Wulf ond Eadwacer

By Unknown

Lēodum is mīnum swylce him mon lāc gife;

willað hȳ hine āþecgan gif hē on þrēat cymeð.

Ungelīc is ūs.

Wulf is on īege, ic on ōþerre.

Fæst is þæt ēglond, fenne biworpen.

Sindon wælrēowe weras þǣr on īge;

willað hȳ hine āþecgan gif hē on þrēat cymeð.

Ungelīce is ūs.

Wulfes ic mīnes wīdlāstum, wēnum hogode,

þonne hit wæs rēnig weder ond ic rēotugu sæt,

þonne mec se beaducāfa bōgum bilegde,

wæs mē wyn tō þon, wæs mē hwæþre ēac lāð.

Wulf, mīn Wulf! wēna mē þīne

sēoce gedydon, þīne seldcymas,

murnende mōd, nales metelīste.

Gehȳrest þū, Ēadwacer? Uncerne eargne hwelp

bireð wulf tō wuda.

Þæt mon ēaþe tōslīteð þætte nǣfre gesomnad wæs,

uncer giedd geador.

Notes:

Read the translator’s note by M.L. Martin.

Original text dates c. 1000, by an unknown author.

Source: Poetry (September 2024)