorran reccan, cwseS )>set se ^Elmihtiga eorSan worhfte], 5 wlitebeorhtne wang, swa waeter bebugeS, gesette sigehre]?ig sunnan ond monan leoman to leohte landbuendum, ond gefraetwade foldan sceatas leomum ond leafum ; lif eac gesceop 10 cynna gehwylcum ]?ara 5e cwice hwyrfa]?.
B. THE CURSE OF CAIN 11. 99-1 14
Swa Sa drihtguman dreamum lifdon
eadiglice oS Saet an ongan
fyrene fre[m]man, feond on helle ;
wses se grimma gsest Grendel haten, 15 msere mearcstapa, se ]?e moras heold,
fen ond fsesten ; fifelcynnes card
wonsaeli wer weardode hwile
si]?San him Scyppend forscrifen hsefde.
In Caines cynne J>one cwealm gewrsec 20 ece Drihten ]?aes }>e he Abel slog ;
ne gefeah he ]?sere fajhSe, ac he hine feor forwrsec,
Metod for )?y mane, mancynne fram.
Panon untydras ealle onwocon,
eotenas ond ylfe ond orcneas,
swylce gigantas, J?a wiS Gode wunnon
lange Jrage ; he him ftses lean forgeald.
XVIII. BIBLICAL AND RELIGIOUS PASSAGES IN BEOWULF 83
C. HEATHEN SACRIFICES 11. 175-188
Hrothgar, the Danish king, and his wise men, alarmed by Grendel's nightly attacks, take counsel as to what had best be done. They appeal to their gods in vain, and the poet pities their heathen ignorance.
Hwilum hie geheton set hsergtrafum
wigweorbunga, wordum bsedon
]?9et him gastbona geoce gefremede 30 wi<5 beodbreaum. Swylc waes beaw hyra,
hsebenra hyht, helle gemundon
in modsefan, Metod hie ne cubon,
dseda demend, ne wiston hie Drihten God
ne hie huru heofena helm herian ne cubon, 25 wuldres waldend. Wa biS bsem Se sceal
burh sliSne niS sawle bescufan
in fyres fae]?m, frofre ne wenan,
wihte gewendan ; wel bi5 bsem ]?e mot
aefter deaSdsege Drihten secean 40 ond to Feeder fsebmum freoSo wilnian.
D. HIDDEN TREASURE 11. 3051-3073 .
When men of old buried the hoard of treasure they laid a spell on it, pro- nouncing the curse of God on any who should disturb it.
Ponne waes ]?set yrfe eacencraeftig,
iumonna gold, galdre bewunden,
baet 5am hringsele hrinan ne moste
gumena abnig, nefne God sylfa,
sigora soScyning, sealde ]?am 5e he wolde —
he is gehyld manna — hord openian,
efne swa hwylcum manna swa him gemet Suhte
• ••• ••••
Swa hit oS domes daeg diope benemdon, beodnas msere, ]?a Saet bser dydon,
84 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
50 ]?set se secg wsere synnum scildig, hergum geheaSerod, hellbendum fasst, wommum gewitnad, se <5one wong strude.
E. SELECTED SHORTER PASSAGES
1. 11. 381-384"
hine halig God for arstafum us onsende 55 to West-Denum, J?ses ic wen haebbe, wiS Grendles gryre.
2. 11. 478, 479
God ea]?e mseg ]?one dolsceaSan daeda getwaefan.
3. 11. 685-687
ond sij>5an witig God
60 on swahwse]?ere bond, halig Dryhten, maerSo deme, swa him gemet J>ince.
4. 11. 930, 931
a maeg God wyrcan wunder sefter wundre, wuldres Hyrde.
5. 11. 977-979
Saer abidan sceal
maga mane fah miclan domes, hu him scir Metod scrifan wille.
0
6. 11. 1609-161 1
Sonne forstes bend Faeder onlseteS, onwindeS wgelrapas, se geweald hafaS ssela ond msela ; ]?83t is soS Metod.
7. 11. 2819, 2820
70 him of hreSre gewat
sawol secan soSfasstra dom.
XIX. EXODUS 85
19. EXODUS
The Bodleian MS. Junius xi., written in the first half of the eleventh century, contains a number of A.-S. poems dealing with the following biblical subjects: (i) The first twenty-two chapters of Genesis, (2) the march of the Hebrews out of Egypt across the Red Sea (the Exodus}, (3) the first five chapters of the book of Daniel, (4) the temptation of Christ by Satan. At one time the whole of these poems were attributed to Caedmon, in view of Bede's statement that he sang ' of the whole story of Genesis, of the departure of Israel from Egypt, and of many other stories of Holy Scripture,' as well as ' of the Lord's incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.' But closer investigation has shown that there is considerable variety of style and language as well as inequality of merit in these poems. At the same time it is quite possible that some of Coedmon's work may have survived in them. We thus conclude that the MS. is an anthology of A.-S. ecclesiastical poetry, more limited in its scope than the famous Exeter Book, written about the same time, which contains secular as well as religious verse. Exodus and Judith are the finest examples of A.-S. biblical verse-narrative. In Exodus the Bible story is not slavishly followed as it is in Genesis. The poet uses his fancy freely and writes almost as if he thought he had himself marched with the Israelites, sharing their fears and hopes. He has been in some measure influenced by Beowulf, judging by his use of certain words and phrases, yet he has a vigour and boldness of style which are his own. While the march of the Hebrews under Moses and their passage of the Red Sea are vividly described, the personality of Moses, unlike that of the leading figures in Beoividf, remains indistinct. On linguistic grounds Exodus is usually considered to be the earliest of the A.-S. poems of an exclusively biblical character, earlier than Genesis, Daniel, and Cynewulf's poems. But in vocabulary, phraseology, and metre it does not differ much from Judith, which is usually ascribed to the tenth century.
Two passages, of some no lines in all, have been omitted, being much inferior to the rest of the poem and probably later interpolations. The text of the MS. has been somewhat carelessly written by the copyist, so that a number of conjectural emendations have had to be made.
Hwaet, we feor ond neah gefrigen habbaS ofer middangeard Moyses domas, wrse/lico wordriht, wera cneorissum in uprodor, eadigra gehwam 5 sefter bealusiSe, bote Hfes lifigendra gehwam, langsumne rjied hseleSum secgan \ gehyre se 5e wille. Pone on westenne weroda Drihten, soSfsest cyning, mid his sylfes miht 10 gewyrSode, ond him wundra fela ece Alwalda in sent forgeaf. He waes leof Code, leoda aldor,
3. wraeclico. 8. werode.
86 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
horse ond hreSergleaw ; herges wisa,
freom folctoga, Faraones cyn, 15 Codes andsaca(n), gyrdwlte band,
]?aer him gesealde sigora Waldend,
modgum magoneswum, his maga feorh,
onwist eGles Abrahames sunum.
Heah wses ]?set handlean, ond him hold Frea 20 gesealde waepna ge weald wi5 wraSra gryre ;
ofercom mid ]?y campe cneomaga fela,
feonda folcriht. Da wses forma sI5
]?set hine weroda God wordum naegde,
]?2er he him gesaegde soSwundra fela, 25 hu J>as woruld worhte witig Drihten,
eorSan ymbhwyrft, ond uprodor
gesette sigerice, ond his sylfes naman,
Sone yldo bearn ser ne cuSon,
frod faedera cyn, J>eah hie fela wiston. 30 Hsefde he J>a geswISed soSum crseftum
ond gewurSodne werodes aldor,
Faraones feond, on forSwegas.
Pa waes ^ngera ealdum witum,
deaSe gedre^rced drihtfolca maest, 35 hordwearda hryre ; heaf wses geniwad,
swsefon seledreamas since berofene ;
hsefde mansceaSan set middere niht
frecne gefylled, frumbearna fela,
abro/ene burhweardas ; bana wide scraS, 40 laS leodhata. Land dry^m^de
deadra hrsewum ; dugoS forS gewat,
wop waes wide, worulddreama lyt ;
waeron hleahtorsmiSum handa belocene,
alyfed laSsIS leode gret(t)an, 45 folc ferende ; feond waes bereafod,
hergas on helle ; heofon ]?ider becom,
druron deofolgyld. Daeg wses mabre
ofer middangeard, J?a seo mengeo for ;
swa ]?ses faesten dreah fela missera
33. ingere. 34. gedrenced. 39. abrotene S., abrocene MS.
40. dryrmyde. 44. grettan S. 45. freond.
XIX. EXODUS 87
50 ealdwerige, Egypta folc,
J>aes ]?e hie wideferS wyrnan ]?ohton
Moyses magum, gif hie Metod lete,
onlangne lust leofes si<5es.
Fyrd wses gefysed, from se Se Isedde, 55 modig magorae(s)wa, maegburh heora.
Oferfor he mid J»y folce faesten(n)a worn;
land ond leod^eard laSra manna,
enge anpaSas, unciaS gelad,
o5 ]?aet hie on guSmyrce gea/we bseron ;
^•MMMHAm^W
60 waeron land heora lyfthelme be]?eaht,
mearchofu morheald ; Mouses ofer fra
fela meor(r)inga fyrde gelsedde.
Heht ]?a ymb twaniht tirfaeste haeleS,
siSSan hie feondum oSfaren hsefdon, 65 ymbwicigean _werodes bearhtme,
mid selfare, ^Ethanes byrig,
masgnes mseste, mearclandum on.
