DEOR
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 26-Nov-2005
click here on the lyre: 
to listen to Prof. Robert Fulk read Deor in Old English (from the Norton Online Archive)
| Wélund him be wurm{a} wráeces cunnade |
| Weland, from serpents, experienced misery, |
| anhýdig eorl, earfoþa dréag, |
| the resolute warrior, he endured hardships, |
| hæfde him tó gesíþþe sorge ond longaþ, |
| had as companions to him, sorrow and longing, |
| wintercealde wræce, wéan oft onfond |
| wintry-cold exile, he often found woes |
| siþþan hine Níðhád on néde legde |
5 | after Nithhad upon him laid a compulsion, |
| swoncre seonobende on syllan monn. |
| supple bounds on sinew on a better man. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
| As that passed away, so may this. |
| Beadohilde ne wæs hyre bróþra déaþ |
| For Beadohild was not her brothers' death |
| on sefan swá sár swá hyre sylfre þing, |
| in her mind so grievous as her own condition, |
| þæt héo gearolíce ongieten hæfde |
10 | that she clearly had seen |
| þæt héo éacen wæs; áefre ne meahte |
| that she was swollen with child; she could never |
| þríste geþencan hú ymb þæt sceolde. |
| think confidently what must (be done) about that. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
| As that passed away, so may this. |
| Wé þæt Máeðhilde monge gefrugnon |
| That for Maethhild, of us many have heard |
| wurdon grundléase Géates fríge, |
15 | that boundless became Geat's desire, |
| þæt hi{m} séo sorglufu sláep ealle binóm. |
| that him this sad love entirely deprived of sleep. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
| As that passed away, so may this. |
| Ðéodríc áhte þrítig wintra |
| Theodric held for thirty winters |
| Máeringa burg; þæt wæs mongegum cúþ. |
| the stronghold of the Maerings; that was known to many. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
20 | As that passed away, so may this. |
| Wé geáscodan Eormanríces |
| We learned of Eormanric's |
| wylfenne geþóht; áhte wíde folc |
| wolfish mind; he ruled people far and wide |
| Gotena ríces. Þæt wæs grim cyning. |
| in the kingdom of the Goths. That was a savage king. |
| Sæt secg monig sorgum gebunden |
| Many a warrior sat, bound in sorrows, |
| wéan on wénan, wýscte geneahhe |
25 | expecting woe, often wished |
| þæt þæs cyneríces ofercumen wáere. |
| that his kingdom would be overcome. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
| As that passed away, so may this. |
| Siteð sorgcearig sáelum bidáeled, |
| A man sits sorrowful, bereft of joys, |
| on sefan sweorceð, sylfum þinceð |
| in his soul it grows dark, it seems to him |
| þæt sý endeléas earfoða dæl. |
30 | that endless is his portion of sufferings. |
| Mæg þonne geþencan þæt geond þás woruld |
| He may then think that throughout this world |
| wítig dryhten wendeþ geneahhe, |
| the wise Lord often makes changes, |
| eorle monegum áre gescéawað |
| to many men honours are shown, |
| wislícne bláed, sumum wéana dáel. |
| true fame, to some a portion of woe. |
| Þæt ic bí mé sylfum secgan wille |
35 | This of my self I wish to say-- |
| þæt ic hwíle wæs Heodeninga scop |
| that for a time I was the gleeman of the Heodenings, |
| dryhtne dýre. Mé wæs Déor noma; |
| dear to my lord. 'Deor' was my name; |
| áhte ic fela wintra folgað tilne, |
| I had for many winters a good employment, |
| holdne hláford oþ þæt Heorrenda nú |
| a gracious lord, until now Heorrenda, |
| léoðcræftig monn londryht geþáh |
40 | a song-skilled man, received the land-rights |
| þæt mé eorla hléo áer gesealde. |
| that to me the protector of earls had given before. |
| Þæs oferéode, ðisses swá mæg. |
| As that passed away, so may this. |