WALDERE [two fragments]
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 25-August-2002
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A |
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| ..... hyrde hyne georne: |
| ..... [she] encouraged him eagerly: |
| 'Húrú Wélande<s> worc ne geswíceð |
| 'Surely Weland's work will not fail |
| monna áenigum ðára ðe Mimming can |
| any man of those who can Mimming, |
| hear{d}ne gehealdan. Oft æt hilde gedréas |
| the hard (sword), hold. Often in battle fell, |
| swátfág ond sweordwund sec{g} æfter óðrum. |
5 | blood-stained and sword-wounded, one warrior after another. |
| Ætlan ordwyga, ne láet ðín ellen nú gý{t} |
| Lead warrior of Attila, let not your courage yet |
| gedréosan tó dæge, dryhtscipe <.....> |
| perish today, valour..... |
| <Nú> is sé dæg cumen |
| Now is the day arrived |
| þæt ðú scealt áninga óðer twéga: |
| when you must (do) one of two (things): |
| líf forléosan oððe l<an>g{n}e dóm |
10 | lose (your) life or lasting glory |
| ágan mid eldum, Ælfheres sunu. |
| achieve among the men, son of Aelfhere. |
| Nalles ic ðé, wine mín, wordum cíde |
| Not at all would I you, my friend, chide with words |
| ðý ic ðé gesáwe æt ðám sweord{p}legan |
| that I saw you at sword-play |
| ðurh edwítscype áeniges monnes |
| in disgrace from any man's |
| wíg forbúgan oððe on weal fléön |
15 | attack avoid or flee to the ramparts |
| líce beorgan ðéah þe láðra fela |
| to defend (your) body though many foes |
| ðínne byrnhomon billum héowun. |
| at your byrnie hewed with bill-swords. |
| Ac ðú symle furðor feohtan sóhtest |
| But always further you sought combat, |
| máel ofer mearce; ðý ic ðé metod ondréd |
| battle over the limit; I feared God for thee |
| þæt ðú tó fyrenlíce feohtan sóhtest |
20 | that you too rashly would seek battle |
| æt ðám ætstealle, óðres monnes, |
| at the waypoint, with another man, |
| wígráedenne. Weorða ðé selfne |
| (seek) warfare. Bring honour to yourself |
| gódum dáedum ðenden ðín God recce. |
| with virtuous deeds as long as God cares for you! |
| Ne murn ðú for ðí méce; ðé wearð máðma cyst |
| Do not be anxious for your maiche-sword; that choicest of treasures was |
| gife{ð}e tó {g}éoce; mid ðý ðú Gúðhere scealt |
25 | given as a support; with it you shall Guthere's |
| béot forbígan, ðæs ðe hé ðás beaduwe ongan |
| boast humiliate, since he this strife undertook |
| mid unryhte áerest sécan: |
| wrongly first to seek: |
| forsóc hé ðám swurde ond ðám syncfatum |
| he refused the sword and the precious treasures, |
| béaga mæ; nú sceal béaga léas |
| many rings; now he must, ringless, |
| hworfan from ðisse hilde, hláfurd sécan |
30 | turn from this battle, the lord must seek |
| ealdne éðel oððe hér áer swefan |
| his old homeland or here sleep in death before, |
| gif hé ðá.....' |
| if he then.....' |
|
B |
| |
| '....... <mé>ce bæteran |
| '....... a better sword |
| búton ðám ánum ðé ic éac hafa |
| except the one which I also have |
| on stánfate stille gehíded. |
| in a jeweled sheath quietly hidden. |
| Ic wát ðæt {h}i{t} ðóhte Ðéodríc Widian |
| I know that of it thought Theodric to Widia |
| selfum onsendon and éac sinc micel |
5 | himself to send and also many riches, |
| máðma mid ðí méce, monig óðres mid him |
| treasure with the maiche-sword, much else beside it |
| golde gegirwan; iúléan genam, |
| adorned with gold; he took reward for past deeds |
| þæs ðe hine of nearwum Níðhádes máeg |
| because him from captivity, Nithhad's kinsman, |
| Wélandes bearn. Widia út forlét; |
| Weland's son. Widia released (him); |
| ðurh fífela ge{w}e<a>ld forð ónette.' |
10 | through the domain of fifel-monsters he hastened forth.' |
| Waldere maðelode, wiga ellenróf, |
| Waldere spoke, the courage-strong warrior, |
| hæfde him on handa hildefró{f}re |
| he had in his hands the battle-comfort, |
| gúðbil{l} {on} gripe, gyddode wordum: |
| war-blade in his grip, he uttered formally: |
| 'Hwæt, ðú húru wéndest, wine Burgenda, |
| 'Indeed! you surely expected, friend of the Burgundians, |
| þæt mé Hagenan hand hilde gefremede |
15 | that against me Hagen's hand in battle would prevail |
| ond getwáemde féðewigges; feta, gyf ðú dyrre, |
| and separate me from the fray; take, if you dare, |
| æt ðus heaðuwérigan háre byrnan. |
| from (me), thus battle-weary, the grey byrnie. |
| Stand{e}ð mé hér on eaxelum Ælfheres láf |
| It stands here on my shoulders, Aelfhere's heirloom, |
| gód ond géapneb golde geweorðod |
| good and cleverly-woven, adorned with gold |
| ealles unscende æðelinges réaf |
20 | a wholly blameless prince's vestment |
| tó habbanne þonne ha{n}d wereð |
| to have when his hand protects |
| feorhhord féondum; {n}e bið fáh wið mé |
| his soul-hoard from enemies; it will not be hostile to me |
| þonne <mé> unmáegas eft ongynnað, |
| when alien men me again assail, |
| mécum gemétað swá gé mé dydon. |
| meet me with swords, as you did to me. |
| Ðéah mæg sige syllan sé ðe symle byð |
25 | Yet He can give victory, he who is ever |
| recon ond ráedfest ryhta gehwilces; |
| ready and sound in council in every matter of right; |
| sé ðe him tó ðám hálgan helpe gelífeð |
| he who to that holy one trusts for help, |
| tó gode gíoce hé þáer gearo findeð |
| to God for support he finds (it) ready there, |
| gif ðá earnunga áer geðenceð. |
| if meriting (it) he first considers. |
| Þonne {m}óten wlance welan britnian, |
30 | Then may the proud dispense wealth, |
| æhtum wealdan, þæt is.......' |
| rule over possessions, that is.......' |