Nearwe genyddon on norSwegas,
wiston him be suSan Sigelwara land, 70 forbaerned burhhleoSu, brune leode,
hatum heofoncolum. Paer halig God
wiS faerbryne folc gescylde,
baelce oferbrsedde byrnendne heofon,
halgan nette, hatwendne lyft. 75 Haefde wederwolcen widum fseSmum
eorSan ond uprodor efne gedseled,
Isedde leodwerod, ligfyr adranc
hate heofontorht. HaeleS w^edon,
drihta gedrympst. Daegsceldes hleo 80 wand ofer wolcnum ; haefde witig God
sunnan siSfset segle ofertolden,
swa Sa msestrapas men ne cuSon,
ne Sa seglrode geseon meahton
eorSbuende ealle crasfte, 85 hu afsestnod waes feldhusa maest.
SiSSan he mid wuldre geweorSode
57. leodweard. 59. geatwe S. , gearwe MS. 62. meorringa S.
63. tirfaestne. 66. aelfere. 79. daegscealdes. 81. swegle.
88 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
Peoden holde, ]?a waes ]?ridda wic
folce to frofre ; fyrd call geseah
hu ]?aer hlifedon halige seglas, 90 lyftwundor leoht ; leode ongeton,
dugo<5 Israhela, J?ast J>ser Drihten cwom,
weroda Drihten \ycsteal metan.
Him beforan foran fyr ond wolcen
in beorhtrodor, beamas twegen, 95 ]?ara seghwaeSer efngedselde
heah]?egnunga haliges gastes,
deormodra siS, dagum ond nihtum.
Pa ic on morgen gefrsegn modes rofan
hebban herebyman hludan stefnum, 100 wuldres woman. Werod eall aras.
^ : „. •» 9
modigra msegen, swa him Moyses bebead,
msere magoraeswa, Metodes folce,
fus fyrdgetrum ; forS gesawon
lifes lat/eow lif(t)weg metan. 105 Segl siSe weold, saimen sefter
foron flodwege ; folc waes on salum,
hlud herges cyrm. Heofonbeacen astah
sefena gehwam, 63er wundor
syllic aefter sunnan — setlrade beheold — , no ofer leodwerum lige scinan,
byrnende beam. Blace stodon
ofer sceotendum scire leoman,
scinon scyldhreotJan, sceado sw^Sredon,
neowle nihtscuwan neah ne mihton, 115 heolstor ahydan. Heofoncandel barn ;
mwe nihtweard nyde sceolde
wician ofer weredum, ]>j l^es him westengryre
har(es) hseS(es) holmegum wederum
o(n) f^rclamme ferhS getwsef(de). 1 20 Haefde foregenga fyrene loccas,
blace beamas, hilegesan hweop
in )?am here]?reate, hatan lige,
he on westenne werod forbsernde,
104. latpeow. 105. swegl. 113. swiftredon.
119. ferclamme. 121. bellegesan.
XIX. EXODUS 89
nymSe hie modhwate Moyses hyrde. 125 Scean scir werod, scyldas lixton ;
gesawon randwigan rihte straste ;
segn ofer sweoton oS J?aet sjefaesten,
landes set ende, leo(d)maegne forstod,
fus on forSweg ; fyrdwlc aras, 130 wyrpton hie werige, wiste gensegdon,
modige mete]?egnas hyra maegen bet(t)on.
Brseddon aefter beorgum, siSSan byme sang,
flotan feldhusum ; }>a wses feorSe wiCj
randwigena raest, be J?an readan 533. 135 Daer on fyrd hyra fasrspell becwom,
oht inlende ; egsan stodan,
waelgryre weroda. Wraecmon gebad
laSne lastweard, se Se him lange ser
eSelleasum q/^(t)nied gescraf, 140 v/ean witum fsest ; wsere ne gymdon,
J?eah ]?e se yldra cyning 83r ge(sealde).
Da wearS yrfeweard ingefolca
manna sefter maSmurn, J?aet he swa miceles geSah ;
ealles J^aes forgeton, siSSan grame wurdon, 145 Egypta cyn, ymb an^(s) wig,
Sa heo his maegwinum morSor fremedon,
wroht berenedon, wsere fraeton.
Wseron hea?5owylmas heortan getenge,
mihtmod wera; manum treowum 150 woldon hie ]?aet feorhlean facne gyldan,
J>aette he ]?aet daegweorc dreore gebohte,
Moyses leode, j?ser him mihtig God
on Sam spilds;Se spede forgefe.
•M- • ^^C»*
Pa him eorla mod ortrywe wearS,
155 siSSan hie gesawon of suSwegum
fyrd Faraonis forS ongangan,
oferholt wegan, cored Hxan,
]?ufas J^unian, ]?eod mearc tredan ;
garas trymedon, gu5 hwearfode ; 1 60 blicon bordhreoSan, byman sungon,
139. onnied. 145. anes wig S. , antwig MS.
146. MS. has heo heo for heo.
90 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
on hwsel (. .)
hreopon herefugolas hilde grsedige,
deawigfeSere, ofer drihtneum,
wonn waelceasega. Wulfas sungon 165 atol sefenleoS sates on wenan,
carleasan deor, cwyldrof beodan
on la<5ra last leodmsegnes fyl, . hreopon mearcweardas middum nihtum,
fleah fasge gast, folc waes geh(n)£eged. 17° Hwilum of ]?am werode wlance ]?egnas
mseton milpaSas meara bogum.
Him J?2er segncyning wiS ]?one segn foran,
manna ]?engel, mearc]?reate rad :
HBffVBiBi
guSweard gumena grimhelm gespeon, 175 cyning cinberge — cumbol lixtoh-
wiges on wenum, waelhlencan sceoc,
het his hereciste healdan georne
fsestyyrdgetrum ; freond on ssegon
laSum eagan landmanna cyme. 1 80 Ymb hine wgeron wlgend unforhte,
hare heor<?wulfas, hilde gretton,
Jmrstige j^raecwiges, ]?eodenholde.
Hsefde him alesen leoda dugeSe
tireadigra twa Jnisendo, *-%5 ]?aet wseron cyningas and cneowmagas
on ]?3et ea(l)de riht aeSelum deore;
forSon anra gehwilc ut alaedde
wsepnedcynnes wigan seghwilcne
}?ara J>e he on Sam fyrste findan mihte. 190 Wseron inge men ealle aetgaedere,
cyningas on corSre ; cuS oft geb(e)ad
horn on heape to hwses hsegstealdmen,
guS]?reat gumena, geaAve b^eron.
Swa j?ser eorp werod, ecan Iseddon, 195 laS aefter laSum, leodmaegnes worn,
J»usendm2elum, ]?ider wseron fuse ;
162. hwreopon. 167. ful. 176. hwaelhlencan.
178. syrdgetrum ; onsigon. 180. waeron S. , wsegon MS.
181. heorawulfas. 193. geatwe S. , gearwe MS.
XIX. EXODUS 91
haefdon hie gemynted to ]?am maegenheapum
to ]?am aerdaege, Israhela cynn
billum abreotan on hyra broSorgyld. 200 For]?on waes in wicum wop up ahafen,
atol aefenleoS. Egesan stodon,
weredon waelnet, J?a se woma cwom ;
flugon frecne spel ; feond waes anmod,
werud waes wigblac, oS ]?aet wlance forsceaf 205 mihtig engel, se 5a menigeo beheold,
|>aet ]?ser gelaSe mid him leng ne mihton
geseon tosomne ; sIS wass gedseled.
Haefde nydfara nihtlangne fyrst,
]?eah Se him on healfa gehwam hettend seomedon, 210 maegen oSSe merestream ; nahton maran hwyrft,
waeron orwenan eSelrihtes,
saeton aefter beorgum in blacum reafum
wean on wenum. Wasccende bad
call seo sibgedriht somod aetgaedere 215 maran maegenes, oS (Saet) Moyses bebead
eorlas on uhttid aernum bemum,
folc somnigean, frecan arisan,
habban heora hlencan, hycgan on ellen,
beran beorht searo, beacnum cigean 220 sweot sande near ; snelle gemundon
weardas wigleoS. Werod waes gefysed,
bmdon ofer burgum — byman gehyrdon —
flotan feldhusum, fyrd waes on ofste.
SiSSan hie getealdon wi5 j?am teonhete 225 on )?am forSherge feSan twelfe
m5de rof(r)a ; maegen waes onhrered.
Waes on anra gehwam aeSelan cynnes
«4iMM*MHMMn^B^MMM>HMMHMMHMMI|<*' •
alesen under lindum leoda duguSe
on folcgetael fiftig cista ; 230 haefde cista gehwilc cuSes werodes
garberendra, guSfremmendra,
tyn hund geteled, tireadigra ;
]?aet waes wiglic werod ; wac(e) ne gretton
in )?aet rincgetael raeswan herges, 235 ]?a ]?e for geoguSe gyt ne mihton
92 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
under bordhreoftan breostnet wera wi(5 flane feond folmum werigean, ne him bealubenne gebiden haefdon ofer linde laerig, Hcwunde swo/, 240 gylpplegan gares. Gamele ne moston, hare heaSorincas, hilde on]?eon, gif him modheapum maegen sw^Srade, ac hie be waestmum wig(heap) curon, hu in leodscipe laestan wolde 245 mod mid aran ; eac ]?an maegnes craeft (. . . .) garbeames feng. Pa waes handrofra here setgaedere, fus forSwegas. Fana up (ge)rad, beama beorhtost ; b/<^on ealle J?a gen 2 CQ hwonne siSboda saestreamum neah leoht ofer lindum lyftedoras braec. Ahleop ]?a for haeleSum hildecalla, bald beohata, bord up ah5f, heht ]?a folctogan fyrde gestillan, ]?enden m5diges meSel monige gehyrdon. Wolde reordigean rices hyrde ofer hereciste halgan stefne ; werodes wisa wurSmyndum spraec : ' Ne beoS ge ]?y forhtran, ]?eah }>e Faraon brohte 260 ' sweordwigendra side hergas,
' eorla unrim. Him eallum wile
' mihtig Drihten ]mrh mine hand
* to daege }?issum daedlean gyfan,
' ]?aet hie lifigende leng ne moton 265 * ^gnian mid yrmSum Israhela cyn.
