{"id":2525,"date":"2016-02-08T13:20:56","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T18:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/?page_id=2525"},"modified":"2019-03-26T14:59:08","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T18:59:08","slug":"the-wanderer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/translations\/the-wanderer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wanderer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bodleian_DOrville77_f100r_cropped\"
mappamundi showing the five climate zones; Macrobius, Commentary on the Somnium Scipionis, Oxford, Bodleian Library, D’Orville MS 77, f. 100r<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0Old English:\u00a0<\/strong>Wanderer\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oft him anhaga \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0are gebide\u00f0,
\nmetudes miltse, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00feeah \u00fee he modcearig
\ngeond lagulade \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0longe sceolde
\nhreran mid hondum \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hrimcealde s\u00e6,
\nwadan wr\u00e6clastas. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wyrd bi\u00f0 ful ar\u00e6d!
\nSwa cw\u00e6\u00f0 eardstapa, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0earfe\u00fea gemyndig,
\nwra\u00fera w\u00e6lsleahta, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0winem\u00e6ga hryre:<\/p>\n

\u201cOft ic sceolde ana \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0uhtna gehwylce
\nmine ceare cwi\u00fean. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nis nu cwicra nan
\n\u00fee ic him modsefan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0minne durre
\nsweotule asecgan. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ic to so\u00fee wat
\n\u00fe\u00e6t bi\u00fe in eorle \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0indryhten \u00feeaw,
\n\u00fe\u00e6t he his fer\u00f0locan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0f\u00e6ste binde,
\nhealde his hordcofan, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hycge swa he wille.
\nNe m\u00e6g werig mod \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wyrde wi\u00f0stondan,
\nne se hreo hyge \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0helpe gefremman.
\nFor\u00f0on domgeorne \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0dreorigne oft
\nin hyra breostcofan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0binda\u00f0 f\u00e6ste;
\nswa ic modsefan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0minne sceolde,
\noft earmcearig, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0e\u00f0le bid\u00e6led,
\nfreom\u00e6gum feor \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0feterum s\u00e6lan,
\nsi\u00fe\u00fean geara iu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0goldwine minne
\nhrusan heolstre biwrah, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ond ic hean \u00feonan
\nwod wintercearig \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ofer wa\u00feema gebind,
\nsohte seledreorig \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sinces bryttan,
\nhw\u00e6r ic feor o\u00fe\u00fee neah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0findan meahte
\n\u00feone \u00fee in meoduhealle \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mine wisse,
\no\u00fe\u00fee mec freondleasne \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0frefran wolde,
\nwenian mid wynnum. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wat se \u00fee cunna\u00f0,
\nhu sli\u00feen bi\u00f0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sorg to geferan,
\n\u00feam \u00fee him lyt hafa\u00f0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0leofra geholena.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wara\u00f0 hine wr\u00e6clast, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nales wunden gold,
\nfer\u00f0loca freorig, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nal\u00e6s foldan bl\u00e6d.
\nGemon he selesecgas \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ond sinc\u00feege,
\nhu hine on geogu\u00f0e \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0his goldwine
\nwenede to wiste. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wyn eal gedreas!
\nFor\u00feon wat se \u00fee sceal \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0his winedryhtnes
\nleofes larcwidum \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0longe for\u00feolian,
\n\u00f0onne sorg ond sl\u00e6p \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0somod \u00e6tg\u00e6dre
\nearmne anhogan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0oft gebinda\u00f0.
\n\u00deince\u00f0 him on mode \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00fe\u00e6t he his mondryhten
\nclyppe ond cysse, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ond on cneo lecge
\nhonda ond heafod, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0swa he hwilum \u00e6r
\nin geardagum \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0giefstolas breac.
\n\u00d0onne onw\u00e6cne\u00f0 eft \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wineleas guma,
\ngesih\u00f0 him biforan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fealwe wegas,
\nba\u00feian brimfuglas, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0br\u00e6dan fe\u00fera,
\nhreosan hrim ond snaw, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hagle gemenged.
\n\u00deonne beo\u00f0 \u00fey hefigran \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0heortan benne,
\nsare \u00e6fter sw\u00e6sne. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sorg bi\u00f0 geniwad,
\n\u00feonne maga gemynd \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mod geondhweorfe\u00f0;
\ngrete\u00f0 gliwstafum, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0georne geondsceawa\u00f0
\nsecga geseldan. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Swimma\u00f0 eft on weg.
\nFleotendra fer\u00f0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0no \u00fe\u00e6r fela bringe\u00f0
\ncu\u00f0ra cwidegiedda. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cearo bi\u00f0 geniwad
\n\u00feam \u00fee sendan sceal \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0swi\u00fee geneahhe
\nofer wa\u00feema gebind \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0werigne sefan.
\nFor\u00feon ic ge\u00feencan ne m\u00e6g \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0geond \u00feas woruld
\nfor hwan modsefa \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0min ne gesweorce,
\n\u00feonne ic eorla lif \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0eal geond\u00feence,
\nhu hi f\u00e6rlice \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0flet ofgeafon,
\nmodge magu\u00feegnas. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Swa \u00fees middangeard
\nealra dogra gehwam \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0dreose\u00f0 ond fealle\u00fe,
\nfor\u00feon ne m\u00e6g weor\u00fean wis \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wer, \u00e6r he age
\nwintra d\u00e6l in woruldrice. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wita sceal ge\u00feyldig,
\nne sceal no to hatheort \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ne to hr\u00e6dwyrde,
\nne to wac wiga \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ne to wanhydig,
\nne to forht ne to f\u00e6gen, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ne to feohgifre
\nne n\u00e6fre gielpes to georn, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00e6r he geare cunne.
\nBeorn sceal gebidan, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00feonne he beot sprice\u00f0,
\no\u00fe\u00fe\u00e6t collenfer\u00f0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0cunne gearwe
\nhwider hre\u00fera gehygd \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hweorfan wille.
\nOngietan sceal gleaw h\u00e6le \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hu g\u00e6stlic bi\u00f0,
\n\u00feonne ealre \u00feisse worulde wela \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0weste stonde\u00f0,
\nswa nu missenlice \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0geond \u00feisne middangeard
\nwinde biwaune \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0weallas stonda\u00fe,
\nhrime bihrorene, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hry\u00f0ge \u00fea ederas.
\nWoria\u00f0 \u00fea winsalo, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0waldend licga\u00f0
\ndreame bidrorene, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0dugu\u00fe eal gecrong,
\nwlonc bi wealle. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sume wig fornom,
\nferede in for\u00f0wege, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sumne fugel o\u00feb\u00e6r
\nofer heanne holm, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sumne se hara wulf
\ndea\u00f0e ged\u00e6lde, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sumne dreorighleor
\nin eor\u00f0scr\u00e6fe \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0eorl gehydde.
\nY\u00fede swa \u00feisne eardgeard \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00e6lda scyppend
\no\u00fe\u00fe\u00e6t burgwara \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0breahtma lease
\neald enta geweorc \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0idlu stodon.
\nSe \u00feonne \u00feisne wealsteal \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wise ge\u00feohte
\nond \u00feis deorce lif \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0deope geond\u00feence\u00f0,
\nfrod in fer\u00f0e, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0feor oft gemon
\nw\u00e6lsleahta worn, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ond \u00feas word acwi\u00f0:<\/p>\n

