16.12.10

HWÆT!

Hwæt! We Gardena || in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, || þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas || ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing || sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, || meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. || Syððan ærest wearð
feasceaft funden, || he þæs frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, || weorðmyndum þah,
oðþæt him æghwylc || þara ymbsittendra
ofer hronrade || hyran scolde,
gomban gyldan. || þæt wæs god cyning. 
 
Behold!  We spear-Danes in days of yore, 
the king of a whole nation a multitude asked, 
how then nobleman zeal vigorous. 
Often Scyld Scefing force of injury, 
many clans, mead-seats taken away, 
terrify earls.  As soon as the miserable set out 
he thence made a pledge to console, 
to grow under the sky, with honor received, 
until him each/every there neighbor 
over the whale-road should listen 
a tribute rewarded.  That was a good king.  

Translated by yours truly!  Much love to these few lines, and despite my mantra of "Keep Calm and Carry On" throughout the semester, I really enjoyed the Anglo-Saxon, though perhaps not the hundreds of lines of translation.  :]

~Hammeh

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