' Ne willaS eow andraedan deade feSan,
' feege ferhSlocan ; fyrst is aet ende
c laenes lifes. Eow is lar Codes
' abroden of breostum ; ic on beteran raed,
']?3et ge gewurSien wuldres Aldor,
' ond eow Liffrean lissa bidde,
' sigora gesynto, J>£er ge slSien.
239. swol S. , swor MS. 242. swiSrade.
249. buton. 265. ognian S. , asgnian MS.
xix. EXODUS 93
'Pis is se ecea Abrahames God, 'frumsceafta Frea, se <5as fyrd wereS,
275 ' modig ond maegenrof mid ]?sere miclan hand.' Hof Sa for hergum hlude stefne lifgendra /eod, ]?a he to leodum spraec : ' Hwaet, ge nu eagum to on lociatJ, ' folca leofost, faerwundra sum,
280 'hu ic sylfa sloh, ond £>eos swiSre hand, ' grene tane garsecges deop ; 'yS up fereS, ofstum wyrce5 ' waeter wealfsesten. Wegas syndon dryge, c haswe herestraeta, holm gerymed,
285 'ealde staSolas, ]?a ic ser ne gefrsegn ' ofer middangeard men geferan, ' fage feldas, ]?a for5 heonon ' in ec(ness)e ySe J?eahton, ' sselde ssegrundas. Su(n)</ wind fornam,
290 ' bseSweges bluest ; bum is areafod, ' sandsse Jsp(r)an(c). Ic wat soS gere ' J?aet eow mihtig God miltse gecySde, ' eorlas serglade ! Ofest is selost, ' j^aet ge of feonda fseSme weorSen,
295 'nu se Agend(frea) up arserde ' reade streamas in randgebeorh ; ' syndon }?a foreweallas faegre gestepte, 'wraetlicu wsegfaru, o3 wolcna hrof.' ^Efter J>am wordum werod call aras,
300 modigra msegen ; mere stille bad. Hofon herecyste hwlte linde, segnas on sande ; sabweall astah, uplang gestod wiS Israhelum andaagne fyrst ; waes seo eorla gedriht
505 anes modes, ....
fsestum faeSmum freocfowsere heold ; nalles hi gehyrdon haliges lare leofes leoj> laaste near,
277. J>eod. 281. tacne. 283. wealfsesten.
288. ecnesse S. 289. suSwind. 290. bring.
291. sandsse aspranc S. , sand saecir span MS. 307. hige gehyrdon.
94 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
sweg swISrode, ond sanies bland. 310 pa ]?aet feorSe cyn fyrmest code,
wod on wsegstream, wigan on heape, ofer grenne grund ; ludisc feSa an o^ette uncuS gelad for his iriEegwiniim, swa him mihtig God 315 }>3es daegweorces deop lean forgeald, siSSan him gesselde sigorworca hreS, ]?35t he ealdordom agan sceolde ofer cynericu, cneowmaga blsed. Hsefdon him to segne, ]?a hie on sund stigon, 320 ofer bordhreoSan beacen arsered in j?am garheape, gyldenne leo^, drihtfolca msest, deora cenost ; be ]?am herewisan hynSo ne woldon be him lifigendum lange ]?olian, 325 ]?onne hie to gu5e garwudu rserdon, Seoda senigre. Pracz/ wees on ore, heard handplega, hsegsteald modige wsepna wselslihtes, wigend unforhte, bilswaSu blodige, beadumsegnes raes, 330 grimhelma gegrind, ]?ser ludas for. ^Efter ]?aere fyrde flota modgade, Rubenes sunu ; randas ba^ron ssewlcingas ofer sealtne mersc, man(na) memo, micel angetrum 335 code unforht. He his ealdordom synnum aswefede, j?aet he srSor for on leofes last ; him on leodsceare frumbearnes riht freobroSor o5]rah, ead ond seSelo ; he wses gearu swa]?eah. 340 peer aefter him (foron) folca J>rySum suna Simeones, sweotum comon, ]?ridde j^eodmaegen, — ]?ufas wundon ofer garfare — guScyste on]?rang dea(S)wigsceaftum. Daegwoma becwom 345 ofer garsecge, Godes beacna sum,
309. sances. 313. an onette S. , an onorette MS. 321. leor. 326. ]>raca. 341. sunu. 344. deaSwigsceaftum S. , deawig sceaftum MS. 345. garsecges.
XIX. EXODUS 95
morgen m<?retorht. Msegen forS gewat,
J>a ]?£er folcmaegen for setter oSrum
isernhergum ; an wisode
msegen]?rymmum msest — Jy he msere wearS — 350 on forSwegas, folc setter /oleum,
cynn setter cynne ; cu<5e seghwilc
msegburga riht, swa him Moises bead,
eorla aeSelo ; him wses an fseder.
Leof leodfruma landriht ge]?ah, 355 frod on ferhfte, freomagum leof,
cende cneowsibbe cenra manna,
heahfsedera sum, halige J^eode,
Israela cyn, ^nriht Codes.
Swa ]?set or]?ancum ealde reccaS, 360 ]?a ]?e msegburge mxst gefrunon,
frumcyn feora, faederaeSelo gehwses.
• •*• ••••
Folc waes afsered ; flodegsa becwom
gastas geomre, geofon deaSe hweop.
Wseron beorhhliSu blode bestemed, 365 holm heolfre spaw, hream wses on yftum, v449) wseter wsepna ful, wselmist astah.
Wgeron Egypte eft oncyrde,
flugon forhtigende, fser ongeton,
woldon herebleaSe hamas findan, 37° gylp wear<5 gnornra. Him ongen genap (454) atol ySa gewealc ; ne S^er senig becwom
herges to hame, ac behindan beleac
wyrd mid wsege, pser sir wegas lagon,
mere modgode, maegen waes adrenced 375 Streamas stodon, storm up gewat (459) heah to heofonum, herewopa msest ;
Ia5e cyrmdon — lyft up geswearc —
fsegum st^fnum ; flod blod gewod.
Randbyrig wjeron rofene, rodor swipode 380 meredeaSa msest ; modige swulton (464)
346. mseretorht. 35°- wolcnum.
358. anriht S. , onriht MS. 378. staefnum.
BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
cyningas on cortfre, cyrm swiSrode sses set ende — wigbord scinon. Heah ofer haeleSum holmweall astah, merestream modig ; msegen wses on cwealme 385 fseste gefeterod, forSgang esnes (469) Searwum ^sailed. Sand hi renodon
witodre zfyrde hwonne waSema stream, sincalda sae sealtum ySum, aeflastum gewuna, ece staSulas, 390 nacud nydboda, neosan come, (474) fah feSegast, se 3e feondum ge/^(w)eop. Wses seo hsewene lyft heolfre geblanden ; brim berstende blodegesan hweop saemanna sIS, oS J>aet soS Metod 395 ]mrh Moyses hand modge rymde, (479) wide wseSde, waelfeeSmum sweop ; flod famgode, faege crungon, lagu land gefeol, lyft wses onhrered ; wicon weallfsesten, wssgas burston, 400 multon meretorras, ]?a se Mihtiga sloh (4^4) mid halige hand, heofonrices Weard, (on) werbeamas. Wlance Seode ne mihton forhabban, helpendrayfe<5(m), merestreames mod, ac he manegum gesceod, 405 gyllende gryre ; garsecg wedde, (489) up ateah, on sleap ; egesan stodon, weollon wselbenna. Wi^rod gefeol heah of heofonum, handweorc Godes, famigbosma flodwearde sloh, 410 unhleowan wasg, aide mece, (494) ]?aet Sy deaSdrepe drihte swsefon, synfullra sweot, sawlum lunnon faeste befarene, flodblac here, siSSan hie on ^ogum faan yrrmga 415 modwaega maest. Maegen eall gedreas,
(499) 381. eyre. 385. forftgang esnes S., forSganges nep MS.
386. sesseled. hi renodon S. barenodon MS. 387. fyrde.
391. gehweop S., geneop MS. 403. faeSm/S. , paS MS.
407. wigrod S. , witrod MS. 414. on hogum hran yrringa St, on bogum brun yppinge MS. 415. modewasga.
XIX. EXODUS 97
]?e gedre(n)cte, dugoS Egypta,
Faraon mid his folcum ; he onfond hraSe,
siSSan (he grund) gestah, Godes andsaca,
]?aet wses mihtigra mereflodes weard ; 420 wolde IwrufseSmum hilde gesceadan, 104) yrre ond egesfull. Egyptum wearS
J?3es dsegweorces deop lean gesceod ;
forSam J»ses heriges ham eft ne com,
ealles ungrundes, £enig to lafe, 425 ]>sette sI5 heora secgan moste, [09) bodigean sefter burgum bealospella msest,
hordwearda hryre hseleSa cwenum,
ac ]?a msegen]?reatas meredeaS geswealh,
(swa eac) spelbodan, se 5e sped ahte ; 430 ageat gylp wera ; hie wicS God wunnon. 514) panon Israhelum ece rsedas
on merehwearfe Moyse(s) saegde,
heah]?ungen wer, halige sprsece,
deop serende ....
