Dave, thanks for your tender concern about my poetic good health. I'm
sure I'll survive the wordum wrixlan of the AS bards. Who died out
(or at least their language did) not because they liked writing formal
address in epic poems, but because the Normans came along with a
scorched-earth policy towards their culture.
I don't think realism was exactly a high priority (unless they were
describing made objects, which clearly had to be credible). Any more
than it is of Star Trek. Come off it, lad! It's like criticising Lear
for being a bit depressing.
I posted Fitt V yesterday, but an error message tells me it's still
circling in cyberspace, for reasons best known to itself. If it
doesn't turn up, I might post 5 and 6 together.
xA
On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 12:31 PM, David Bircumshaw
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Alison
>
> I'm not being nasty or destructive, but if the so-called Anglo-Saxons
> really talked liked that it's no wonder they disappeared from history.
> I'm reminded of the cardboard characters of things like Star Trek
> Enterprise: 'He is remembered/by wise men through the wider world' -
> come off it, lass!
>
> I say this in friendship
>
> Best
>
> Dave
>
> 2008/11/25 Alison Croggon <[log in to unmask]>:
>> IV
>>
>> Their leader answered,
>> that crew's captain loosened his wordhoard.
>>
>> "We are men of the Geat people,
>> hearth companions to Hygelac.
>> My father was well known among you,
>> a leader in battle, named Ecgetheow,
>> who saw many winters before he passed
>> away in our courts. He is remembered
>> by wise men through the wider world.
>> We seek your lord, the Half-Dane's son,
>> so guide us well: we have a great errand.
>> I think that it should be no secret.
>> You can tell us if it's true
>> that some malice stalks the Scyldings,
>> and deals them out sickening slaughter.
>> From an open heart, I'll offer
>> Hrothgar counsel, and show him how
>> to worst his enemy, and find some ease
>> to slacken these besetting sorrows
>> and cool his cares. Or else he'll live
>> in lamentation, so long as Heorot,
>> best of houses, reaches skyward."
>>
>> The guard then spoke, fearless defender,
>> easy on horseback: "Any sharp shieldman
>> reasoning rightly knows the difference
>> between words and deeds. I think you're loyal
>> to the Scylding lord. You may go forward
>> bearing weapons and armour.
>> I shall guide you. And more, my kinsman
>> will guard your ship, as it lies here
>> newly tarred on the foamy sand,
>> until it bears its loved lord back
>> on swoop-necked wood to Wedermark,
>> for a man like you will surely pass
>> through battle's brutal rush unharmed."
>>
>> Then they pressed on, leaving behind
>> their broad-beamed ship at rest on the sand.
>> The boar-shapes on their cheekpieces shone,
>> hammered with gold, hardened with fire,
>> guarding their lives, lifting their war-hearts.
>> They marched on fast, until they glimpsed
>> the golden eaves of the timbered hall,
>> the home of the king, first among earth-dwellers,
>> whose radiance gleamed on many lands.
>> The fierce sea-guard led them close
>> and turned his horse to speak to them.
>> "I leave you here. May the mighty father
>> hold you with grace on all your sojourns!
>> I must keep watch now against sea-raiders."
>>
>>
>> --
>> Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
>> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>> Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
>>
>
>
>
> --
> David Bircumshaw
> Website and A Chide's Alphabet http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/
> The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>
--
Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
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