2 minute read
Deor
trans. Gerard Hynes
Weland knew torment by the serpent, the steadfast man suffered hardship; he had sorrow and longing for his company, winter-cold misery, often found woe 5 since Niðhad had laid fetters on him supple sinew-bonds on the better man. That passed away, so may this.
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For Beadohild her brothers’ deaths hurt her less than her own heartbreak; 10 she understood all too well that she grew great with child. She could not think with boldness what must be done with that. That passed away, so may this.
Many of us have heard of Mæðhild, 15 how Geat’s love became bottomless, the sorrowful love that reft her of sleep. That passed away, so may this.
Þeodric held for thirty winters the Mærings’ fort known to many. 20 That passed away, so may this.
We geascodan Eormanrices wylfenne geþoht; ahte wide folc Gotena rices. Þæt wæs grim cyning. Sæt secg monig sorgum gebunden, 25 wean on wenan, wyscte geneahhe þæt þæs cynerices ofercumen wære. Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg!
Siteð sorgcearig, sælum bidæled, on sefan sweorceð, sylfum þinceð 30 þæt sy endeleas earfoða dæl. Mæg þonne geþencan, þæt geond þas woruld witig dryhten wendeþ geneahhe, eorle monegum are gesceawað, wislicne blæd, sumum weana dæl.
35 Þæt ic bi me sylfum secgan wille, þæt ic hwile wæs Heodeninga scop, dryhtne dyre. Me wæs Deor noma. Ahte ic fela wintra folgað tilne, holdne hlaford, oþþæt Heorrenda nu, 40 leoðcræftig monn londryht geþah, þæt me eorla hleo ær gesealde. Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg!
We have learned of the wolfish thoughts of Eormanric who widely ruled the peoples of the Gothic kingdom. That was a grim king. Many a man sat bound by sorrows 25 in expectation of misfortune, wished without end that this kingdom’s rule would be overcome. That passed away, so may this.
A man sits mournful, robbed of pleasures, grows dark in spirit; it seems to him 30 that his share of troubles is without end. Then he can consider that throughout the world the wise Lord brings many changes, shows favour to many a man, certain glory, to some others a share of woe.
35 I want to say this about myself that for a time I was the Heodenings’ scop, dear to their lord, Deor was my name. I had good standing for many winters, a loyal lord, but Heorrenda now, 40 a man skilled in song, received the estates that men’s guardian once gave to me. That passed away, so may this.
14 | Old English