• ••• •••*
435 Swa reordode rseda gemyndig 548) manna mildost, mihtum swiSed,
hludan stefne ; here stille bad
witodes willan, wundor ongeton,
modiges muShsel ; he to msenegum sprgec : 440 * Micel is ]?eos menigeo, maegenwisa trum, 553) 'fullesta mabst, se 5as fare laldeS,
' hafaS us on Cananea cyn gelyfed
' burh ond beagas, brade rice,
{ wile nu gelsestan ]?aet he lange gehet 445 (niid aSsware, engla Drihten, 558) 'in fyrndagum fsederyncynne,
' gif ge gehealdaS halige lare,
' ]?set ge feonda gehwone forS ofergangaS,
'gesittaS sigerice be ssem tweonum, 4^0 ' beorselas beorna ; biS eower bljed micel.' 563) ^Efter j?am wordum werod wses on salum,
416. deajje S. , Sa )>e MS. 417. onfeond. 420. huru fseSmum.
442. MS. has ufonfor us on.
H
98 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
sungon sigebyman, segnas stodon on faegerne sweg. Folc waes on lande ; haefde wuldres beam werud gelaeded, 455 halige heapas, on hyld Codes. (568) Life gefe(g)on, J?a hie oSlseded haefdon
feorh of feonda dome, ]?eah Se hie hit frecne geneSdon,
weras under waetera hrofas. Gesawon hie J>aer weallas standan ;
ealle him brimu blodige buhton, ]?urh ba heora beadosearo
wsegon.
460 HreSdon hildespelle, siSSan hie Mm wiSforon, (573) h5fon here)?reatas hlude stefne
for bam daedweorce — Drihten heredon — weras wuldres sang, wif on oSrum, folcsweota maest, fyrdleoS g^lan 465 aclum stefnum, eallwundra fela. (578) Pa waes eSfynde Afrisc meowle
on geofones staSe, golde geweorSod, hand ahofon, halswurSunge, bliSe waeron, b5te gesawon, 470 heddon herereafes — haeft waes onsasled, (573) ongunnon saelafe segnum dselan on ySlafe, ealde madmas, reaf ond randas ; heo(m) on riht sceo(de) gold ond godweb, losepes gestreon, 475 wera wuldorgesteald. Werigend lagon (588) on deaSstede, drihtfolca mae(st).
20. CYNEWULF
Four of the best A.-S. Christian poems, Juliana^ Elene, Fates of the Apost.es , Crist, closely akin in treatment and style, have one peculiarity in common. Each of them contains a passage with an acrostic written in runic letters. Besides standing for one of the significant words in the text each rune at the same time represents a letter of the alphabet. In each poem these letters taken together in the order in which they occur spell the name Cynewulf or Cynwulf. The natural inference is that this is the name of the poet, who wished in this way to perpetuate his memory. His identity has not been established with certainty ; some scholars think he was the Northumbrian bishop Cynwulf who lived in the eighth century.
In the poems attributed to Cynewulf there is comparatively little left of the
455. hild. 460. ham S., |>am MS. 464. galan.
XX. CYNEWULF 99
influence of the old heroic poetry which is so strong in Exodus and Judith, They have a pensive and mystically tender tone which on occasion, especially in Crist, swells into lyrical exaltation. Their author was a bookman, not a man of action ; he is well versed in lives of saints and homilies, as well as in the Bible. As a narrator he is clear and straightforward.
A. CRIST
The poem Crist, numbering 1693 lines, consists of three parts, dealing respectively with the Advent, the Ascension, and the Last Judgement. The second part, 11. 440-866, contains an acrostic giving the name of the poet ; the latest editor, Professor A. Cook, believes they are all by Cynewulf, but that they were not necessarily all written at the same period.
1. 11. 214-274
Eala ]?u so5a ond ]?u sibsuma
ealra cyninga cyning, Crist selmihtig,
hu )>u abr wsere eallum geworden
worulde brymmum mid bmne wuldorfaeder 5 cild acenned Jmrh his craeft ond meaht.
Nis abnig nu eorl under lyfte,
secg searo]?oncol, to J>aes swISe gleaw
be bset asecgan msege sundbuendum,
areccan mid ryhte, hu J?e rodera Weard 10 set frym<5e genom him to freobearne.
Pset waes ]mra J>inga be her ]?eoda cynn
gefrugn<?n mid folcum, a3t fruman serest
geworden under wolcnum, ]?aet witig God,
lifes ordfruma, leoht ond bystro 15 gedselde dryhtlice, ond him waes domes geweald ;
on ]?a wisan abead weoroda ealdor : —
1 Nu sie geworden for)? a to widan feore
' leoht lixende lifgendra gehwam •
']?e in cneorissum cende weorSen.' 20 Ond ]?a sona gelomp, J>a hit swa sceolde ;
leoma leohtade leoda msegjmm,
torht mid tunglum, asfter J?on tida bigong ;
sylfa sette baet ]?u sunu wsere
efeneardigende mid bmne «ngan frean
12. gefrugnen. 16. MS. has ond/or on.
1 8. lixende gefea lifgendra. 24. engan.
IOO BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
2c &* fcon oht }?isses aifre gewurde.
]>u eart seo snyttro ]?e ]?as sidan gesceaft mid Jy> Waldende worhtes ealle. For]?on nis genig J?aes horse, ne J>aes hygecrseftig, ]?e J?In fromcyn maege fira bearnum
30 sweotule gese]?an. Cum nu, sigores Weard, Meotod moncynnes, ond ]?ine miltse her arfaest ywe ; us is eallum neod J>aet we J>in medrencynn motan cunnan, ryhtgeryno, nu we areccan ne maegon
^^ J>83t fasdrencynn fier owihte.
PU J?isne middangeard milde geblissa J>urh Sinne hercyme, h^elende Crist, ond J>a gyldnan geatu ]?e in geardagum ful longe ser bilocen stodan,
40 heofona heahfrea, hat ontynan ;
ond usic J»onne gesece, J?urh J>m sylfes gong, eaSmod t5 eor]?an. Us is Jnnra arna J?earf. HafaS se awyrgda wulf tostenced, deorc d^arscua, Dryhten, ]?in eowde, wide towrecene ; J>3et Su, Wealdend, ser blode gebohtes, ]?3et se bealofulla hyneS heardllce, ond him on haeft nimeS ofer uss^; nioda lust. For]?on we, Nergend, J?e biddaS geornlice breostgehygdum
50 l^t ^ hraedlice helpe gefremme wergum wreccan ; j^set se wi(t)tes bona in helle grund hean gedreose ; ond J>m hondgeweorc, haele]?a scyppend, mote arisan ond on ryht cuman
55 to J>am upcundan ae]?elan rice,
J?onan us ser J?urh synlust se swearta ga^st forteah ond fortylde, >aet we, tires wone, a butan ende sculon erm]?u dreogan, butan ]?u usic )?on ofostlicor, ece Dryhten,
60 set J>am leodscea]?an, lifgende God, helm alwihta, hreddan wille.
27. }>i. 44. daedscua.
48. usse. 51. wittes S.
CAMPBELL COLLECTION
XX. CYNEWULF IOI
2. 11. 779-814
Ne ]?earf him ondrsedan deofla strselas senig on eorSan, aelda cynnes, gromra garfare, gif hine God scilde]?
65 duguSa Dryhten. Is ]?am dome neah, ]?aet we gelice sceolon leanum hleotan, swa we widefeorh weorcum hlodun geond sldne grund. Us secgaS bee hu set serestan eadmod astag
70 in middangeard maegna Goldhord, in faamnan fseSm, freobearn Godes, halig of heah]?u. Huru ic wene me, ond eac ondrsede, dom Sy refran, Sonne eft cymeS engla ]?eoden,
75 ]?e ic ne heold teala J?set me Haelend mm on b5cum bibead. Ic j^aes br5gan sceal geseon synwrsece, ]?aes J?e ic s63 talge, J?3sr monig(e) beo<5 on gemot laed^ fore onsyne eces deman.
80 Ponne C(en) cwacaS, gehyreS Cyning mseSlan, rodera ryhtend sprecan rej?e word J?am J>e him ser in worulde wace hyrdon, J>enden Y(r) ond N(yd) y]?ast meahtan frofre findan. Pser sceal forht monig
85 on ]?am wongstede werig bidan hwset him aefter dsedum deman wille wraj?ra wita. Bi]? se W(yn) scaecen eor]?an fraetwa. tJ(re) waes longe, L(agu)flodum bilocen lifwynna dsel,
90 F(eoh) on foldan. Ponne fraetwe sculon byrnan on bsele ; blac rasetteS recen reada leg, re]?e scrtyeS geond woruld wide. Wongas hreosaS, burgstede berstaS. Brond biS on tyhte,
95 teleS ealdgestrgon unmurnlice,
gsesta gifrast, ]?set geo guman heoldan, ]?enden him on eorj?an onmedla waes.
78.
102 BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN
B. ELENE 11. 1236-1276
Elene is one of the longer A.-S. poems, comprising as it does 1320 lines. It describes in flowing narrative of a simpler style than Exodiis how by order of the Empress Helena a search was made for the cross on which Christ was crucified, and how it was found buried deep in the ground together with the crosses of the two malefactors. The Cross is taken to Helena, who has it splendidly' adorned with gold, silver, and precious stones, and commands all believers to commemorate the happy event by a yearly festival.
The poem proper ends with 1. 1235, and ends with the word Finit. Then follows a passage of 85 lines of which we print here the first half. These lines are usually considered to be an autobiographical note by Cynewulf. The internal rhymes are noteworthy in that they were written at so early a date ; they should be compared with those of the Rhyme Poem ; see No. 23 infra.
