Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DEOR'S LAMENT, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DEOR'S LAMENT, by                    
First Line: To weland came woes and wearisome trial
Last Line: That has passed over: so this may depart!
Subject(s): Minstrels


To Weland came woes and wearisome trial,
And cares oppressed the constant earl;
His lifelong companions were pain and sorrow,
And winter-cold weeping: his ways were oft hard,
After Nithhad had struck the strong man low,
Cut the supple sinew-bands of the sorrowful earl.
That has passed over: so this may depart!

Beadohild bore her brothers' death
Less sorely in soul than herself and her plight
When she clearly discovered her cursed condition,
That unwed she should bear a babe to the world.
She never could think of the thing that must happen.
That has passed over: so this may depart!

Much have we learned of Maethhild's life:
How the courtship of Geat was crowned with grief,
How love and its sorrows allowed him no sleep.
That has passed over: so this may depart!

Theodoric held for thirty winters
The town of the Maerings: that was told unto many.
That has passed over: so this may depart!

We all have heard of Eormanric
Of the wolfish heart: a wide realm he had
Of the Gothic kingdom. Grim was the king.
Many men sat and bemoaned their sorrows,
Woefully watching and wishing always
That the cruel king might be conquered at last.
That has passed over: so this may depart!

Sad in his soul he sitteth joyless,
Mournful in mood. He many times thinks
That no end will e'er come to the cares he endures.
Then must he think how throughout the world
The gracious God often gives his help
And manifold honors to many an earl
And sends wide his fame; but to some he gives woes.
Of myself and my sorrows I may say in truth
That I was happy once as the Heodenings' scop,
Dear to my lord. Deor was my name.
Many winters I found a worthy following,
Held my lord's heart, till Heorrenda came,
The skillful singer, and received the landright
That the proud helm of earls had once promised to me!
That has passed over: so this may depart!






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