The Exeter Book

for thirty whole winters. What would I say about myself?
We know that at least —
Somewhat a time I shaped the singings
Someone got through much of that, maybe for the Heodenings, loved by my lord.
we will too. I used to be deor myself, now a beast.
I claimed the role & did it well
Better ask somebody about Eormanric, for many winters, holding to the bread-giver.
his lycanthrope thinkings — Until now — this Heorrenda, limbs lapped
locking down his limitless realm, in verse,
out there in Gothic lands. crafty at both, took up my land-claims,
That was one grim lord, I tell you what. all that my sheltering lord granted me
There were many sitting sinew-bound, before.
sorrow-wound, weening their woes,
wisting atimes that the whole mess They all got through much of that, maybe I
should come crashing down. will too.

Those guys got through much of that, maybe Wulf and Eadwacer
we will too.
I swear these people, it’s like you handed
One sits sorrow-cheered, them a present, and they’d chew him up
unmoored in space & time, anyways,
shadowing in selves, studying within — even if he came like gangbusters.
our share of turbulence seems unending.
They can think it through in world, Us? We’re not like that.
the lord of craft can often change it.
To many a mind, the goodness is shown, Wulf’s over there, I’m over here,
the crop of sagacity — these islands are locked, mashed up in marsh.
and to others some share of the dregs. Dudes there will eat your face —
and they’d chew him up regardless,
even if he came like gangbusters.

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Us? We’re not like that. how many gut-wretched nights ground over me
once I was a full-grown woman,
I was dogged in my dreams from early days to later nights,
of the wolf’s wide wanderings. never ever any more than right now. (1–4)
When rains were the sky
and I sat raining too. When is it never a struggle, a torment,
When the trial-tested tested me, this arc of misfortune, mine alone?
lathered up in his limbs — It started when my man up and left,
Joy was mine then, and a little pain as well. who knows where, from his tribe
across the sleeplessness of waves.
Wulf, O my Wulf! Your hopes in me I conceived a care at the dawning of dawn:
have gone sick, your infrequent pleasures, where did that man of a man go? (5–8)
mournful mindings,
not your failing appetite. Then I ferried myself forth, trying to dole
my part of the deal, a wretch drained of friends,
Hear that, Eadwacer you dog? out a trembling need inside me. (9–10)
Our whelp was wailing,
the wolf ferrying it to the forest. So it begins: his family starts scheming
moling up mountains of secret malice
How easily it all comes apart, to delve into our division,
what was hardly together — make us survive along the widest wound of us
the song we made as one. —
could they be any more loathsome? —
The Wife’s Lament and I became a longing inside. (11–14)

She Laments My love said to shack up in shadowy groves.
I was light in loved ones anyways in these lands,
Oh, I can relate a tale right here, make myself in the loyalties of allegiance.
a map of miseries & trek right across. Therefore my brain brims with bitterness,
I can say as much as you like — when I had located my likeness in him,

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blessed with hard luck, heart-hollow, I wander the ways all alone,
painting over his intentions, under the oaks, around these graven walls.
plotting the greatest of heists. (15–20) There I can sit an endless summer day,
where I can rain me down for my wracking
Masked content, so many times steps,
we swore that nothing but finality itself my collection of woes. So it goes —
could shave us in two, not them, not nothing. never can I, in no wise, catch a break
The pivot was not long in coming, from my cracking cares, nor this unfolding tear
it’s like, what did I hear a poet say once? that grasps me in this my entire life. (35–41)
“as if it never was…”
that was our partnership. (21–25a) The young should always keep their heart in
check,
Must I flag on flogging through feud, their inner kindlings cool, likewise
far & near, of my many-beloved? they must keep their faces frosty,
He was the one who said I should also the bubbling in their breast,
go live in the woods or something, though crowded with swarming sorrows. (42–
sit under an oak-tree, in a gravel pit. 45a)
Let’s make it an earthen hall, musty & old,
where I’m all foreaten with longing: May all of his joys come at his own hand.
Dales deep darkly, hills hedge me round, May his name be the name of infamy,
fortresses of sharpness, bramble biting — a snarl in faraway mouths, so that my good
can a home be devoid of joy? (25b–32a) friend
will be sitting under a stony rain-break,
For too many watches the wrathful from-ways crusted by the gusty storms,
of my lord grabbed hold of me in this place. a man crushed at heart, flowing
Who could I count on? Buried. in his own water, in his tearful timbering. (45b–
Loved in their lives — 50a)
all they care about now are their beds. (32b–34)
That one, yeah, that man of mine
Then I, when dawn still rumbles, will drag his days under a mighty mind-caring.
He’ll remember every single morning
how full of pleasure was our home.