\u201cHw\u00e6r cwom mearg? Hw\u00e6r cwom mago? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hw\u00e6r cwom ma\u00fe\u00feumgyfa?
\nHw\u00e6r cwom symbla gesetu? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hw\u00e6r sindon seledreamas?
\nEala beorht bune! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eala byrnwiga!
\nEala \u00feeodnes \u00ferym! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hu seo \u00ferag gewat,
\ngenap under nihthelm, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0swa heo no w\u00e6re.
\nStonde\u00f0 nu on laste \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0leofre dugu\u00fee
\nweal wundrum heah, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wyrmlicum fah.
\nEorlas fornoman \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0asca \u00fery\u00fee,
\nw\u00e6pen w\u00e6lgifru, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wyrd seo m\u00e6re,
\nond \u00feas stanhleo\u00feu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0stormas cnyssa\u00f0,
\nhri\u00f0 hreosende \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hrusan binde\u00f0,
\nwintres woma, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00feonne won cyme\u00f0.
\nNipe\u00f0 nihtscua, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nor\u00fean onsende\u00f0
\nhreo h\u00e6glfare \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0h\u00e6le\u00feum on andan.
\nEall is earfo\u00f0lic \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0eor\u00fean rice,
\nonwende\u00f0 wyrda gesceaft \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0weoruld under heofonum.
\nHer bi\u00f0 feoh l\u00e6ne, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0her bi\u00f0 freond l\u00e6ne,
\nher bi\u00f0 mon l\u00e6ne, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0her bi\u00f0 m\u00e6g l\u00e6ne,
\neal \u00feis eor\u00fean gesteal \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0idel weor\u00fee\u00f0.”<\/p>\n

Swa cw\u00e6\u00f0 snottor on mode, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ges\u00e6t him sundor \u00e6t rune.
\nTil bi\u00fe se \u00fee his treowe gehealde\u00fe, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ne sceal n\u00e6fre his torn to rycene
\nbeorn of his breostum acy\u00fean, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nem\u00fee he \u00e6r \u00fea bote cunne,
\neorl mid elne gefremman. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wel bi\u00f0 \u00feam \u00fee him are sece\u00f0,
\nfrofre to f\u00e6der on heofonum, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00fe\u00e6r us eal seo f\u00e6stnung stonde\u00f0.<\/p>\n

Old English The Wander<\/em> from edition by Bernard Muir, The Exeter Anthology of Old English Poetry<\/em>, Volume I, Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2000: 164-187; a reproduced edition is also available online<\/a>. Original poem extant in Exeter Cathedral Library<\/a> MS 3501.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The Wanderer”: A Modern English Translation by Maj-Britt Frenze
\n<\/strong>Translator’s Preface<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

The lone one bides, bereft of boon, the maker\u2019s mercy,
\nthough long has he hardened his hands on the sea-road,
\nsad-hearted and wading the ways of misery on the water\u2019s cold.
\nSo fate decides.<\/p>\n

Thus spoke the earth-stepper, mindful of misfortune,
\nof wrath\u2019s deadly battles, and of kinsmen\u2019s fall:<\/p>\n

\u201cOft before day breaks I alone mourn my cares,
\nmaking known my mind to none.
\nIn truth, I know of man\u2019s noble custom,
\nthat he binds fast his feelings, hoards his hopes,
\nthinks as he will.
\nBut a wearied mind wavers,
\nand fiercest fervor fails.
\nDreariness drones in the breast of the fame-seekers.
\nAnd I, most miserable of mind,
\ndeprived of homeland, far from kin,
\nmoored in fetters,
\nlong ago I covered my lord with dark earth.
\nLowly now, longing and lost,
\nI wearily wander the winter\u2019s waves
\nseeking far and wide a giver of gifts, a hall in my exile,
\nwherever the friendless might accept comfort.
\nI know how cruel is sorrow\u2019s company
\nto him who lacks a better beloved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The miserable track holds him
\nrather than the splendors of the earth.
\nBereft of gold, his body cold,
\nhe remembers the warrior-clan and the gifts of gold,
\nhow in youth he glutted at his lord\u2019s table!
\nSo joy perishes.
\nLong and miserable must he bide without his loved lord\u2019s counsel,
\nsleeping binds him in sorrow, sorrow binds in sleep,
\nat times he dreams to clasp and kiss his king,
\nlaying his hands and head on his knee,
\ncalmed at the throne\u2019s feet.
\nBut he wakes to see before him spread
\nthe fallow paths, the sea-fowls baths,
\ntheir feathers falling like frost and snow and hail.
\nWith hard wounds the heart heaves for the beloved.
\nSorrow is renewed.
\nThen memory of kin passes through the mind,
\nthe gleeful greeting, the eager looks,
\neyes seeking hall-companions;
\nbut they swim away.
\nFar off float the sounding songs of the sailors.
\nCare is renewed in the weary mind,
\nbent and bound by the waves.
\nI cannot think of anything in this world
\nwhich does not cause my mind to darken.
\nFor here, on earth, men perish and fall with the days,
\nand none can be named wise before he\u2019s worlded his share of winters.
\nHe must endure long-suffering,
\nnot be hot-hearted, nor hasty of speech,
\nneither weak nor reckless,
\nnor too fearful, nor too joyful,
\nnor too gift-greedy, nor too eager for a boast
\nunless he is ready to weather its reckoning.
\nMan must bide until he knows the
\nwhithers and whilsts of his own thought.
\nThe wise hero knows how ghastly it will be
\nwhen all the world\u2019s wealth stands in waste,
\nas now, in many places through this middling land
\nthe wind blows against standing walls,
\nthe frost clots on old bones of buildings.
\nWorn is the wine-hall, its ruler dead,
\nits dreams demolished;
\nthe proud ones, by the wall,
\nthey are all gone.
\nWar ferried some to death.
\nThe bird bore one over the sea\u2019s depths.
\nThe gray wolf dealt with another.
\nNow he hides, dreary-faced, in the earth.
\nThe shaper of man lays waste this land,
\ntill the sounds of the city-dwellers dim
\nand the giants\u2019 work stands idle.
\nThen the old in mind deeply considers
\nthese things and his own dark life,
\noften remembering from afar the deadly slaughters.<\/p>\n

And he speaks:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere now the horse? Where the youth?
\nThe treasure-giver? The feast\u2019s seat?
\nAlas for the bright cups and the joys of the hall!
\nAlas for the mail-girt warriors!
\nAlas for the thane\u2019s glory!
\nHow those days depart under the dark of night,
\nas if they never were!
\nA wall, wondrously high, with worn wormed-twining,
\nstands on the tracks of the beloved clan.
\nThe spear\u2019s glory has taken the warriors,
\nthe weapons greedy for carrion, that famous fate,
\nand the storms crash against the stony crag
\nwhile the snow grips the ground, the wreck of winter.
\nDark comes and deepens,
\nand from the north runs rough hail
\nwith hatred against mankind.
\nAll is miserable on the earth.
\nThe course of fate changes
\nthis world under heaven.
\nNeither wealth nor friend nor man lasts long,
\nand kinsmen too have passed.
\nAll the earth\u2019s foundation lies idle.\u201d<\/p>\n

So spoke the wise in mind, seated sundered from counsel.
\nThe man with courage carries on,
\nhe never speaks too eagerly of the misery in his breast,
\nunless he first knows its remedy.
\nWell it is to seek honor, the comfort of heaven\u2019s father,
\nwhere stands firm protection.<\/p>\n

Recitations by Maj-Britt Frenze…<\/b>
\nIn Old English…<\/p>\n