tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post5258044858797095403..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: The Comfort of Jeoffy - Joan LennonMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-47027464450077588502018-04-07T11:48:11.257+01:002018-04-07T11:48:11.257+01:00Beautiful poems, all! And that photograph of the h...Beautiful poems, all! And that photograph of the handwritten written poem! Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-64435165597032225432018-04-06T19:33:59.142+01:002018-04-06T19:33:59.142+01:00Both lovely poems. I thought Weland sounded famili...Both lovely poems. I thought Weland sounded familiar, and found that I know it in another (longer) translation. I thought you might like the wider context, where the sad poet, Deor, is trying to console himself for his redundancy. <br /><br />THAT PASSED AWAY, THIS ALSO MAY Deor<br />Anglo Saxon, translation Michael R Burch<br /><br />Weland knew the agony of exile.<br />That indomitable smith was wracked by grief.<br />He endured countless troubles: <br />sorrows were his only companions<br />in his frozen island dungeon<br />after Nithad had fettered him,<br />many strong-but-supple sinew-bonds<br />binding the better man.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /><br />Beadohild mourned her brothers' deaths<br />but even more, her own sad state<br />once she discovered herself with child.<br />She predicted nothing good could come of it.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /><br />We have heard that the Geat's moans for Matilda,<br />his lady, were limitless,<br />that his sorrowful love for her<br />robbed him of regretless sleep.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /><br />For thirty winters Theodric ruled<br />the Mæring stronghold with an iron hand; <br />many knew this and moaned.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /><br />We have also heard of Ermanaric's wolfish ways,<br />of how he held wide sway in the realm of the Goths.<br />He was a grim king! Many a warrior sat, <br />full of cares and maladies of the mind, <br />wishing constantly that his kingdom might be overthrown.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /><br /> If a man sits long enough, sorrowful and anxious,<br />bereft of joy, his mind constantly darkening,<br />soon it seems to him that his troubles are endless.<br />Then he must consider that the wise Lord<br />often moves through the earth<br />granting some men honour, glory and fame,<br />but others only shame and hardship.<br /><br /> This I will say for myself:<br />that for a while I was the Heodeninga's bard,<br />dear to my lord. My name was Deor.<br />For many winters I held a fine office,<br />faithfully serving a just lord. But now Heorrenda<br />a man skilful in songs, has received the estate<br />the protector of warriors gave me.<br /> That passed away; this also may.<br /> Michelle Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07499490029910905577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-90261547360609333502018-04-06T14:52:38.396+01:002018-04-06T14:52:38.396+01:00Thanks for your comments - I haven't read Wayl...Thanks for your comments - I haven't read Wayland before - such gorgeous, rich language!Joan Lennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763862159032836768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-67196286035363296482018-04-05T14:46:28.504+01:002018-04-05T14:46:28.504+01:00Thank for the wonderful cat poem. I didn't kno...Thank for the wonderful cat poem. I didn't know it and I especially love the line - 'For every house is incomplete without him.'<br /><br />The Wayland poem is amazing too, Susan, especially the refrain 'That passed away, so may this.' That is strangely comforting at any age.Karen Maitlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658962341244062060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-38946141518667559032018-04-05T10:38:34.682+01:002018-04-05T10:38:34.682+01:00That poem is glorious. So glad it gave you comfort...That poem is glorious. So glad it gave you comfort.<br />I can't remember where I was exactly, but this gave comfort to my teenage years:-<br /><br />'Welund, entramelled, understood wrack.<br />He, stubborn eorl, suffered privation, had,<br />As companions, sorrow and longing,<br />In wintry cold exile, experienced woes often,<br />Once Nith had laid upon him,<br />Lithe sinew-bonds on the better man.<br /><br />That passed away, so may this.<br /><br />Beadohild didn't for her brothers’ deaths<br />Feel as sore stricken as she did herself,<br />When all too plainly she'd perceived <br />That she was pregnant, nor ever could she<br />Consider boldly the outcome of that.<br /><br />That passed away, so may this.'<br /><br />It's 'Wayland.'<br />Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.com