Old English Poems Part 4

This fragment belongs to the epic story of Finn which is alluded to at some length in _Beowulf_ (vv. 1068-1159). The saga can be reconstructed in its broad outlines, though it is impossible to be sure of details. One of the most puzzling of these details is the position in which the "Fight" occurs. In the story are two fights, either one of which may be the one described in the fragment. The weight of opinion seems to favor the first conflict, that in which Hnaef is killed. As summarized by Moller, the Finn story is briefly as follows:

"Finn, king of the Frisians, had carried off Hildeburh, daughter of Hoc (_Beowulf_, v. 1076), probably with her consent. Her father Hoc seems to have pursued the fugitives, and to have been slain in the fight which ensued on his overtaking them. After the lapse of some twenty years, Hoc's sons Hnaef and Hengest, were old enough to undertake the duty of avenging their father's death. They make an inroad into Finn's country and a battle takes place in which many warriors, among them Hnaef and a son of Finn (1074, 1079, 1115), are killed. Peace is therefore solemnly concluded, and the slain warriors are burnt (1068-1124).

"As the year is too far advanced for Hengest to return home (1130 ff.), he and those of his men who survive remain for the winter in the Frisian country with Finn. But Hengest's thoughts dwell constantly on the death of his brother Hnaef, and he would gladly welcome any excuse to break the peace which had been sworn by both parties. His ill concealed desire for revenge is noticed by the Frisians, who antic.i.p.ate it by themselves taking the initiative and attacking Hengest and his men whilst they are sleeping in the hall. This is the night attack described in the "Fight."

It would seem that after a brave and desperate resistance Hengest himself falls in this fight at the hands of Hunlafing (1143), but two of his retainers, Guthlaf and Oslaf, succeed in cutting their way through their enemies and in escaping to their own land. They return with fresh troops, attack and slay Finn, and carry his queen, Hildeburh, off with them (1125-1159)."--Wyatt, _Beowulf_, (1901), p. 145.

Professor Gummere finds in the fragment an example bearing out his theory of the development of the epic. "The qualities which difference it from _Beowulf_," he says, "are mainly negative; it lacks sentiment, moralizing, the leisure of the writer; it did not attempt probably to cover more than a single event; and one will not err in finding it a fair type of the epic songs which roving singers were wont to sing before lord and liegeman in hall and which were used with more or less fidelity by makers of complete epic poems."]

". . . . . . . . Are the gables not burning?"

Boldly replied then the battle-young king: "The day is not dawning; no dragon is flying, And the high gable-horns of the hall are not burning, 5 But the brave men are bearing the battle line forward, While bloodthirsty sing the birds of slaughter.

Now clangs the gray corselet, clashes the war-wood, s.h.i.+eld answers shaft. Now s.h.i.+neth the moon, Through its cover of clouds. Now cruel days press us 10 That will drive this folk to deadly fight.

But wake at once, my warriors bold, Stand now to your armor and strive for honor; Fight at the front unafraid and undaunted."

Then arose from their rest, ready and valiant, 15 Gold-bedecked soldiers, and girded their swords.

The n.o.ble knights went now to the door And seized their swords, Sigeferth and Eaha, And to the other door Ordlaf and Guthlaf, And Hengest who followed to help the defense.

20 Now Guthere restrained Garulf from strife, Lest fearless at the first of the fight he rush To the door and daringly endanger his life, Since now it was stormed by so stalwart a hero.

But unchecked by these words a challenge he shouted, 25 Boldly demanding what man held the door.

"I am Sigferth," he said, "the Secgan's prince; Wide have I wandered; many woes have I known And bitter battles. Be it bad or good Thou shalt surely receive what thou seekest from me."

30 At the wall by the door rose the din of battle; In the hands of heroes the hollow bucklers Shattered the s.h.i.+elds. Shook then the hall floor Till there fell in the fight the faithful Garulf, Most daring and doughty of the dwellers on earth, 35 The son of Guthlaf; and scores fell with him.

O'er the corpses hovered the hungry raven, Swarthy and sallow-brown. A sword-gleam blazed As though all Finnsburg in flames were burning.

Never heard I of heroes more hardy in war, 40 Of sixty who strove more strongly or bravely, Of swains who repaid their sweet mead better Than his loyal liegemen to their loved Hnaef.

Five days they fought, but there fell not a one Of the daring band, though the doors they held always.

