The Wanderer

Translation by Michael Alexander

THE WANDERER

The Prologue 1
liveth – lives
2
longeth – longs, desires
Who liveth alone longeth for mercy,
1 2
3
Maker – God. However the A-S word Metod
Maker’s3 mercy. Though he must traverse (= measurer) could refer to Wyrd (= fate)
tracts of sea4, sick at heart, 4
tracts of sea – expanses of sea, sea lanes
- trouble with oars ice-cold waters5,
5
trouble with oars ice-cold waters – rowing
6
ways – (in this case) routes, sea lanes
the ways6 of exile - Wierd7 is set fast8. 7
Wierd – Wyrd, destiny. As with Beowulf, it
is not entirely clear who or what con-
Thus spoke such a ‘grasshopper’9, old griefs10 in his mind, trols destiny in this transitional period
cold slaughters11, the death of dear kinsmen12: – God or Wyrd?
8
to be set fast – be firmly established
9
grasshopper – the A-S word ‘earthstepper’
meant both (human) wanderer and grass-
hopper (= a jumping insect)
The Wanderer’s Words 10

11
grief – sorrow, sadness
slaughter – massacre
‘Alone am I driven each day before daybreak 12
kinsmen – relatives, relations
to give my cares utterance13. 13
to give one’s cares utterance – express
None are there now among the living14 [10] one’s sadness
14
among the living – alive
to whom I dare declare me thoroughly15, 15
I dare declare me thoroughly – I can
tell my heart’s thought. Too truly I know express my intimate thoughts
it is in a man no mean virtue 16
heart’s chest – [literally ‘wealth chamber’
that he keep close his heart’s chest16, – a Kenning] this is not ‘chest’ (= torso) but
‘chest’ (= strongbox)] mind
hold his thought-hoard17, think as he may. 17
hold his thought-hoard – not express his
inner thoughts and emotions. If getting your
No weary18 mind may stand against19 Wierd20 sorrows ‘off your chest’ serves no purpose,
what’s the point of this poem? Is this irony?
nor may a wrecked21 will22 work new hope; 18
weary – exhausted, tired
wherefore23, most often, those eager for fame24 19
to stand against – resist, withstand
bind25 the dark mood26 fast27 in their breasts28. 20
the A-S warrior should accept fate stoi-
cally but if you exhaust your mind wor-
rying, you won’t be able to.
So must I also curb29 my mind, [20] 21
wrecked – devastated
cut off from country, from kind far distant,
30 31 22
will – determination
by cares32 overworn33, bind25 it in fetters34; 23
wherefore – why
this since, long ago, the ground’s shroud
24
those eager for fame – glory-seekers
25
to bind (bind-bound-bound) – fasten, tie up. So,
enwrapped35 my gold-friend36. Wretched37 I went thence38, though modern therapists would disagree,
winter-wearied39, over the waves’ bound40; the A-S solution is to repress emotions.
dreary41 I sought42 hall of a gold-giver43, 26
mood – frame of mind, mental state
27
fast (adv.) – securely (so that it cannot escape)
where far or near I might find 28
breast – (in this case) heart
him who in meadhall might take heed of44 me, 29
to curb – control
furnish45 comfort to a man friendless, 30
to be cut off – be isolated
win me with cheer46. [30]
31
kind – (in this case) kin, tribe, people
32
care – worry, preoccupation
33
overworn – exhausted
34
fetters – shackles, chains
35
ground’s shroud enwrapped – the earth
interred
36
gold-friend – (kenning) lord
37
wretched – as an outcast (Wraecca)
38
thence – from there
39
winter-wearied – exhausted by the inclem-
ent wintry weather
40
over the waves bound – imprisoned by
the sea
41
dreary – (in this case) sad
42
to seek (seek-sought-sought) – look for, try
to find
43
gold-giver – (kenning) lord
44
to take heed of – pay attention to
45
to furnish – (in this case) offer, provide
46
win me with cheer – earn my loyalty
through conviviality