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What woes are theirs who must Yet there came in the dawning a single company
weather their worrying for love. (50b–53) of angels,
surrounding the joy of the many, the city of the
The Descent into Hell Savior.
Open was the earth-hall, the body of the
They began in the dawning, the high-born tribe, nobleman
to prepare him as a youth—they knew the seized the spirit of life, the earth quaking,
assembly of men laughing dwellers of hell—that bachelor
had covered the nobleman’s body within an awakened,
earth-hall. (1-3) proud from the dirt, mighty majesty arising
victory-fast and wise. Saint John said that
The weary women wished to bemoan in weeping the hero spoke laughing unto the devils of hell,
the death of their lord for one moment, mindful to the many about his kinsfolk’s…
bewailing him mournfully. His resting-place “Our savior has said to me, the one who wished
was cooling, to send me on this adventure,
painful was his proceeding—the heroes were so that he sought me… six months,
headstrong, the start of all folk. Now… shaken.
those who were found blithe-minded among the I believe adamantly and am certain…
boulders. (4-8) … by daylight, the lord wishes
… to seek, the Victory-Child of God.” (17-32)
Mary the mourning came in the dawn’s
crashing, Then the Master of Mankind hurried to the
the earls’ daughter called them with the others. journey—
Two sorrowing ladies sought the Victory-Child the Helmet of Heaven wished to break down
of God and humiliate the hell-walls, to hurl down
alone in the earth-hall where they knew earlier the majesty of that capital, cruelest of all kings.
that the heroes of Judea had hidden him, (33-6)
believing that he must wait in that grave,
alone all that Easter night. Indeed those women Nor did he care about the warfaring of the helm-
knew of this other matter, the ones who turned bearers,
onto the road! (9-16) nor he wish to lead byrnie-fighters unto those
city-gates,

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yet the locks fell down, the chains from the “Thanks be yours, Prince of ours,
castrum— for wishing to seek us out…
the king rode onwards, the Leader of All Peoples Now we [must] abide bound in bonds
rushed forth, the Glorious Grace of Armies. (37- when the many were tied brother-less,
42a) outcasts … —he was widely stained—
He will never be wrapped up so closely
The exiled wretches thronged, every one of them so bitterly under malicious closure,
who were allowed to see that Victory-Child, within these killing chains,
Adam and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so that he could not keep his courage so easily.
many mindful earls, Moses and David, Then he trusts the kindness of his lord
Isaiah and Zacharias— so that he wishes to be redeemed from these
many of the high-fathers, likewise an assembly bonds. (59-68)
of heroes,
an army of wise men, a company of women, “And so we all believe in you alone
many many virgins, an uncountable people. my dear lord. I have suffered many things
(42b-9) since you have wandered to your end in me,
when you gave to me sword and byrnie,
Then John saw the Victory-Child of God helmet and war-tackle—I always held them
coming to hell amid that high-born host, yet—
perceiving then the miserable mission of God and you revealed to me, Joy of Kingly Hosts,
himself. that you were the bearer of my defense.” (69-75)
He saw the doors of hell shining brightly,
locked long before— “Lo Gabriel! How sharp and keen you are,
shrouded in shadows— mild and mindful and meek,
that thane was joyful. (50-5) wise in your wits and canny in your words! (76-
8)
Then the bold beginning of the burg-dwellers
called out, “You revealed that when you brought
mindful before the multitude, and he spoke that bairn to us in Bethlehem.
to his kinsfolk, greeting him with words of We have waited so long,
welcome: (56-8) set in our sorrows, desiring amity,

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hopes and joys, when we heard the earth-dwellers, who brook your waters with
the Word of God speaking through his own delight. (99-106)
mouth. (79-83)
“Now I entreat you, our Savior,
“Lo Mary! How you conceived deep in tribulations—you are the Lord Christ—
a proud king for us, when you brought to be merciful to us, Shaper of Men.
that child to us in Bethlehem. You sought your mother’s bosom yourself
We must await in chains, trembling thus out of love for men, Victorious Lord God,
beneath the doors of savage hell. not at all out your own need, Sovereign of
The slayer of deeds rejoices— Nations,
our elder foes were entirely exulting but because of your mercy that you often
when they heard how we grieved… revealed to mankind, when they needed grace.
mourning our kindred citadel (107-14)
until… the Victorious Lord God
…. “You could enclose all the seats of the people,
…. Now a mindful man gives us likewise you could count up, Lord of the Realm,
to you from our youth. By a voracious mind, the sands of the sea-floor, best of all kings. (115-
should we betray ourselves; therefore we bear 7)
that sin within our breast unto the slayer’s hand,
we must also pray to our enemies for peace. (84- “Likewise I entreat you, our Savior,
98) for your childhood, best of kings,
and for those wounds, Lord of Hosts
“Lo Jerusalem in Judea! … your rising, Joy of Noblemen,
How you abide steadfast in the place! and for your … name (118-22)
Your earth-dwellers are not allowed to traverse
you “Then all the hell-dwellers praised and lauded
entirely alive, when they sing your praises. you
Lo Jordan in Judea! … where they stood around you,
How you abide steadfast in the place! when you should let your hand rest,
You are not at all allowed to flow over then you wished to seek us out on this exile-
path,
Lord of Hosts, by your own authority,

