Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Hwīt Geōltīd

Swefn ic geseah snāwhwītes geōles,
Geōlam gelīce þe wē gēo cūðon —
Bēamas glysnodon, bearn hlosnodon
Hīeran on hrīme hrædwægnes bellan.

Swefn ic geseah snāwhwītes geōles,
Þā ic geōlcartan georne awrāt:
Blīðan ond beorhtan bēon þīne dagas,
Ēadige ēac ēalla þīne geōl!

Metre: Alaric Hall and Sheryl McDonald, A beginner’s guide (hopefully) to Old English metre (version 1.5, September 26th 2016)

E / x x / A / x ̑x / x
A / x ̑x / x C x ̑x / / x
A / x / x ̑x D / / x x
A / x ̑x / x A / x ̑x/ x

E / x x / A / x ̑x / x
C x ̑x / / x E / x x /
A / x ̑x / x A / x ̑x / x
E / x x / E / x x ̑x /  

According to Hall and McDonald, line 3a is not strictly metrical, but I couldn't resist the half rhyme. Also if 3a is not metrical, I don't know how we are supposed to analyse "Beowulf maþelode". Hrædwægn is a nod to Hrodulf. Geōlcarte is my own invention.

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