“Wulf and Eadwacer”(recorded in The Exeter Book, 10

th

/11

th

c.)

Polysemy (multiple meanings) and difference – the problems with translation.

Wulf and Eadwacer

1.

Leodum is minum swylce him mon lac gife;

2.

willað hy hine aþecgan, gif he on þreat cymeð.

3.

Ungelic is us.

4.

Wulf is on iege, ic on oþerre.

5.

Fæst is þæt eglond, fenne biworpen.

6.

Sindon wælreowe weras þær on ige;

7.

willað hy hine aþecgan, gif he on þreat cymeð.

8.

Ungelice is us.

9.

Wulfes ic mines widlastum wenum dogode;

10.

þonne hit wæs renig weder ond ic reotugu sæt,

11.

þonne mec se beaducafa bogum bilegde,

12.

wæs me wyn to þon, wæs me hwæþre eac lað.

13.

Wulf, min Wulf, wena me þine

14.

seoce gedydon, þine seldcymas,

15.

murnende mod, nales meteliste.

16.

Gehyrest þu, Eadwacer? Uncerne earne hwelp

17.

bireð wulf to wuda.

18.

þæt mon eaþe tosliteð þætte næfre gesomnad wæs,

19.

uncer giedd geador.

MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY ARNOLD E. DAVIDSON (1975):

1

It is to my people as if one might give them (a

battle/sacrifice/gift/message/game);

2

will they (receive/consume/oppress/relieve) him if

he comes (with a host/in violence/in need)?

3

It is different with us. [difference is us/we are the difference]

4

Wulf is on one island, I on another.

5

(Fast/fortified) is that island, surrounded by fen.

6

There are battle-fierce (men/bands) there on the island;

7

will they (receive/consume/oppress/relieve) him

if he comes with (with a host/in violence/in need)?

8

It is different with us. [difference is us/we are the difference]

9

I suffered for my Wulf with far-wandering (beliefs/hopes);

10

when it was rainy weather and I sat weeping,

11

then the one bold in battle (embraced/lay/tormented) me in his arms,

12

that was for me to a degree a joy, it was to me however also (hateful/an

injury).

13

Wulf, my Wulf, (belief in/hopes for) thee

14

made me sick, thy infrequent comings,

15

a (grieving/anxious) heart, not at all starvation.

16

Hearest thou, Eadwacer? Our (slow/cowardly/vile/useless) whelp

17

a wolf (bears/will bear) to the woods.

18

One (easily/soon/willingly/kindly) (tears apart/tears the flesh of)

that which was never united,

19

the (poem/story/song/wisdom/riddle) of us two together.

“Wulf and Eadwacer”
translated by Richard Hamer

1.

It is as though my people had been given

2.

A present. They will wish to capture him

3.

If he comes with a troop. We are apart.

4.

Wulf is on one isle, I am on another.

5.

Fast is that island set among the fens.

6.

Murderous are the people who inhabit

7.

That island. They will wish to capture him

8.

If he comes with a troop. We are apart.

9.

Grieved have I for my Wulf with distant longings.

10.

Then was it rainy weather, and I sad,

11.

When the bold warrior laid his arms about me.

12.

I took delight in that and also pain.

13.

O Wulf, my Wulf, my longing for your coming

14.

Has made me ill, the rareness of your visits,

15.

My grieving spirit, not the lack of food.

16.

Eadwacer, do you hear me? For a wolf

17.

Shall carry to the woods our wretched whelp.

18.

Men very easily may put asunder

19.

That which was never joined, our song together.

“Wulf and Eadwacer”
translated by Burton Raffel (1998)

1.

My people may have been given a warning:

2.

Will they receive him, if he comes with force?

3.

It is different for us.

4.

Wulf is on one island, I on another.

5.

An island of forts, surrounded by swamp.

6.

That island belongs to bloody barbarians:

7.

Will they receive him if he comes with a force?

8.

It is different for us.

9.

Hope has wondered in exile, with Wulf.

10.

When the rain was cold and my eyes ran red

11.

With tears, when heavy arms reached out and took me

12.

And I suffered pleasure and pain. Wulf,

13.

Oh my Wulf, it was hoping and longing for you

14.

That sickened me, starved for the sight of you,

15.

Bent with despair deeper than hunger.

16.

Listen Eadwacer! The wolf will carry

17.

Our wretched cub to the shade of the wood.

18.

It’s easy to smash what never existed,

19.

You and I together.