PUS ic frod ond fus Jmrh ]?aet fsecne hus
wordcrseft(ig) wses ond wundrum laes, 100 bragum Jreodude ond ge]?onc ^eodode
nihtes nearwe. Nysse ic gearwe
be J?sere riht(an eaht), ser me rumran ge]?eaht
J»urh 5a mseran meaht on modes J>eaht
wisdom onwrah. Ic wses weorcum fah, 105 synnum asseled, sorgum gewseled,
bitrum gebunden, bisgum bej?rungen,
ser me lare onlag J>urh leohtne had,
gamelum t5 geoce, gife unscynde
Maegencyning amset ond on gemynd begeat, no torht ontynde, tidum gerymde,
bancofan onband, breostlocan onwand,
leoSucrssft onleac ; )?8es ic lustum breac,
willum in worlde. Ic ]?3es wuldres treowes
oft nales ssne hsefde ingemynd, 1 1 5 ser ic J>set wundor onwrigen hsefde
ymb ]?one beorhtan beam, swa ic on bocum fand,
wyrda gangum, on gewritum cySan
be Sam sigebeacne. A wses s^qg- oS Sset
cnyssed cearwelmum, C(en) drusende, 120 beah he in medohealle maSmas J?ege,
se(p)plede gold ; Y(r) gnornode,
99. waes S. , waef MS. 100. neodode S. , reodode MS. 102. rihtan eaht S.
103. meaht S. , miht MS. 104. onwreah. 118. saecc.
XX. CYNEWULF I 03
N(yd)gefera, nearusorge dreah, enge rune, ]?ser him E(oh) fore milpaSas maet, modig Jraegde
125 wirum gewlenced. W(yn) is gesw^Srad, gomen aefter gearum, geogocS is gecyrred, aid onmedla ; U(r) wses geara geogoShades glsem. Nu synt gewitene, Hfwynne geliden, swa L(agu) toglideS,
130 flodas gefysde. F(eoh) geghwam bi'S labne under lyfte. Landes fraetwe gewita]? under wolcnum winde gelicost, ]?onne he for hseleSum hlud astigeS ; wseSeS be wolcnum, wedende faereS
135 and oft semninga swige gewyrSeS, in nedcleofan nearwe geheaSrod, J>ream forj-»rycced.
125. geswiftrad.
V. MISCELLANEOUS
21. GNOMIC AND DIDACTIC
There are several A.-S. poems containing wise saws, sage counsels, and short aphoristic remarks about men and things. They are so disconnected that one is tempted to regard them as merely exercises in versification. It is, however, more probable that the monks who wrote them were meeting the popular taste for such saws, grouping them together by alliterating verse. On the scanty evidence of their language, these poems are often considered to be of early date, but such evidence is not conclusive. Indeed, the metre if anything points to a late date, possibly well on in the tenth century.
A. THE WAYS OF CREATION
Cyning sceal rice healdan. Ceastra beotJ feorran gesyne,
orSanc enta geweorc, ]?a ]?e on bysse eorSan syndon,
wrsetlic weallstana geweorc. Wind byS on lyfte swiftust,
bunar byS bragum hludast. Pry m mas syndan Cristes myccle, 5 wyrd byS swISost Winter by<5 cealdost,
lencten hrimigost, he byS lengest ceald,
sumor sunwlitegost, swegel byt> hatost,
haerfest hreSeadegost, haeleSum bringeS
geares wsestmas, J»a ]?e him God sendeS. 10 SoS biS sww/olost, sine by5 deorost,
gold gumena gehwam, ond gomol snoterost,
fyrngearum frod, se be ser feala gebideS.
Wea biS wundrum clibbor. Wolcnu scriSaS.
Geongne se^eling sceolan gode gesISas 15 byldan to beaduwe ond to beahgife.
Ellen sceal on eorle, ecg sceal wi<5 helme
hilde gebidan. Hafuc sceal on glofe
10. swicolost. 16. hellme.
104
XXL GNOMIC AND DIDACTIC 1 05
wilde gewunian, wulf sceal on bearowe,
ea.rm anhaga, eofor sceal on holte, 20 toSmaegenes trum. Til sceal on eSle
domes wyrcean. DaroS sceal on handa,
gar golde fah. Gim sceal on hringe
standan steap ond geap. Stream sceal on yGum
me(n)cgan mereflode. Msest sceal on ceole, 25 segelgyrd seomian. Sweord sceal on bearme,
drihtlic isern. Draca sceal on hlaewe,
frod, frsetwum wlanc. Fisc sceal on wsetere
cynren cennan. Cyning sceal on healle
beagas daelan. Bera_ sceal on haeSe 30 eald ond egesfull. Ea of dune sceal
flodgrseg feran. Fyrd sceal aetsomne,
tirfaestra getrum. Treow sceal on eorle,
wisdom on were. Wudu sceal on foldan
blabdum blowan. Beorh sceal on eor]?an 35 grene standan. God sceal on heofenum
dseda demend. Duru sceal on healle,
rum recedes muS. Rand sceal on scylde,
fsest fingra gebeorh. Fugel uppe sceal
lacan on lyfte. Leax sceal on wsele 40 mid sceote scriftan. Scur sceal on heofenum
winde geblanden in ]?as woruld cuman.
Peof sceal gangan J>y strum wederum. Pyrs sceal on fenne gewunian
ana innan lande. Ides sceal dyrne craefte,
faemne hire freond gesecean, gif heo nelle on folce ge]?eon, 45 l^set hi man beagum gebicge. Brim sceal sealte weallan,
lyfthelm ond laguflod ymb ealra landa gehwylc,
flowan firgenstreamas. Feoh sceal on eorSan
tydran ond tyman. Tungol sceal on heofenum
beorhte scman, swa him bebead Meotud. 50 God sceal wi5 yfele, geogoS sceal wiS yldo,
lif sceal wi5 dea]?e, leoht sceal wiS J?ystrum,
fyrd wiS fyrde, feond wiS oSrum,
Ia5 wi5 la]?e ymb land sacan,
synne staelan. A sceal snotor hycgean
19. earn.
106 MISCELLANEOUS
ymb J?ysse worulde gewinn ; wearh hangian, faegere ongildan J»aet he aer facen dyde manna cynne. Meotod ana wat hwyder seo sawul sceal sySSan hweorfan, ond ealle ]?a gastas ]?e for Gode hweorfaS
60 aefter deaSdaege, domes bidaS
on faeder faeSme. Is seo forSgesceaft digol ond dyrne ; Drihten ana wat, nergende Faeder ; nseni(g) eft cymeS hider under hrofas, J?e ]?aet her for so5
65 mannum secge hwylc sy Meotodes gesceaft, sigefolca gesetu, ]?£er he sylfa wunat).
B. THE GIFTS OF MEN
Fela biS on foldan forSgesynra geongra geofona, J>a ]?a ga^stberend wegaS in gewitte, swa her weoruda God,
70 Meotud meahtum swIS, monnum dseleS, syleS sundorgiefe, sendeS wide agne spede, ]?ara seghwylc mot dryhtwuniendra dsel onfon. Ne biS senig J?aes earfoSsselig
75 mon on moldan, ne ]?aes medspedig, lytelhydig, ne J?ses laethydig, J?3et hine se Argifa ealles biscyrge modes craefta o»e maegendaeda, wis on gewitte, o)?]?e on wordcwidum,
80 }>y lalbs (he) ormod sy ealra )?inga J>ara ]>Q he geworhte in woruldlife, geofona gehwylcre ; nsefre God demeS ]?aet senig eft J?aes earm geweorSe. Naenig eft J>aes swi]?e ]?urh snyttrucraeft
85 in >eode ]?rym >isses lifes
forG gestigeS, >aet him folca Weard }nirh his halige giefe hider onsende wise ge]?ohtas ond woruldcraeftas, under anes meaht ealle forlaete,
XXI. GNOMIC AND DIDACTIC
90 ]>y Ises he for wlence, wuldorgeofona ful, mon mode swi<5, of gemete hweorfe ond ]?onne forhycge heanspedigran. Ac he gedseleS, se ]?e ah domes ge weald, missenlice geond J>isne middangeard 95 leoda leoj?ocraeftas londbuendum. Sumum her ofer eorj?an aehta onllhS, woruldgestreona. Sum biS wonspedig, heardsselig haele, bij? hwse]?re gleaw modes craefta. Sum maegenstrengo
100 fur]?or onfehS. Sum freolic biS,
wlitig on waestmum. Sum biG woSbora, giedda giffaest. Sum biS gearuwyrdig. Sum bi5 on hunto]?e hreSeadigra, deora drsefend. Sum dyre bi5
105 woruldricum men. Sum bi5 wiges heard, beadocraeftig beorn, J>aer bord stunaS. Sum in maeSle maeg modsnottera folcrsedenne fortJ gehycgan, ]?ser witena biS worn aetsomne.
no Sum maeg wraetlice weorc ahycgan
heahtimbra gehwaes ; hond biS gelsered, wis ond gewealden, swa bi5 wyrhtan ryht, sele asettan ; con he sidne raeced faeste gefegan wij? fserdryrum.
115 Sum mid hondum maeg hearpan gretan, ah he gleobeames gearobrygda list. Sum bi3 rynig, sum ryhtscytte, sum leoSa gleaw, sum on londe snel, fe}>espedig. Sum (on) fealone waeg
120 stefnan steoreS, streamrade con weorudes wisa ofer widne holm, ]?onne saerofe snelle maegne arum bregdaS ySborde neah. Sum biS syndig, sum searocraeftig
125 goldes ond gimma, ]?onne him gumena weard hate<5 him to masrjmm maJ?J»um renian. Sum maeg waepenjpraece, wlge to nytte modcraeftig smiS, monige gefremman,
108 MISCELLANEOUS
Jxmne he gewyrceS to wera hilde 130 helm oj?]?e hupseax oSSe hea]?ubyrnan,
scirne mece, oSSe scyldes rond
faeste gefegan wiS flyge gares.