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 THE WANDERER

He knows who makes trial47 [30] 47

who makes trial – who has tried it
how harsh and bitter is care48 for companion 48
care – worry, preoccupation
to him who hath49 few friends to shield50 him. 49
hath – (archaic) has
Track ever taketh him51, never the torqued52 gold,
50
to shield – protect
51
track ever taketh him – (archaic) he is con-
not earthly glory, but cold heart’s cave53. stantly on the move (in exile)
He minds him of54 hall-men, of treasure-giving, 52
torqued – twisted
how in his youth his gold-friend55 53
cold heart’s cave – solitude
54
minds him of – (in this case) remembers
gave him to feast56. Fallen all this joy. 55
gold-friend – (kenning) lord
56
gave him to feast – let him participate in a
He knows this who is forced to forgo57 his lord’s, banquets
his friend’s counsels, to lack58 them for long:
57
to forgo (-go/-went/-gone) – forego,
renounce, abandon
oft sorrow and sleep, banded together59, [40] 58
to lack – miss, be without
come to bind60 the lone outcast61; 59
banded together – functioning simultane-
he thinks in his heart then that he his lord ously, coinciding
claspeth62 and kisseth63, and on knee layeth64
60
to bind (bind-bound-bound) – (in this case)
overcome, control
hand and head, as he had at otherwhiles65 61
outcast – pariah, Wraecca
in days now gone, when he enjoyed the gift-stool66. 62
claspeth – (archaic) clasps, (in this case)
embraces, hugs
63
kisseth – (archaic) kisses
Awakeneth after this friendless man67, 64
layeth – (archaic) lays
seeth68 before69 him fallow70 waves, 65
otherwhiles – on other occasions, previously
seabirds bathing, broading out feathers71, 66
gift-stool – his lord’s throne (as a source of gifts)
snow and hail72 swirl73, hoar-frost74 falling.
67
Awakeneth after this friendless man –
Then the lonely man awakes
Then all the heavier his heart’s wounds75, [50] 68
seeth – (archaic) he sees
sore for his loved lord. Sorrow freshens76. 69
before – (in this case) in front of
70
fallow – wild, uncontrolled
Remembered kinsmen77 press through78 his mind;
71
broading out feathers – spreading (=
extending) their wings
he singeth79 out gladly, scanneth80 eagerly81 72
hail – frozen rain
men from the same hearth82. They swim away83. 73
to swirl – move around violently in the wind
Sailors’ ghosts bring not many84 74
hoar-frost – greyish-white crystalline
deposit of frozen water vapour
known songs there. Care85 grows fresh86 75
wounds – lesions
in him who shall send forth87 too often 76
freshens – is renewed, becomes more intense
over locked waves88 his weary89 spirit. 77
kinsmen – relatives, relations
78
to press through – invade
79
singeth – (archaic) sings
Therefore I may not think, throughout this world, 80
scanneth – (archaic) scans, looks for
why cloud cometh not on my mind90 [60] 81
eagerly – enthusiastically
when I think over all the life of earls91, 82
hearth – home fire
how at a stroke92 they have given up93 hall,
83
to swim away (swim-swam-swum) – (in this
case) disappear from his mind’s eye
mood-proud thanes94. So this middle earth95 84
litotes
each of all days ageth and falleth96.’97 85
care – worry, preoccupation
86
grows fresh – is renewed, becomes more intense
87
to send forth – set free, allow to drift
88
locked waves – the imprisoning sea
89
weary – exhausted, tired
90
why cloud cometh not on my mind – why
my thoughts don’t become sombre
91
earl – nobleman
92
at a stroke – in an instant
93
to give up – abandon, lose
94
thane – (also spelt ‘thegn’) nobleman, warrior
95
Middle Earth – (middangeard) place
between Heaven and Hell. The term was
made famous by J.R.R. Tolkien in The
Lord of the Rings
96
ageth and falleth – ages (= grows old) and
falls (= declines)
97
wisdom comes to this moribund world
in the same way that it comes to an old
man who has suffered.

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THE WANDERER

Wherefore98 no man grows wise99 without he have100 98

wherefore – (in this case) as a result
his share of winters101. A wise man holds out102; 99
to grow wise (grow-grew-grown) – become
he is not too hot-hearted103, nor too hasty in speech104, sagacious/enlightened
he is not too weak a warrior, not wanting105 in fore-thought106,
100
have – (subjunctive) has
101
to have one’s share of winters – grow old
nor too greedy of107 goods108, nor too glad, nor too mild109, and suffer the hardships of age
nor ever too eager to boast, ere110 he knows all111.112 [70] 102
to hold out – resist patiently
103
hot-hearted – hot-headed, impetuous
104
hasty in speech – quick to speak, talkative
105
wanting – lacking, deficient
106
fore-thought – prudence, precaution
The Folly of Beot 107
greedy of – avaricious for
A man should forbear113 boast-making114
108
goods – stuff, things, possessions
109
mild – humble, meek
until his fierce mind fully knows 110
ere – (poetic) before
which way his spleen115 shall expend itself116. 111
a precipitous boast that cannot sub-
sequently be fulfilled brought great
A wise man may grasp117 how ghastly118 it shall be shame to the A-S warrior
112
these proverbial lines are similar to
when all this world’s wealth standeth waste119, those in the A-S poems Maxims I and II
even as now, in many places, over the earth 113
to forbear (-bear/-bore/-borne) – renounce,
walls stand, wind-beaten, give up
114
boast-making – Beot
hung with120 hoar-frost121; ruined habitations122. 115
spleen – rancour, dissatisfaction
116
to expend itself – (in this case) express
itself
117
to grasp – (in this case) understand
The Ruins & The Beasts of Battle ghastly – awful, horrendous. However,
118

gastlic is also ‘ghostly’.

