The Wanderer

Translation by Michael Alexander

THE WANDERER

The Prologue

Thus spoke such a grasshopper9, old griefs10 in his mind,

cold slaughters11, the death of dear kinsmen12:

The Wanderers Words

Alone am I driven each day before daybreak
to give my cares utterance13.
None are there now among the living14
to whom I dare declare me thoroughly15,
tell my hearts thought. Too truly I know
it is a man no mean virtue
that he keep close his hearts chest16,
hold his thought-hoard17, think as he may.

[10]

No weary18 mind may stand against19 Wierd20

nor may a wrecked21 will22 work new hope;
wherefore23, most often, those eager for fame24
bind25 the dark mood26 fast27 in their breasts28.
So must I also curb29 my mind,
[20]
30
31
cut off from country, from kind far distant,
by cares32 overworn33, bind25 it in fetters34;
this since, long ago, the grounds shroud
enwrapped35 my gold-friend36. Wretched37 I went thence38,
winter-wearied39, over the waves bound40;
dreary41 I sought42 hall of a gold-giver43,
where far or near I might find
him who in meadhall might take heed of44 me,
furnish45 comfort to a man friendless,
win me with cheer46.
[30]

liveth lives
longeth longs, desires
3
Maker God. However the A-S word Metod
(= measurer) could refer to Wyrd (= fate)
4
tracts of sea expanses of sea, sea lanes
5
trouble with oars ice-cold waters rowing
6
ways (in this case) routes, sea lanes
7
Wierd Wyrd, destiny. As with Beowulf, it
is not entirely clear who or what controls destiny in this transitional period
God or Wyrd?
8
to be set fast be firmly established
9
grasshopper the A-S word earthstepper
meant both (human) wanderer and grasshopper (= a jumping insect)
10
grief sorrow, sadness
11
slaughter massacre
12
kinsmen relatives, relations
13
to give ones cares utterance express
ones sadness
14
among the living alive
15
I dare declare me thoroughly I can
express my intimate thoughts
16
hearts chest [literally wealth chamber
a Kenning] this is not chest (= torso) but
chest (= strongbox)] mind
17
hold his thought-hoard not express his
inner thoughts and emotions. If getting your
sorrows off your chest serves no purpose,
whats the point of this poem? Is this irony?
18
weary exhausted, tired
19
to stand against resist, withstand
20
the A-S warrior should accept fate stoically but if you exhaust your mind worrying, you wont be able to.
21
wrecked devastated
22
will determination
23
wherefore why
24
those eager for fame glory-seekers
25
to bind (bind-bound-bound) fasten, tie up. So,
though modern therapists would disagree,
the A-S solution is to repress emotions.
26
mood frame of mind, mental state
27
fast (adv.) securely (so that it cannot escape)
28
breast (in this case) heart
29
to curb control
30
to be cut off be isolated
31
kind (in this case) kin, tribe, people
32
care worry, preoccupation
33
overworn exhausted
34
fetters shackles, chains
35
grounds 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 inclement 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
1

Who liveth alone longeth for mercy,

Makers3 mercy. Though he must traverse
tracts of sea4, sick at heart,
- trouble with oars ice-cold waters5,
the ways6 of exile - Wierd7 is set fast8.
1

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THE WANDERER

He knows who makes trial47

how harsh and bitter is care48 for companion
to him who hath49 few friends to shield50 him.
Track ever taketh him51, never the torqued52 gold,
not earthly glory, but cold hearts cave53.
He minds him of54 hall-men, of treasure-giving,
how in his youth his gold-friend55
gave him to feast56. Fallen all this joy.
He knows this who is forced to forgo57 his lords,
his friends counsels, to lack58 them for long:
oft sorrow and sleep, banded together59,
come to bind60 the lone outcast61;
he thinks in his heart then that he his lord
claspeth62 and kisseth63, and on knee layeth64
hand and head, as he had at otherwhiles65
in days now gone, when he enjoyed the gift-stool66.
Awakeneth after this friendless man67,
seeth68 before69 him fallow70 waves,
seabirds bathing, broading out feathers71,
snow and hail72 swirl73, hoar-frost74 falling.
Then all the heavier his hearts wounds75,
sore for his loved lord. Sorrow freshens76.