Sum biS arfsest ond aelmesgeorn,
}?eawum ge]?yde. Sum biS J>egn gehweorf 135 on meoduhealle. Sum biS meares gleaw,
wic(g)crsefta wis. Sum gewealdenmod
J>afaS in gefylde ]?aet he ]?onne sceal.
Sum domas con, f»3er dryhtguman
rsed eahtiaS. Sum biS hrsedtsefle. 140 Sum biS gewittig set wm]?ege,
beorhyrde god. Sum biS bylda til
ham to h^bb^nne. Sum biS heretoga,
fyrdwisa from. Sum bi]? folcwita.
Sum bfy aet ]?earf(e) J>risthydigra T45 J'egn mid his )?eodne. Sum ge]?yld hafaS,
faestgongel ferS. Sum biS fugelbona,
haefeces craeftig. Sum biS to horse hwaet.
Sum bi5 swISsnel, hafaS searolic gomen,
gleodseda gife for gum]?egnum, 150 leoht ond leo]?uwac. Sum biS leofwende,
hafaS mod ond word monnum ge]?w£ere.
Sum her geornlice gsestes J>earfe
mode bewinde]? ond him Metudes ej-t
ofer eorSwelan ealne geceoseS. 155 Sum biS deormod deofles gewinnes
biS a wiS firenum in gefeoht gearo.
Sum craeft hafaS circnytta fela,
maeg on lofsongum lifes Waldend
hlude hergan, hafaS healice 1 60 beorhte stefne. Sum biS boca gleaw,
larum leo]?ufaest. Sum bi)? listhendig
to awritanne wordgeryno.
Nis nu ofer eor]?an senig monna
mode J?aes craeftig ne ]?aes maegeneacen 165 J?aet hi(m) gefre anum ealle weorj?en
gegearwade, )>y laes him gilp sceSSe,
142. habbenne. 153. eft.
XXI. GNOMIC AND DIDACTIC 109
obbe fore bggre maerbe mod astige, gif he hafab ana ofer ealle men wlite ond wisdom ond weorca blaM.
170 Ac he missenlice monna cynne gielpes styreS ond his giefe bryttaS sumum on cystum, sumum on crseftum, sumum on wlite, sumum on wige ; sumum he syleS monna milde heortan,
175 beawfaestne geboht, sum bib beodne hold. Swa weorSHce wide tosaweS Dryhten his dugube ; a bses dom age, leohtbasre lof, se us bis lif giefeS ond his milde mod monnum
C. A FATHER'S ADVICE
It is possible, as Brandl suggests (G.E.L. p. 962), that these lines, obviously written by a cleric, were intended for the instruction of a young prince or noble (freobearn).
1 80 Dus frod fseder freobearn Iserde,
modsnottor (mon), mag^cystum eald,
wordum wisfsestum, )?set he wel ]?unge : —
1 Do a j?aette duge ; deag bin gewyrht ;
' God ]?e biS symle goda gehwylces
'frea ond fultum, feond j?am o]?rum
' wyrsan gewyrhta. Wene bee ]?y betran ;
' efn elne ]?is a benden bu lifge.
' Faeder ond modor freo bu mid heortan,
' maga gehwylcne, gif him sy Meotud on lufan. 190 'Wes bu blnum yldrum arfeest symle,
4 faegerwyrde, ond J>e in ferSe laet
* }?ine lareowas leofe in mode,
' ba bee geornast to gode trymmen.'
Faeder eft his sunu frod gegrette 195 obre sibe : * Heald elne )>is :
' ne freme firene, ne nsefre freonde binum,
4 msege man ne ge]?afa, ]?y laes bee Meotud oncunne 181. magacystum. 183. gewyrhtu.
I 10 MISCELLANEOUS
' ]?aet J?u sy wommes gewita ; he ]?e mid wite gielde<5, ' swylce ]?am 6]?rum mid eadwelan.' 200 Driddan si}>e Jxmcsnottor guma breostgehygdum his beam labrde :
* Ne gewuna wyrsan widan feore
' sengum sehta, ac }>u J>e anne genim
' to gesprecan symle spella ond lara 205 ' rsedhycgende ; sy ymb rice swa hit msege.'
Feor]?an siSe fseder eft Iserde
modleofne magan J»3st he gemunde ]?is :
' Ne aswic sundorwine, ac a symle geheald
1 rihtum gerisnum ; raefn elne ]?is, 210 *J>3et J>u nsefre fsecne weorSe freonde J^inum.'
Fiftan si]?e faeder eft ongon
breostgejxmcum his beam Iseran :
1 Druncen beorg ]?e ond dollic word,
{ man on mode ond in muj?e lyge, 215' yrre on(i sefste ond idese lufan ;
{forj»on sceal sewiscmod oft sij>ian,
* se )?e gewiteS in wifes lufan,
* fremdre meowlan ; J^ser bi5 a firena wen, 1 la,51icre scome, long niS wi5 God,
220 'geotende gielp. Wes Ipu a giedda wis,
' wser wiS willan, worda hyrde.'
Siextan si]?e swses eft ongon
]?urh bliSne gej^oht his beam Iseran :
' Ongiet georne hwaet sy god oj?]?e yfel, 225 'ond toscead simle scearpe mode
' in sefan J>mum, ond J?e a J?aet selle geceos ;
1 a ]?e biS gedaeled, gif )?e deah hyge ;
' wunaS wisdom in, ond Jms wast geare
' ondgit yfles ; heald J>e elne wiS ; 230 ' feorma J?u symle in J>mum ferSe god.'
Seofe)?an sij?e his sunu laerde
faeder, frod guma, saegde fela geongum :
' Seldan snottor guma sorgleas blissaS,
* swylce dol seldon drymeS sorgful
235 ' ymD n^s forSgesceaft, nefne he fseh]?e wite.
215. aefeste.
XXI. GNOMIC AND DIDACTIC I I I
c Waerwyrde sceal, wisfsest haele,
' breostum hycgan, nales breahtme hlud.'
Eahto]?an sif»e eald faeder ongon
his mago monian mildum wor-dum : 240 ' Leorna lara Isergedefe,
' wene ]?ec in wisdom weoruda Scyppend,
' hafa ]?e to hyhte haligra gemynd,
' ond a so5 to sige, J>onne J?u secge hwset.'
Nige]?an stye nsegde se gomola, 245 eald uftwita, saegde eaforan worn :
1 Is nu fela folca ]?2ette fyrngewritu
'healdan wille, ac him hyge brosnaS,
' ellen colaS, IdlaS ]?eodscipe ;
' ne habba<5 wiht for }?3et, ]?eah hi wo/z don 250 * ofer Meotudes bibod ; monig sceal ongieldan
' sawol susles. Ac laet f>inne sefan healdan
{ forS fyrngewritu ond Frean domas,
1 ]?a }>Q her on msegSe gehw^r men forlseta})
{swi]?or asigan ]?onne him sy sylfum riht.' 255 Teo]?an si]?e tornsorgna ful
eald eft ongon eaforan laeran :
* Snyttra bruce]? ]?e fore sawle lufan
' warnaS him wommas worda ond dseda { on sefan symle, ond so]? fremeS : 260 ' biS him geofona gehwylc gode geyced, ' meahtum spedig, J»onne he man flyhS.
* Yrre ne Iset J>e £efre gewealdan
* heah in hre]?re, heoroworda grund
' wylme bismitan, ac him warnaS J^aet 265 ' on geheortum hyge. Haele sceal wlsfaest,
c (milde) ond gemetlic, modes snottor,
' gleaw in gehygdum, georn wisdomes ;
' swa he wiS seldu maeg eades hleotan.
' Ne beo }>u no to t^lende ne to tweosprsece, 270 ' ne ]>e on mode last men to fraco]?e,
' ac beo leofwende ; leoht on gehygdum
1 ber breostcofan. Swa ]?u, mm beam, gemyne
' frode faederlare ond }?ec a wiS firenum geheald.'
249. worn. 253. gehwoere. 261. mon. 266. gemetlice. 268. aelda.
I I 2 MISCELLANEOUS
22. RIDDLES
Enigmas and riddles must have been current among the people of all countries ages before they were put into writing. Collections of riddles written in Latin verse have been preserved, the earliest of which is that of Symphosius, a continental writer. Their composition was a favourite recreation of learned men in the early Middle Ages, and it is well known that some of the most eminent Anglo-Saxon churchmen wrote riddles, for example Aldhelm, bishop of Sherborne, in the seventh century, and Tatwine, archbishop of Canterbury, Eusebius, abbot of Wearmouth, Bonifatius, and Alcuin, archbishop of York, in the eighth century. A collection of riddles is also ascribed to Bede. All these writers used Latin verse. A collection of over ninety A.-S. riddles has been preserved in the Exeter Book, which while owing a good deal to the Latin collections, especially to those of Aldhelm and Symphosius, for their inspiration and method, undoubtedly include much that is native and popular. For a long time the authorship of this collection was ascribed to Cynewulf, but scholars are now inclined to abandon the theory of single authorship. Some of the poems usually included in the riddles of the Exeter Book are not riddles at all ; others are descriptions rather than riddles.