The wine-halls crumble123; their wielders124 lie 119
standeth waste – (archaic) stands wasted,
bereft of bliss125, the band126 all fallen [80] has been destroyed
proud by the wall. War took off some,
127
120
hung with – decorated with, adorned with
121
hoar-frost – greyish-white crystalline
carried them on their course128 hence129; one a bird bore130 deposit of frozen water vapour
over the high sea; one the hoar131 wolf132 122
habitation – (false friend) building, abode,
dealt to death133; one his drear-cheeked134 edifice
123
to crumble – disintegrate
earl135 stretched in an earthen136 trench137. 124
wielder (of power) – ruler, lord
125
bereft of bliss – unhappy/unhappily
The Maker of men138 hath139 so marred140 this dwelling141 126
(war-)band – raiding party, troop of
that human laughter is not heard about it warriors
127
to take off (take-took-taken) – (euphemis-
and idle142 stand these old giant-works.143 tic) kill
128
on their course – away
A man who on these walls wisely looked 129
hence – from here
who sounded144 deeply this dark life [90]
130
to bear (bear-bore-borne) – carry off, take
131
hoar – (in this case) greyish white; old
would think back to the blood spilt145 here, 132
the wolf and the bird (a crow or vulture)
weigh it in his wit146. His word would be this: are ‘beasts of battle’ – symbols of the
devastation of war
133
to deal to death (deal-dealt-dealt) – kill
134
drear-cheeked – having a face drained of
blood/colour
135
earl – nobleman
136
earthen – in the earth/ground/soil
137
stretched in an earthen trench – buried,
interred, laid in a grave
138
Maker of men – God
139
hath – (archaic) has
140
to mar – ruin, destroy
141
dwelling – abode, home, building
142
idle – unused, abandoned
143
the Anglo-Saxons apparently thought
that the monumental ruins left by the
Romans had been built by giants
144
to sound – (in this case) contemplate
145
the blood spilt – the killing that occurred
146
weight it in his wit – ponder it in his mind

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 THE WANDERER

Ubi Sunt? 147

hoard-sharer – lord
148
uproar – noise, clamour, din
“Where is that horse now? Where are those men? Where is the 149
burnished – gleaming, polished, (in this
hoard-sharer147? case) armoured
Where is the house of the feast? Where is the hall’s uproar148? 150
night’s helm(et) – the cover of darkness
Alas, bright cup! Alas, burnished149 fighter!
151
in the stead of – in place of, instead of
152
staunch – resolute
Alas, proud prince! How that time has passed, 153
towering – tall, high
dark under night’s helm150, as though it never had been! 154
wrought with – decorated with, adorned
There stands in the stead of151 staunch152 thanes94 with
a towering153 wall wrought with154 worm155-shapes;
155
worm – (in this case) serpent, dragon
156
off-taken – taken away, eliminated
the earls135 are off-taken156 by the ash-spear’s157 point, [100] 157
ash-spear – spear (= javelin) made out of
-that thirsty158 weapon. Their Wierd is glorious. wood from an ash tree (Fraxinus)
158
(blood-)thirsty – murderous. Notice the
personification
Storms break on the stone hillside, 159
bound – imprisoned, held captive, pinioned
the ground bound159 by driving sleet160, 160
driving sleet – oppressive half-frozen rain,
winter’s wrath161. Then wanness162 cometh163, a blizzard/snowstorm
night’s shade spreadeth164, sendeth165 from north
161
wrath – anger, fury
162
wanness – gloom, paleness
the rough hail166 to harry167 mankind168. 163
cometh – (archaic) comes
164
spreadeth – (archaic) spreads, is
In the earth-realm169 all is crossed170; disseminated
Wierd’s will171 changeth172 the world.
165
sendeth – (archaic) sends
166
hail – frozen rain, falling ice
Wealth is lent us173, friends are lent us, 167
to harry – torment
man is lent, kin174 is lent; [110] 168
mankind – humanity
all this earth’s frame175 shall stand empty.” 169
the earth-realm – the world
170
all is crossed – everything suffers hardship
171
Wierd’s will – the determination of Wyrd,
providence
Epilogue 172
changeth – changes, (in this case) causes
So spoke the sage176 in his heart; he sat apart in thought. the world to turn
173
be lent to us – (in this case) be transitory
Good is he who keeps faith: nor should care177 too fast 174
kin – family
be out of a man’s breast before he first know the cure: 175
all this earth’s frame – the entire world
a warrior fights on bravely. Well is it for him who seeks178 176
sage – wise man
forgiveness179,
177
care – worry
178
to seek (seek-sought-sought) – look for, try
the Heavenly Father’s solace, in whom all our fastness180 to find
stands.181 179
forgiveness – literally frofor means ‘refuge’
or ‘comfort’
180
fastness – stability, permanence
181
everything in life is transient except
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