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and for Jerusalem in Judea— in a boat I
even yet that city must await your second sought the spine,
coming now, the homes of heroes
O Praised Prince— and for the Jordan in where my manly lord
Judea— sends me…
we both bathed in that stream together. (123-32) across lofty halls—

“You may sprinkle with these waters, I am now come here
Lord of Hosts, with a blithe heart, on the ship’s deck,
all the dwellers of this city,
likewise both you and John the Baptist and now you ought
upon the Jordan were inspired fairly by that to know how
baptism you ponder
all this middle-earth. May thanks always be the in your mind
Lord’s!” (133-7) the pithy love
of my master.
Pharaoh—The Husband's
Message I dare a command—
to locate there
Now I wish to tell a tree glory-fast—
apart from you—
the kindred of trees What he bids you
I wake from seeds request then,
within me…. he who cut this wood
so that you would
… I must set down remember yourself
in another land… his promises
the salt streams… treasure-laden

Quite often in your wit’s enclosure,
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that you two Seek already the sea,
often spoke of the homestead of gulls—
in days of old, be seated in a seaward
ship, so that you may find
until you two your husband—
were allowed to the south from here
in the mead-towns across the way of waters,
to keep homestead, where your lord dwells
to inhabit a single land, in your hopes and dreams.
to make love
to each other. Nor can worldly desire suit him
more in his mind, of this he said to me,
Vendetta drove him when All-Wielding
from his triumphant tribe God should grant us two…
now he orders you together afterwards
yourself we are allowed to
be instructed gladly, before men and friends…
to trouble the waters—
nailed rings—he holds enough
afterwards you heard decorous gold…
upon the coastal cliffs strangers hold homewards
the mournful cuckoo the fair earth….
singing in the boughs.
… heroes, though here my friends…
Do not allow
yourself to end impelled by need
this journey afterwards— rushing out on a ship
no living man can youthful upon the waves
hinder your course. must go forth
upon the ship-ways,

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eager for the trip spoke about
must blend sea-currents. in days gone by

Now the man The Ruin
has subdued
his woes— These wall-stones are wondrous —
calamities crumpled them, these city-sites
there is no want crashed, the work of giants
of desire in him, corrupted. The roofs have rushed to earth,
not horses nor treasures, towers in ruins.
nor the joys of mead Ice at the joints has unroofed the barred-gates,
sheared
any of them the scarred storm-walls have disappeared—
across the earth, the years have gnawed them from beneath. A
an earl’s treasures, grave-grip holds
the master-crafters, decrepit and departed, in the
prince’s daughter ground’s harsh
if he possesses grasp, until one hundred generations of human-
both of you nations have
over his ancient vow. trod past. Subsequently this wall, lichen-grey
and rust-stained,
Together I should choose often experiencing one kingdom after another,
S and R as one, EA, W and D, standing still under storms, high and wide—
declaring my oath, it failed—

so that he wishes The wine-halls moulder still, hewn as if by
to serve this compact, weapons,
this conjugal pact,
while he still lives, penetrated
that you two often [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] savagely
pulverized [XXXXXXXXXXXXXX]
[XXXX] shined [XXXXXXXXXX] [XXXX]

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adroit ancient edifice [XXXXX] Stone houses standing here, where a hot stream
[XXXXXXX] bowed with crusted-mud — was cast

The strong-purposed mind was urged to a keen- in a wide welling; a wall enfolding everything in
minded desire its bright bosom,

in concentric circles; the stout-hearted bound where there were baths, heated at its heart. That
was convenient,
wall-roots wondrously together with wire. The
halls of the city when they let pour forth [XXXXXXXXX] over
the hoary stones
once were bright: there were many bath-houses,
countless heated streams [XXXXXXXXXXX]
a lofty treasury of peaked roofs, many troop- until the ringed pool
roads, many mead-halls
hot [XXXXXXXXXXXXXX] where there were
filled with human-joys until that terrible chance baths
changed all that.
Then is [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX]. That is
Days of misfortune arrived—blows fell a kingly thing—
broadly—
death seized all those sword-stout men—their a house [XXXXX],
idol-fanes were laid waste —

the city-steads perished. Their maintaining
multitudes fell to the earth.

For that the houses of red vaulting have drearied
and shed their tiles,

these roofs of ringed wood. This place has sunk
into ruin, been broken

into heaps,

There once many men, glad-minded and gold-
bright,

adorned in gleaming, proud and wine-flushed,
shone in war-tackle;

There one could look upon treasure, upon silver,
upon ornate jewelry,

upon prosperity, upon possession, upon precious
stones,

upon the illustrious city of the broad realm.

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