The authors of the riddles often write with vigour and liveliness, and with a zest which shows that they enjoy the freedom of the literary genre as well as the pleasure of baffling the guesser. Some of the descriptions are remarkably fine, e.g. that of the hurricane, the second of our selections. The traditional vocabulary and phraseology of the earlier poetry are occasionally employed, but there is no trace of pre-Christian folk-lore. The pessimistic moralizing of so many A. -S. poems is refreshingly absent ; Brandl may be right in thinking that these riddles were intended for the amusement of the polite society of courts, conceivably also, we may add, of monasteries.
Judging by their language and versification the A.-S. Riddles would seem to belong to various periods. Some of the earliest, dating from the eighth century, must have been written in the Northumbrian dialect.' The original version of one of them (Q- 2) has been preserved.
A (RiD. i)
Hwylc is hselejm )?32S horse ond )?aes hygecraeftig J>set J>aet maege asecgan, hwa mec on si<5 wrsece, Jxmne ic astige strong, stundum re]?e, Jrymful Jnmie, J»ragum wrsefre, 5 fere geond foldan, folcsalo baerne, reced reafige ? Recas stigaS haswe ofer hrSfum, hlin biS on eorjmn, waelcwselm wera. J»onne ic wudu hrere, bearwas bledhwate, beamas fylle 10 hdme gehrefed, heahum mean turn
4. wraece. 10. helme S, , holme MS.
XXII. RIDDLES I I 3
wrec^n on waj?e, wide sended.
Haebbe me on hrycge ]?aet ser hadas wreah
foldbuendra, flaesc ond gsestas
somod on sonde. Saga hwa mec ]?ecce,
o]?J?e hu ic hatte, >e >a hlaest here.
B (Rm. 3)
Hwilum mec mm frea faeste genearwaS, sende<5 ]?onne under sablwonge
bearm (on) bradan, ond on bid wriceS,
J?rafa3 on J?ystrum J?rymma sumne, 20 ha3st(e) on enge, ]?£er me he^rd siteS
hruse on hrycge ; nah ic hwyrftweges
of )?am aglace, ac ic e]?elstol
haslej^a hreru ; hornsalu wagiaS,
wera wicstede ; weallas beofiaS 25 steape ofer stiwitum. Stille ]?ynce5
lyft ofer londe, ond lagu swige,
oj?]?aet ic of enge up a]?ringe,
efne swa mec wisaS se mec wr£e3re on
set frumsceafte fur]?um legde, 30 bende ond clomme, >83t ic onbugan ne mot
of ]?8ss gewealde J»e me wegas tsecneS.
Hwilum ic sceal ufan y]?a wregan,
(streamas) styrgan, ond to sta>e ]?ywan
flintgrsegne flod ; famig winneS 35 wseg wiS wealle ; wonn ariseS
dun ofer dype, hyre deorc on last
eare geblonden 6]?er fereS
]?3et hy gemittaS mearclonde neah,
hea hlincas. Peer biS hlud wada, 40 brimgiesta breahtm ; bidaS stille
stealc(e) stanhleo]?u streamgewinnes,
hopgehnastes, >onne heah ge>ring
on cleofu cryde> ; >2er biS ceole wen
sli]?re S33cce, gif hyne sse byreS
ii. wrecan. I7> salwonge.
20. hastst ; heord. 28. wraede. 39. wada S., wudu MS.
I
114 MISCELLANEOUS
45 on J?a grim man tid gsesta fulne,
]?aet he scyle rice birofen weor]?an,
feore bifohten, faemig ridan
y>a hrycgum ; J^aer bi5 egsa sum
aeldum geywed ]?ara ]?e ic hyran sceal, 50 strong on stiSweg ; hwa gestilleS J>aet ?
Hwilum ic )?urhn£se ]?set me on baece rldeS,
won wsegfatu, wide to]?ringe
lagustreama full, hwilum laete eft
slupan tosomne. Se biS swega maest, 55 breahtma ofer burgum, ond gebreca hludast,
)?onne scearp cymeS sceo wij? 6]?rum,
ecg wi5 ecge ; e^rpan gesceafte
fus ofer folcum fyre sw^/aS,
blacan Hge, ond gebrecu feraS 60 deorc ofer dreo/^um gedyne micle,
faratS feohtende, feallan IsetaS,
sweart sum send#(5) seaw of bosme,
waetan of wombe. Winnende fareS
atol eoredjreat ; egsa astigeS, 65 micel modjrea, monna cynne,
brogan on burgum, ]?onne blace scotaS
scrij>ende scin scearpum wsepnum.
Dol him ne ondrabdeS Sa deaSsperu,
swylteS hwae]?re, gif him s5<5 Meotud 70 on geryht^ (forS) ]?urh regn ufan
of gestune labteS straele fleogan,
farende flan ; fea ]?set gedygaS
]?ara ]?e gergeceS rynegiestes waepen.
Ic ]?ses orleges or anstelle, 75 jxmne gewite wolcengehnaste
]?urh ge]?raec )?rmgan ]?nmme micle
ofer b^rnan bosm ; biersteS hlude
heah hloSgecrod ; >onne hnige eft
under lyfte helm londe near 80 ond me (on) hrycg hlade J>3et ic habban sceal,
57. earpan. 58. swselaS S. , swaetatJ MS. 60. dreontum.
62. sum sendaS S., sum sendu MS. 66. scotaS S., scotiaS MS.
70. geryhte forS 5. , geryhtu MS. 77- byrnan.
XXII. RIDDLES I I 5
meahtum gemanad mines frean. Svva ic ]?rymfiil ]?eow ]?ragum winne, hwilum under eor]?an, hwilum y]?a sceal hean underhmgan, hwilum holm ufan, 85 streamas styrge, hwilum stlge up, wolcnfare wrege, wide fere swift ond swi]?freom. Saga hwset ic hatte, o]?]?e hwa mec rsere, }?onne ic restan ne not, o]?]?e hwa mec stae5)?e, J>onne ic stille beom.
C (RID. 12)
90 Fotum ic fere, foldan slite,
grene wongas, ]?enden ic gaest here. Gif me feorh losaS, faeste binde swearte Wealas, hwilum sellan men. Hwilum ic deorum drincan selle
95 beorne of bosme ; hwilum mec bryd triedeS felawlonc fotum ; hwilum feorran broht wonfeax Wale wegeS ond J>yS, dol druncmennen, deorcum nihtum wseteS in wastre, wyrmeS hwilum 100 fa3gre to fyre ; me on faeSme stica]? hygegalan hond, hwyrfeS geneahhe, swifeS me geond sweartne. Saga hwset ic hatte, ]?e ic lifgende lond reafige, ond 83fter dea]?e dryhtum }?eowige.
D (RID. 15)
105 Hals is mm hwit ond heafod fealo, sidan swa some ; swift ic eom on fe]?e, beadowsepen bere ; me on baece standaS her, swylce sue on hleorum ; hlifiaS tu earan ofer eagum ; ordum ic steppe
no in grene grass. Me bi8 gyrn witod gif mec onhsele 2,n onfindeS waelgrim wiga, ]?ser ic wic buge, bold mid bearnum, ond ic bide J?abr
87. swij)feorm.
Il6 MISCELLANEOUS
rnid geogutScnosle, hwonne gaest cume 115 to durum minum ; him bij> deaS witod.
For]?on ic sceal of e51e eaforan mine
forhtmod fergan, fleame nergan,
gif he me aefterweard ealles weorj?eS ;
hi ne ber(i)a5 breost. Ic his bldan ne dear, 120 re]?es on geruman — ne ic ]?aet rsed teale-
ac ic sceal fromlice fe]?emundum
Jmrh steapne beorg strsete wyrcan.
EaJ?e ic mseg freora feorh genergan,
gif ic mot m^egburge mine gelsedan 125 on degolne weg ]?urh dune J>yrel,
swsese ond gesibbe ; ic me si]?]?an ne f>earf
waelhwelpes wig wiht onsittan,
gif se nISscea]?a nearwe stige
me on swaj»e sece]? ; ne tosjelej? him 130 on J>am gegnpa]?e guj>gemotes,
si]?]?an ic f>urh hylles hrof gersece,
ond J»urh h^st hrino hildepilum
laSgewinnum ]?am )?e ic longe fleah.
E (RID. 22)
^Etsomne cwom siextig monna !35 to W8egstse]?e wicgum ridan ;
haefdon endlefen eoredmaecgas
firdhengestas, feower sceamas.
Ne meahton magorincas ofer mere feolan
swa hi fundedon, ac wses flod to deop, 14° atol y]?a gejraec, ofras hea,
streamas stronge. Ongunnon stigan ]?a
on waegn weras j ond hyra wicg somod,
hlodan under hrunge ; ]?a ]?a hors oSbaer,
e(o)h ond eorlas, aescum dealle, 145 ofer wsetres byht waegn to lande,
swa hine oxa ne teah ne esna maegen,
119. hi ne beriaS breost S. , hine beraS breost MS.
120. ne ic S. , nele MS. 124. msegburge mot. 132. hest. 137. fridhengestas. 144. eh.
XXII. RIDDLES I I 7
ne fset hengest, ne on flode sworn, ne be grunde wod gestum under, ne lagu drefde, ne on lyfte fleag, 150 ne under baec cyrde ; brohte hwaej^re
beornas ofer burnan, ond hyra bloncan mid, from staeSe heaum, J>aet hy stopan up on o)?erne, ellenrofe weras of waege, ond hyra wicg gesund.