[30]

48

[40]

[50]

Remembered kinsmen77 press through78 his mind;

he singeth79 out gladly, scanneth80 eagerly81
men from the same hearth82. They swim away83.
Sailors ghosts bring not many84
known songs there. Care85 grows fresh86
in him who shall send forth87 too often
over locked waves88 his weary89 spirit.
Therefore I may not think, throughout this world,
why cloud cometh not on my mind90
when I think over all the life of earls91,
how at a stroke92 they have given up93 hall,
mood-proud thanes94. So this middle earth95
each of all days ageth and falleth96.97

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who makes trial who has tried it

care worry, preoccupation
49
hath (archaic) has
50
to shield protect
51
track ever taketh him (archaic) he is constantly on the move (in exile)
52
torqued twisted
53
cold hearts cave solitude
54
minds him of (in this case) remembers
55
gold-friend (kenning) lord
56
gave him to feast let him participate in a
banquets
57
to forgo (-go/-went/-gone) forego,
renounce, abandon
58
to lack miss, be without
59
banded together functioning simultaneously, coinciding
60
to bind (bind-bound-bound) (in this case)
overcome, control
61
outcast pariah, Wraecca
62
claspeth (archaic) clasps, (in this case)
embraces, hugs
63
kisseth (archaic) kisses
64
layeth (archaic) lays
65
otherwhiles on other occasions, previously
66
gift-stool his lords throne (as a source of gifts)
67
Awakeneth after this friendless man
Then the lonely man awakes
68
seeth (archaic) he sees
69
before (in this case) in front of
70
fallow wild, uncontrolled
71
broading out feathers spreading (=
extending) their wings
72
hail frozen rain
73
to swirl move around violently in the wind
74
hoar-frost greyish-white crystalline
deposit of frozen water vapour
75
wounds lesions
76
freshens is renewed, becomes more intense
77
kinsmen relatives, relations
78
to press through invade
79
singeth (archaic) sings
80
scanneth (archaic) scans, looks for
81
eagerly enthusiastically
82
hearth home fire
83
to swim away (swim-swam-swum) (in this
case) disappear from his minds eye
84
litotes
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 dont 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.
47

[60]

THE WANDERER

Wherefore98 no man grows wise99 without he have100

his share of winters101. A wise man holds out102;
he is not too hot-hearted103, nor too hasty in speech104,
he is not too weak a warrior, not wanting105 in fore-thought106,
nor too greedy of107 goods108, nor too glad, nor too mild109,
nor ever too eager to boast, ere110 he knows all111.112
[70]

The Folly of Beot

A man should forbear113 boast-making114
until his fierce mind fully knows
which way his spleen115 shall expend itself116.
A wise man may grasp117 how ghastly118 it shall be
when all this worlds wealth standeth waste119,
even as now, in many places, over the earth
walls stand, wind-beaten,
hung with120 hoar-frost121; ruined habitations122.

The Ruins & The Beasts of Battle

The wine-halls crumble123; their wielders124 lie
bereft of bliss125, the band126 all fallen
[80]
127
proud by the wall. War took off some,
carried them on their course128 hence129; one a bird bore130
over the high sea; one the hoar131 wolf132
dealt to death133; one his drear-cheeked134
earl135 stretched in an earthen136 trench137.
The Maker of men138 hath139 so marred140 this dwelling141
that human laughter is not heard about it
and idle142 stand these old giant-works.143
A man who on these walls wisely looked
who sounded144 deeply this dark life [90]
would think back to the blood spilt145 here,
weigh it in his wit146. His word would be this:

