Medieval Poetry Translations VI by Michael R Burch

These are English translations/modernizations of Medieval poems written in Old English and Middle English. Exeter Book Gnomic Verses or Maxims loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The dragon dwells under the dolmen, wizened-wise, hoarding his treasure; the fishes bring forth their finned kind; the king in his halls distributes rings; the bear stalks the heath, shaggy and malevolent. Frost shall freeze, fire feast on firs; earth breed blizzards; brazen ice bridge waters; waters spawn shields; oxen axe frost’s firm fetters, freeing golden grain from ice’s imprisonment. Winter shall wane, warm weather return as sun-warmed summer! Kings shall win wise queens with largesse, with beakers and bracelets; both must be generous with their gifts. Courage must create war-lust in a lord while his woman shows kindness to her people, delightful in dress, interpreter of rune-words, roomy-hearted at hearth-sharing and horse-giving. The deepest depths hold seas’ secrets the longest. The ship must be neatly nailed, the hull framed from light linden. But how loving the Frisian wife’s welcome when, floating offshore, the keel turns homeward! She hymns homeward her own husband, till his hull lies at anchor! Then she washes salt-stains from his stiff shirt, lays out new clothes clean and fresh for her exhausted sailor, her beloved bread-winner, love’s needs well-met. The Battle of Maldon anonymous Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem, circa 991 AD or later loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch …would be broken. Then he bade each warrior unbridle his horse, set it free, drive it away and advance onward afoot, intent on deeds of arms and dauntless courage. It was then that Offa's kinsman kenned their Earl would not accept cowardice, for he set his beloved falcon free, let it fly woods-ward, then stepped forward to battle himself, nothing withheld. By this his men understood their young Earl's will full well, that he would not weaken when taking up weapons. Eadric desired to serve his Earl, his Captain in the battle to come; thus he also advanced forward, his spear raised, his spirit strong, boldly grasping buckler and broadsword, ready to keep his vow to stand fast in the fight. Byrhtnoth marshalled his men, teaching each warrior his task: how to stand, where to be stationed… Keywords/Tags: Old English, translations, Anglo-Saxon, Exeter Book, dragon, fish, king, ring, bear, fire, winter, ice, snow, frost, sea, ocean, wife, husband, love