Forgotten Ground Regained
Deor (Translation)
Knowing wretchedness, Welund moved near snakes.Lone-minded man · muted to pain,He cleaved to his sorrow · coldest vengeanceThrough winter's longing, having watched in anguishAs Nithhad bound him · with knotted sinews,Annulled all mastery · of the better man
That passed over ... and so this may!
Not brothers' deaths, but her belly swollenAnd plump from plowing · appalled this Beadohild,Whom Welund had weighted · a pitiable way:Never bold, now bred, with bearing close,Distress drugged · and reason deserted her.
That passed over ... and so this may!
We heard rape's outrage · as ruin fell to song,Hate-words; yet heartless · by the hurt of NithhadWho, slitting the flesh, slept sorrowfully.
That passed over ... and so this may!
The Maerings' stronghold · shook steadilyFull thirty winters · in Theodoric's trust.
That passed over ... and so this may
Asking of Eormanric · we heard but evilOf his wolfish ways, how widely his swayGrieved Goths in the kingdom -- that grimmest of kings!Many a man sat, sorrow-bound,Watchful for misery; wished many a timeThat his country's nightmare · might be overcome.
That passed over ... and so this may!
And still he sits · liege to sorrow,Darkened in heart, doling himselfWhat surely seems · an endless share of woe.Yet the world's turning · works into his mind --The wicked lord · falls before the wise,Grants by his absence · honor to the abject man,Power to the weak, pain to his fallen hinds.
So that I of myself · wish to sayThat once I sang · as the Heodenings' scopTo my dear prince. Deor was my name.Many winters I ruled · rightly from my place,Ruled the high lord -- until Heorrenda now,He skilled in song, received my whole estate,That I had never stained · since bestowed on me.
That passed over ... and so this may!
Copyright © Keith Moul, 2011.
No part of this site may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems