The Wanderer Flashcards
Oft him anhaga are gebideð,
Often the solitary man experiences favour
metudes miltse, þeah þe he modcearig
The mercy of the lord, although sorrowful in heart he
geond lagulade longe sceolde
must long throughout the sea route
hreran mid hondum hrimcealde sæ,
must stir with his hands the ice cold sea
wadan wræclastas. Wyrd bið ful aræd!
travel the paths of exile. Fate is very inflexible
Swa cwæð eardstapa, earfeþa gemyndig,
So spoke the earth-stepper, mindful of miseries
wraþra wælsleahta, winemæga hryre:
of cruel battles, the deaths of kinsman
“Oft ic sceolde ana uhtna gehwylce
Often I should alone at every dawn
mine ceare cwiþan. Nis nu cwicra nan
lament my sorrows. Now is no one listening
þe ic him modsefan minne durre
to whom I my thoughts might dare to
sweotule asecgan. Ic to soþe wat
clearly reveal. I know too truly
þæt biþ in eorle indryhten þeaw,
that it be in a warrior noble custom
þæt he his ferðlocan fæste binde,
that he his spirit-enclosure should securely bind
healde his hordcofan, hycge swa he wille.
hold his treasure-chamber, think as he will.
Ne mæg werig mod wyrde wiðstondan,
Nor can the weary mind withstand fate
ne se hreo hyge helpe gefremman.
nor the turbulent mind find help
Forðon domgeorne dreorigne oft
Thus fame seekers must, often bloody/dreary- minded,
in hyra breostcofan bindað fæste;
bind fast their breast-chamber
swa ic modsefan minne sceolde,
thus I my thoughts should
oft earmcearig, eðle bidæled,
often miserable, deprived of my home-land
freomægum feor feterum sælan,
often miserable, deprived of my home-land
siþþan geara iu goldwine minne
since long ago my gold-friend
hrusan heolstre biwrah, ond ic hean þonan
I covered in the earth’s hiding place, and I wretched from thence
wod wintercearig ofer waþema gebind,
wintry-minded over the binding waves
sohte seledreorig sinces bryttan,
sought, miserable since lacking a hall, a giver of treasure
hwær ic feor oþþe neah findan meahte
where I, far or near, might find
þone þe in meoduhealle mine wisse,
that in that mead hall I happiness experience
oþþe mec freondleasne frefran wolde,
or me friendless would find comfort
wenian mid wynnum. Wat se þe cunnað,
entertain me with joys. He knows, who is able to know
hu sliþen bið sorg to geferan,
how hard sorrow is as a companion
þam þe him lyt hafað leofra geholena.
to one with so few beloved confidants.
Warað hine wræclast, nales wunden gold,
He is wary of the miserable track of exile, not wound with gold at all
ferðloca freorig, nalæs foldan blæd.
his frozen spirit-enclosure, not the joys of the earth
Gemon he selesecgas ond sincþege,
He remembers old retainers and the receiving of treasure
hu hine on geoguðe his goldwine
how he in his youth his gold-friend
wenede to wiste. Wyn eal gedreas!
accustomed to feasting. Joy is entirely gone!
Forþon wat se þe sceal his winedryhtnes
Therefore he knows, that he shall his lord and friend
leofes larcwidum longe forþolian,
his beloved lord’s counsel long forgo
ðonne sorg ond slæp somod ætgædre
when sorrow and sleep both together
earmne anhogan oft gebindað.
the miserable solitary-dweller often bind.
Þinceð him on mode þæt he his mondryhten
It seems to him in his mind that he his liege-lord
clyppe ond cysse, ond on cneo lecge
embraces and kisses, and on his knees lays
honda ond heafod, swa he hwilum ær
head in his hands, as he did at times before
in geardagum giefstolas breac.
in former days the gift-seat enjoyed.
Ðonne onwæcneð eft wineleas guma,
Then the friendless man awakes
gesihð him biforan fealwe wegas,
sees before him the fallow waves