The Husband's Message
In a recent review of The Word Exchange (W.W. Norton, 2011, ISBN # 978-0393079012) Michael Dirda wrote "This isn't gaily ribboned Camelot or Merrie Olde England...this is a wintry February world of cold iron, gray dawns, stoicism, and lonely exile." He's right, of course. These poems, splendidly translated by a number of talented modern poets (folks like Seamus Heaney), are bracing in their grimness, but several of them are poignant and even sweet, in their Anglo-Saxon way.
Herewith is "The Husband's Message," as translated by Michael Schmidt:
To you far away I carry this message
I remain true to the tree I was hacked from
Wood I am, bearing the marks of a man
Letters and runes the words of his heart
I come from afar borne on salt currents
Hiss..... in a hull I sought and I sought you
Where would I find you my lord despatched me
Over fathomless seas I've come, here I am
Do you think of him still my lord in your dear heart
Do you recall him or is your mind bare
He remains true to you true and with fixed desire
You try his faith you'll find it stands firm
But hear me now, read what is scratched on my surface
You, cherished treasure, dear you in your youthful
Your hidden heart, dear remember your vows
Your heart and his heart when together you haunted
The lovely hamlets the mead hall, the promise
To perform your love
Well, all of that ended
In feud and in flight he was forced from that place
Now he has sent me to ask you come to me
Cross the sea, come to me come here with joy
When to your listening on the steep hillside
First comes the cuckoo's voice sad in the trees
Don't pause don't linger come at that calling
Don't stay or delay come at that call
Go down to the shore set out to sea then
To the tern's chilly home go south go south
Over the ragged sea south find your lord
Come to him, there he waits for you wedded
To your sure arrival no other wish
But only the wish of you You're in his mind
Almighty God's there his power rebind ou
One to the other again as you were
Able to rule then able to raise up
Your people, comrades and endow you with jewels
Bracelets and carcanets collars and combs
He has set aside for you fair gold, bright gemstones
In a land far away among foreign folk
A handsome mansion hectares and cattle
Faithful retainers
though when he set out
Pursued and a pauper he pointed his prow
Out to the sea alone set out sailing
Lost in his exile yet eager to go
Weaving the currents time in his veins
Now truly that man has passed beyond pain
He has all he wants has horses, has treasure
The great hall's warm welcome gifts the earth yields
Princess, Princess you too are his portion
Remember the promises each of you vowed
The sealing silences he made and you made
A letter, a syllable nothing is lost
What seem erasures are kisses and praying
Are runes that keep counsel a promise in touch
A promise in looking how staunch he has stayed to you
Above him the heavens the earth under foot
A man of his word he is true to your contract
The twining of wills in those days gone in time
More on "The Husband's Message" at the seemingly-pretty-good Wikipedia entry.