wherefore (in this case) as a result

to grow wise (grow-grew-grown) become
sagacious/enlightened
100
have (subjunctive) has
101
to have ones share of winters grow old
and suffer the hardships of age
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
107
greedy of avaricious for
108
goods stuff, things, possessions
109
mild humble, meek
110
ere (poetic) before
111
a precipitous boast that cannot subsequently be fulfilled brought great
shame to the A-S warrior
112
these proverbial lines are similar to
those in the A-S poems Maxims I and II
113
to forbear (-bear/-bore/-borne) renounce,
give up
114
boast-making Beot
115
spleen rancour, dissatisfaction
116
to expend itself (in this case) express
itself
117
to grasp (in this case) understand
118
ghastly awful, horrendous. However,
gastlic is also ghostly.
119
standeth waste (archaic) stands wasted,
has been destroyed
120
hung with decorated with, adorned with
121
hoar-frost greyish-white crystalline
deposit of frozen water vapour
122
habitation (false friend) building, abode,
edifice
123
to crumble disintegrate
124
wielder (of power) ruler, lord
125
bereft of bliss unhappy/unhappily
126
(war-)band raiding party, troop of
warriors
127
to take off (take-took-taken) (euphemistic) kill
128
on their course away
129
hence from here
130
to bear (bear-bore-borne) carry off, take
131
hoar (in this case) greyish white; old
132
the wolf and the bird (a crow or vulture)
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
98

99

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THE WANDERER

Ubi Sunt?

hoard-sharer lord
uproar noise, clamour, din
149
burnished gleaming, polished, (in this
case) armoured
150
nights helm(et) the cover of darkness
151
in the stead of in place of, instead of
152
staunch resolute
153
towering tall, high
154
wrought with decorated with, adorned
with
155
worm (in this case) serpent, dragon
156
off-taken taken away, eliminated
157
ash-spear spear (= javelin) made out of
wood from an ash tree (Fraxinus)
158
(blood-)thirsty murderous. Notice the
personification
159
bound imprisoned, held captive, pinioned
160
driving sleet oppressive half-frozen rain,
a blizzard/snowstorm
161
wrath anger, fury
162
wanness gloom, paleness
163
cometh (archaic) comes
164
spreadeth (archaic) spreads, is
disseminated
165
sendeth (archaic) sends
166
hail frozen rain, falling ice
167
to harry torment
168
mankind humanity
169
the earth-realm the world
170
all is crossed everything suffers hardship
171
Wierds will the determination of Wyrd,
providence
172
changeth changes, (in this case) causes
the world to turn
173
be lent to us (in this case) be transitory
174
kin family
175
all this earths frame the entire world
176
sage wise man
177
care worry
178
to seek (seek-sought-sought) look for, try
to find
179
forgiveness literally frofor means refuge
or comfort
180
fastness stability, permanence
181
everything in life is transient except
God
147

Where is that horse now? Where are those men? Where is the
hoard-sharer147?
Where is the house of the feast? Where is the halls uproar148?
Alas, bright cup! Alas, burnished149 fighter!
Alas, proud prince! How that time has passed,
dark under nights helm150, as though it never had been!
There stands in the stead of151 staunch152 thanes94
a towering153 wall wrought with154 worm155-shapes;
the earls135 are off-taken156 by the ash-spears157 point, [100]
-that thirsty158 weapon. Their Wierd is glorious.
Storms break on the stone hillside,
the ground bound159 by driving sleet160,
winters wrath161. Then wanness162 cometh163,
nights shade spreadeth164, sendeth165 from north
the rough hail166 to harry167 mankind168.
In the earth-realm169 all is crossed170;
Wierds will171 changeth172 the world.
Wealth is lent us173, friends are lent us,
man is lent, kin174 is lent;
all this earths frame175 shall stand empty.

[110]

Epilogue
So spoke the sage176 in his heart; he sat apart in thought.
Good is he who keeps faith: nor should care177 too fast
be out of a mans breast before he first know the cure:
a warrior fights on bravely. Well is it for him who seeks178
forgiveness179,
the Heavenly Fathers solace, in whom all our fastness180
stands.181

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