WALDERE [two fragments]

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last updated on 25-August-2002


A

 

.....                          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

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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.......'