l. 1-31

Question 1

Oft him ānhaga āre gebīdeð,

Answer 1

Often the solitary one experiences grace,

Question 2

Metudes miltse,

Answer 2

the Measurer’s mercy,

Question 3

þēah þe hē mōdcearig
geond lagulāde longe sceolde
hrēran mid hondum hrīmcealde sǣ,

Answer 3

although he must, sorrowful at heart, throughout the long seaway stir with his hands the rime-cold sea,

Question 4

wadan wræclāstas.

Answer 4

travel the paths of exile.

Question 5

“wadan”

Answer 5

“to travel” -> Think of wading through

Question 6

Wyrd bið ful ārǣd.

Answer 6

Fate is of full resolute.

Question 7

Swā cwæð eardstapa, earfeþa gemyndig,

Answer 7

So spoke the wanderer, mindful of hardships,

Question 8

wrāþra wælsleahta, winemǣga hryre:

Answer 8

of cruel slaughters, of the deaths of dear kinsmen:

Question 9

Oft ic sceolde āna ūhtna gehwylce / mīne ceare cwīþan.

Answer 9

Often I must alone each dawn lament these sorrows of mine.

Question 10

“cwīþan”

Answer 10

“lament”, “bewail”

Question 11

Nis nū cwicra nān

Answer 11

Now that none are living

Question 12

þe ic him mōdsefan mīnne durre

sweotule āsecgan.

Answer 12

I may dare to openly express my mind.

Question 13

“sweotule”

Answer 13

“openly”, “plainly”

Question 14

Ic tō sōþe wāt

Answer 14

I too know the truth

Question 15

þæt biþ in eorle indryhten þēaw

Answer 15

that to be in noble custom a warrior

Question 16

“þēaw”

Answer 16

nominative singular “custom”, “habit”

Question 17

“indryhten”

Answer 17

“noble”, “excellent”

Question 18

þæt hē his ferðlocan fæste binde,

Answer 18

that he firmly bind his life-enclosure,

Question 19

“fæste”

Answer 19

“firmly”, “securely”

Question 20

healde his hordcofan, hycge swā hē wille.

Answer 20

govern his breast-chamber, think what he will.

Question 21

Ne mæg wērig mōd wyrde wiðstondan,

Answer 21

Never may a weary spirit withstand fate,

Question 22

ne se hrēo hyge helpe gefremman;

Answer 22

nor can the troubled heart help to aid,

Question 23

“hrēo”

Answer 23

“disturbed”, “troubled”

Question 24

for ðon dōmgeorne drēorigne oft / in hyra brēostcofan bindað fæste;

Answer 24

therefore those eager for glory often bind their sorrow securely within the breast-chamber;

Question 25

“drēorigne”

Answer 25

“sorrow” (noun)

Question 26

swā ic mōdsefan mīnne sceolde, / oft earmcearig, ēðle bidǣled, /
frēomǣgum feor, feterum sǣlan.

Answer 26

so I had to - always sorrowful, separated from my homeland, far from free kinsman - fasten my spirit in fetters.

Question 27

siþþan geāra iū goldwine mīnne /

hrūsan heolstre biwrāh,

Answer 27

since I formerly long ago covered my gold-lord in concealment of earth,

Question 28

“hrūsan”

Answer 28

“of earth”

Question 29

“heolstre”

Answer 29

“concealment”, “darkness” -> Think of a gun being concealed in its holster!

Question 30

“biwrāh”

Answer 30

“covered”, “hid”

Question 31

ond ic hēan þonan /

wōd wintercearig ofer waþema gebind.

Answer 31

and I, thence wretched, traveled sorrowful as winter over freezing waves.

Question 32

“hēan”

Answer 32

“wretched”

Question 33

“gebind”

Answer 33

“freezing”, “binding”

Question 34

sōhte seledrēorig sinces bryttan,

Answer 34

I sought - sorrowful at separation from the hall - the giver of treasure,

Question 35

hwǣr ic feor oþþe nēah findan meahte

þone þe in meoduhealle mīne wisse,

Answer 35

where I night find - far or near - he who in the mead-hall knew my people,

Question 36

“mīne”

Answer 36

“my people”

Question 37

oþþe mec frēondlēasne frēfran wolde,

wenian mid wynnum.

Answer 37

or wished to console me friendless; to entertain with joys.

Question 38

“frēfran”

Answer 38

“to console” -> think of a calming, frothy bubble bath!

Question 39

“wenian”

Answer 39

“to entertain”

Question 40

Wāt se þe cunnað

hū slīþen bið sorg tō gefēran

Answer 40

He knows who experiences / how cruel sorrow is as a companion

Question 41

“gefēran”

Answer 41

“companion” -> Think of a fearow companion flying alongside

Question 42

þām þe him lȳt hafað lēofra geholena.

Answer 42

he who himself has few beloved friends.

Question 43

“geholena”

Answer 43

“friends”, “confidants” -> think of how holy friendship is:-) #blessed