F (RiD. 32)
I55 Is J>es middangeard missenlicum
wisum gewlitegad, wrsettum gefrsetwad ;
sijmrn sellic ic seah searo hweorfan,
grindan wi5 greote, giellende faran ;
ngefde sellicu wiht syne ne folme, 1 60 exle ne earmas, sceal on anum fet
searoceap swifan, swij^e feran,
faran ofer feldas, haefde fela ribba ;
muS waes on middan, moncynne nyt ;
fere(S) foddurwelan, folcscipe dreogeS, 165 wist in wigeS, ond werum gieldeS
gaful geara gehwam, j?aes ]?e guman brucaS
rice ond heane. Rece, gif J»u cunne,
wis, worda gleaw, hwset sio wiht sie.
G (RiD. 35) •;
1
Mec se waeta wong wundrum freorig 170 of his innate ser<?st cende.
Ne wat ic mec beworhtne wulle flysum,
hserum ]?urh heahcraeft, hyge}>oncum in.
Wundene me ne beoS wefle, ne ic wearp hafu,
ne Jmrh J>reata ge]?racu ]?rsed me ne hlimmeS, 175 ne aet me hrutende hrisil scrIJ>eS,
ne mec ohwonan sceal am cnyssan.
Wyrmas mec ne awsefan wyrda craeftum,
164. feretJ S. 170. aerist. 172. hyge]>oncum min. 176. amas.
I I 8 MISCELLANEOUS
]?a J>e geolo godwebb geatwum frsetwaS. Wile mec mon hwse]?re sej>eah wide ofer. eor]?an 1 80 hatan for haelejmm hyhtlic gewsede. Saga soScwidum, searo]>oncum gleaw, wordum wlsfaest, hwset ]?is gewaide sy.
The following is a much earlier Northumbrian text of this riddle, written at the end of a Latin MS. (Voss. Q. 106, fol. 246), in the Leiden University Library. Some of the words and letters which are damaged or illegible are enclosed in square brackets. The language and spelling should be compared with those of Ccedmon's Hymn (No. 17 Ai) and Bede's Death-Song (No. 17 B).
Mec se ueta uong uundrum freorig i joa ob his innaSae serest caend[ae].
NI uuat ic mec biuorthae uullan fiiusum,
herum Serh hehcraeft higido[n]cum [in].
Uundnae me ni biaS ueflag, ni ic uarp hefse,
ni Serih Srea[t]un giSraec Sret me hlimmith, 1750 ne me hrutendi hrisil scelfaeS,
ni mec 6u[ua]n[a] aam sceal cnyssa.
Uyrmas mec ni auefun uyrdi craeftum,
8a Si goelu godueb geatum fraetuath.
Uil mec hudrae suae Seh iridse ofaer eorSu i8o« hatan mith heliSum hyhtlic giusede.
Ni anoegu n(a) ic me aerigfaerae egsan brogum,
Seh Si ni[maen flanas fracjadlicae ob cocrum.
H (Rm. 39)
Gewritu secgaS ]?83t seo wiht sy mid moncynne miclum tidum
185 sweotol ond gesyne; sundorcraeft hafaS maran micle ]?onne hit men witen. Heo wile gesecan sundor geghwylcne feorhberendra, gewiteS eft feran on weg ; ne biS hio nsefre niht J?aer 6]?re,
190 ac hio sceal wideferh wreccan laste
anoegun.
XXII. RIDDLES I I 9
hamleas hweorfan ; no ]?y heanre bij?.
Ne hafaS hio fot ne folm, ne Eefre foldan hran,
ne eagen<2 (hafaS) signer twega,
ne muS hafa]? ne wi]? monnum spraec, 195 ne gewit hafa<5, ac gewritu secgaS
f>aet seo sy earmost ealra wihta
J>ara ]>e sefter gecyndum cenned wabre.
Ne hafaS hio sawle ne feorh, ac hio styas sceal
geond J>as wundorworuld wide dreogan. 200 Ne hafaS hio blod ne ban, hwsefre bearmim wear<5
geond }?isne middangeard mongum to frofre.
Nsefre hio heofonum hran ne to helle mot ;
ac hio sceal wideferh Wuldorcyninges
larum lifgan. Long is to secganne 205 hu hyre ealdorgesceaft setter gongeS,
wohwyrda gesceapu ; J>3et (is) wrsetlic J>ing
to gesecganne ; so5 is seghwylc
]?ara ]?e ymb ]?as wiht wordum becne?5 ;
ne hafaS heo ^nig lim, leofa]? efne se)?eah. 210 Gif J>u maege r^selan recene gesecgan
sojnim wordum, saga hwset hio hatte.
I (Rio. 55)
Ic seah in heall(e), }>3*r haeleS druncon,
on flet beran feower cynna :
wr^etlic wudutreow ond wunden gold, 215 sine searobunden, ond seolfres dabl,
ond rode tacn, ]?aes us to roderum up
hlsedre raerde, ser he helwara
burg abrxce. Ic ]?ses beames maeg
ea]?e for eorlum se]?elu secgan ; 220 J^aer wses hlin ond ac, ond se hearda iw,
ond se fealwa holen. Frean sindon ealle
nyt setgsedre, naman habbaS anne,
wulf heafodtreo ; ]?set oft wsepen ahead
his mondryhtne, maSm in healle,
193. eagene. 210. reselan.
223. -heafed-. abead 5. , absed MS.
I2O MISCELLANEOUS
225 goldhilted sweord. Nu me gieddes pisses ondsware ywe, se hi(m) ne o^-mede wordum secgan hu se wudu hatte.
23. RHYME POEM
In the earlier A.-S. verse rhyme is occasionally met with inside the alliterating line, cf. the passage from Cynewulf's Elene (No. 20 B) ; but its use may be regarded as a whim of the poet. Clearly it formed no part of the traditional technique of A.-S. versification. In the verse of the tenth century rhyme begins to occur more frequently in the alliterating verse, but it never rises above a humble role during the whole period when the alliterating verse was written. The familiar rhyming Latin hymns may have prompted ecclesiastical writers of A.-S. verse to imitation ; it is also not unlikely that rhyming was used in proverbs and popular verse. The Rhyme Poem, consisting of eighty-seven lines, of which we here give the first portion, is interesting as an experiment on a considerable scale in a new and difficult technique already utilized to a slight extent. A number of the words used occur nowhere else ; the general theme is the familiar one of regret for past happiness. The sense is frequently sacrificed to the rhyme.
Me Hfes onlah se ]?is leoht onwrah,
and ]?aet torhte get^h, tillice onwrah.
Glaed waes ic gliwum, glenged hiwum
blissa bleoum, blostma hiwum. 5 Secgas mec segon, symbel ne alegon,
feorhgiefe gefegon ; fraetwed vregon
wic(g) ofer wongum wennan gongum
lisse mid longum leoma getongum.
Pa waes waestmum aweaht, wor(u)ld ons/re(a)ht, 10 under roderum areaht, rsedmaegne oferbeaht.
Giestas gengdon, ge/scype mengdon,
lisse lengdon, lustum glengdon.
Scrifen scrad, glad ]?urh gescad in brad ;
W83S on lagustreame lad, J?aer me leq/ii ne biglad. 15 Hsefde ic heanne had ; ne waes me in'healle gad,
J>aet J>ser rof weor(u)d rad ; oft }?aer rinc gebad ;
]?set he in sele ssege sincgewaege
]?egnum ge]?yhte. Penden ic waes (on) hyhte ;
horsce mec heredon, hilde generedon, 20 faegre feredon, feond^w biweredon.
225. Jjisses gieddes. 226. him ne ormede S., hine on mede MS.
2. geteoh. 6. wsegum. 9. onstreaht S., onspreht MS. n. gepscype 5. , gerscype MS. 14. leofu S. , leojju MS. 18. waes ic msegen. 20. feondon.
XXIII. RHYME POEM I 2 I
Swa mec hyhtgiefu heold, hygedryht befeold ;
sta]?ol32htum ste<?ld, stepegongum weold ;
swylce eor]?e 61, ahte ic ealdorstol,
galdorwordum gol ; gomel sibbe ne ofol, 25 ac waes g(i)ef(f)<«st ger, gellende sner,
wuniendo wser, wilbec bescaer.
Scealcas wseron scearpe, scyl waes hearpe,
hlude hlynede, hleo]x)r dynede,
sweglrad swinsade, swi]?e ne minsade ;
burgsele b/fade, beorht hlifade.
Ellen eacnade, ead beacnade,
freaum frodade, fromum godade ;
mod maegnade, mine faegnade,
treow telgade, tir welgade,
blsed blissade, (bleo glissade);
gold gearwade, gim hwearfade,
sine searwade, sib nearwade.
From ic waes in fraetwum, freolic in geatwum ;
waes mm dream dryhtlic, drohtat) hyhtlic. 40 Foldan ic freo]x)de, folcum ic leo]?ode ;
lif waes mm longe leodum in gemonge,
tirum getonge, teala gehonge.
24. LATE A.-S. AND TRANSITIONAL VERSE
The following poem, which occurs in two MSS. of the A.-S. Chronicle (C and D] anno 1065, is the last surviving example of the traditional alliterating verse. The versification is fairly correct, judged by the earlier standard, more correct than that of the Battle of Maldon and the Fight at Finnsburh.
Her Eadward kingc, Engla hlaford, sende so]?fae[ste] sawle to Criste, on Codes wsere gast haligne. He on worulde her wunode Jrage, 5 on kyne]?rymme, craeftig raeda, feower and twentig freolic wealdend wintra gerimes weolan brytnode ;
22. steald. 24. ofoll.
25. gefest, gear. 30. beofode.
38. in in geatwum.
122 MISCELLANEOUS
and healfe tid haelefta wealdend
weold welge]mngen Walum and Scottum 10 and Bryttum eac, byre .ZESelredes,
Englum and