[Critical text and translation: Dickins, _Runic and Heroic Poems_,
Cambridge University Press, 1915, p. 70.
Alliterative translation: Gummere, _Oldest English Epic_ (1910), p. 186.
The metrical arrangement of this poem into strophes with a constant
refrain is very unusual in the poetry of the Anglo-Saxons, though it is
common among their Scandinavian kinsmen. This fact has led some scholars
to believe that we have here a translation from the Old Norse. Professor
Gummere, however, makes a good case against this assumption.
The first three strophes refer to the widely known story of Weland, or
Wayland, the Vulcan of Norse myth. The crafty king, Nithhad, captures
Weland, fetters him (according to some accounts, hamstrings him), and
robs him of the magic ring that gives him power to fly. Beadohild,
Nithhad's daughter, accompanied by her brothers, goes to Weland and has
him mend rings for her. In this way he recovers his own ring and his
power to fly. Before leaving he kills the sons of Nithhad, and,
stupefying Beadohild with liquor, puts her to shame.]
To Weland came woes and wearisome trial,
And cares oppressed the constant earl;
His lifelong companions were pain and sorrow,
And winter-cold weeping: his ways were oft hard,
5 After Nithhad had struck the strong man low,
Cut the supple sinew-bands of the sorrowful earl.
That has passed over: so this may depart!
Beadohild bore her brothers' death
Less sorely in soul than herself and her plight
10 When she clearly discovered her cursed condition,
That unwed she should bear a babe to the world.
She never could think of the thing that must happen.
That has passed over: so this may depart!
Much have we learned of Maethhild's life:
15 How the courtship of Geat was crowned with grief,
How love and its sorrows allowed him no sleep.
That has passed over: so this may depart!
Theodoric held for thirty winters
The town of the Maerings: that was told unto many.
20 That has passed over: so this may depart!
We all have heard of Eormanric
Of the wolfish heart: a wide realm he had
Of the Gothic kingdom. Grim was the king.
Many men sat and bemoaned their sorrows,
25 Woefully watching and wishing always
That the cruel king might be conquered at last.
That has passed over: so this may depart!
Sad in his soul he sitteth joyless,
Mournful in mood. He many times thinks
30 That no end will e'er come to the cares he endures.
Then must he think how throughout the world
The gracious God often gives his help
And manifold honors to many an earl
And sends wide his fame; but to some he gives woes.
35 Of myself and my sorrows I may say in truth
That I was happy once as the Heodenings' scop,
Dear to my lord. Deor was my name.
Many winters I found a worthy following,
Held my lord's heart, till Heorrenda came,
40 The skillful singer, and received the land-right
That the proud helm of earls had once promised to me!
That has passed over: so this may depart!
1. _Weland_, or Wayland; the blacksmith of the Norse gods. He is
represented as being the son of Wada (see _Widsith_, v. 22, note).
8. _Beadohild_ was violated by Weland, and this stanza refers to the
approaching birth of her son Widia (or Wudga). (See _Widsith_, vv.
124, 130, and _Waldhere_, B, vv. 4-10.)
14. The exact meaning of the third strophe as here translated is not
clear. To make it refer to the story of Nithhad and Weland, it is
necessary to make certain changes suggested by Professor Tupper
(_Modern Philology_, October, 1911; _Anglia_, xxxvii, 118). Thus
amended, this stanza would read: "Of the violation of (Beadu)hild many
of us have heard. The affections of the Geat (i.e., Nithhad) were
boundless, so that sorrowing love deprived him of all sleep." This
grief of Nithhad would be that caused by the killing of his sons and
the shame brought on his daughter. Thus the first three stanzas of the
poem would refer to (1) Weland's torture, (2) Beadohild's shame, and
(3) Nithhad's grief.
18. Strophe four refers to Theodoric the Goth (see _Widsith_, v. 115, and
_Waldhere_, B, v. 4, note). He was banished to Attila's court for
thirty years.