66 Conybeare's rhiming poem,” as it has been called, is found in the Exeter MS. and presents such difficulties to the translator, that the scholar, whose name it bears, would not attempt an English version. His editor, however, has given a translation, which Rask commends as a "meritorious attempt."* The last-named critic himself has risked the translation of a couplet, and would fain account for the difficulties of the poem on the score of dialect. Other reasons might have been given, and I think with greater candour. I see few marks of dialect, which may not be found in the works of Cædmon or of Alfred. Peculiarities of construction are rare; and even the words whose meanings are unknown, are generally formed according to well-known analogies. They are not, however, met with in the narrow round of Anglo-Saxon scholarship; and the abrupt and broken style of the poem, which is made up, as it were, of shreds and patches, seldom enables us to guess the meaning of a word from its connexion with the context. As the reader might naturally wish to know for what kind of sentiments a rhythm so singular has been chosen, I have ventured to offer a translation, however imperfect. In many cases the meaning given to the text is mere conjecture; and where the reasons for the conjecture were not obvious, or such as could not be suggested in a few words, the sentence has been left a blank. As we perfect our vocabulary these difficulties will vanish; it would be waste of time to dwell upon uncertainties, when a single passage, luckily hit upon, might decide the question. Who the minstrel-king may be, who thus contrasts the evils of exile with days of bygone happiness, will be left for the reader to determine. * Whatever were the defects of this version, the remarks which preface it must disarm criticism. Me lifes onlah: se this leoht | onwrah| Glæd was ic gliw|um : glenged hiwum : Secglas mec segon : sym|bel ne | aleg|on2 Wic | ofer wong um :: wen nan3 gong|um Lisse mid long um leom|a getong|um Tha was wæst mum aweaht] : world|-onspreht| * 6 Giestas geng don ger]-scipe meng|don Lis se leng don lust um gleng don. Scrif en scrad | glad] : thurh | gescad | inbrad 7 Was on lagu-stream e lad]: thær [ me leoth|u ne | biglad] Hæf de ic hean ne hád] : newæs me | inheal|le gád] . That thær rof-weord rád] : oft | thær rinc | ge-bád| That he inselle sægle: sinc | ge-wæg|e. Thegnum gethyht|e thend en wæs | ic mæglen . Horscle mec heredon hilde gener edon : Fægre ferledon feond on bewer[edon . Swa mec hyht-giefu heold]: hygle dryht | befeold]. Swylce eorthe ol] : aht|e iceal|dor-stol Gald or-word um gol]: gom el-sib|be ne|of-oll Acw æs gefest gear: gellende sner Wuniendo wae'r | will-bec bescær| Scealc as wær on scearple: scyl | wæs hearple' Swegl-rád swin|sade swithle nemins ade 1 The meaning of this passage seems to be-" He that made me, created light, and showered his bounty alike on both creations." 2 Alegon seems to be the plural of aleah of sah. 3 Wennan, the same as winnan? 4 Aansprek-en, Du. to converse with. —as gefegon of gefeah, and segon In me life kindled he, who this light reveal'd,' And that brightly he brought forth, bounteously he reveal'd. Glad was I with glees, adorn'd with hues With the colours of bliss, with the hues of the blossoms. Men look'd on me-the feast they fail'd not; A mansion o'er the fields, to win in their journies, Then by abundance was awaked wordly converse— They lengthen'd out the pleasure-with joys adorn'd me. On the sea-stream was journeying-there injury came not past me. Lofty state I held; no trouble was in my hall, For that there a high-wierd sat; hero there oft abode— That in hall he might see a weight of silver, And to the Thanes quaff-whilst potentate I was. Nobly they heried me; in battle rescued me ; So me hope's gift possest; heart the Lord enwrapt; My servants were sharp; a crowd was round the harp; Heaven's course sung; nor ceas'd its loudness; 5 Overdenk-en, Du. to reflect. 6 Is not this word connected with the Islandic gar, a joke, a quiz? Me ir's man.: se his en onwrah, At the um te glice | onwrah¦ Giant was le gium: gienged hiw'um Secgis ne segons bei e alegion' Lss mu oug mema retung im Ta vas vest num went : world-onspreht 4 red-magne of er-theaht| 5 Was a stream e hither me leoth|u ne | biglad[ Har de le hear ne hai: ne ves me | inhealle gád| . Ther, ther rot-woord rat : oft | ther rine | ge-bád| That; be insel e sege : sine ge-wegle. Swa | wee hyht giefu heold: hyge dryht | befeoldĮ. Swyle e corthe ol : ahte iceal dor-stol Acnæs gefest gear: gellende sner Sceale as wær on scearple In me life kindled he, who this light reves?', And that brightly he brought forth, boentes A Giad vas I with glees, adorn'd with hues With the colours of bliss, with the hues of the Mac w Ten Look i on me-the feast they fail'd not hegit they joy'd-in ornamented paths mansion o'er the fields, to win in their journies, long pleasure-a light for the prostrate. aandiance was awaked wordly converse Later Lear 1 raisi, by strength of counsel, refleer Guests came-okes they mingled; then 1 at the pleasure-with joys adorn'a me en-tream was onmeging-there injury came no tees weight of silver, Canes naf—hist potentate I was. ʼn same esced me; com nemies guarded me. own. s pregnant; erb? A metrical point follows sear. d also flug, Icel. e taken in a collective sense. See vol. ii. |