45 Now went from the warfare a wounded chief.

He said that his burnie was broken asunder, His precious war-gear, and pierced was his helmet.

Then questioned their chief and inquired of him How the warriors recovered from the wounds they received, 50 Or which of the youths . . . . . . .

1. The fragment begins in the middle of a word.

2. The "battle-young king" is probably the Hengest of v. 19. Possibly he is to be identified with Hengest, the conqueror of Kent.

5, 6. In the original these lines seem to be incomplete. The translation attempts to keep the intended meaning.

14, 15. In the original these appear as a single greatly expanded line, which was probably at one time two lines.

17. _Sigeferth_ (see also line 26), prince of the Secgans is probably identical with Saeferth who ruled the Secgans in _Widsith_, v. 31.

18. _Ordlaf and Guthlaf_ appear in the account in _Beowulf_ (vv. 1148, ff.) as Oslaf and Guthlaf. They are the avengers of Hnaef.

20. From the construction it is impossible to tell who is the speaker and who is being restrained. But from line 33 it is seen to be Garulf who neglects the advice and is killed. Garulf and Guthere are, of course, of the attacking band.

26. _Sigferth_, one of the defenders. See v. 17, above.

28, 29. These lines are obscure. Probably they mean that Garulf may have as good as he sends in the way of a fight.

35. Guthlaf, the father of Garulf (the a.s.sailant) was probably not the Guthalf of line 18, who was a defender. If we have here a conflict between father and son, very little is made of it.

45. It is impossible to tell who the wounded warrior was or which chief is referred to in line 48.

2. GNOMIC GROUP

CHARMS

[Edition used: Kluge, _Angelsachsisches Lesebuch_.

Critical edition and discussion of most of the charms: Felix Grendon, _Journal of American Folk-lore_, xxii, 105 ff. See that article for bibliography.

Grendon divides the charms into five cla.s.ses:

1. Exorcisms of diseases and disease spirits.

2. Herbal charms.

3. Charms for transferring disease.

4. Amulet charms.

5. Charm remedies.

These charms contain some of the most interesting relics of the old heathen religion of the Anglo-Saxons incongruously mingled with Christian practices. They were probably written down at so late a time that the churchmen felt they could no longer do harm.]

I. For Bewitched Land

_Here is the remedy by which thou mayst improve thy fields if they will not produce well or if any evil thing is done to them by means of sorcery or witchcraft:_

_5_ _Take at night, before daybreak, four pieces of turf from the four corners of the land and mark the places where they have stood. Take then oil and honey and yeast and the milk of every kind of cattle that is on that land and a piece of every kind of tree that is grown _10_ on that land, except hard wood, and a piece of every kind of herb known by name, except burdock alone. Then put holy water on these and dip it thrice in the base of the turfs and say these words:_ Crescite, _grow_, et multiplicamini, _and multiply_, et replete, _and fill_, terram, _15_ _this earth_, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti sint benedicti; _and_ Pater Noster _as often as anything else_.

_Then carry the turfs to the church and have the priest sing four ma.s.ses over them and have the green sides _20_ turned toward the altar. Then bring them back before sunset to the place where they were at first. Now make four crosses of aspen and write on the end of each_ Matheus _and_ Marcus _and_ Lucas _and_ Johannes. _Lay the crosses on the bottom of each hole and then say_: _25_ Crux Matheus, crux Marcus, crux Lucas, crux Sanctus Johannes. _Then take the sods and lay them on top and say nine times the word_ Crescite, _and the_ Pater Noster _as often. Turn then to the east and bow humbly nine times and say these words:_

30 Eastward I stand, for honors I pray; I pray to the G.o.d of glory; I pray to the gracious Lord; I pray to the high and holy Heavenly Father; I pray to the earth and all of the heavens, And to the true and virtuous virgin Saint Mary, 35 And to the high hall of Heaven and its power, That with G.o.d's blessing I may unbind this spell With my open teeth, and through trusty thought May awaken the growth for our worldly advantage, May fill these fields by fast belief, 40 May improve this planting, for the prophet saith That he hath honors on earth whose alms are free, Who wisely gives, by the will of G.o.d.

_Then turn three times following the course of the sun, stretch thyself prostrate, and chant the litanies. _45_ Then say_ Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus _through to the end. Then chant_ Benedicte _with outstretched arms, and the_ Magnificat _and_ Pater Noster _three times and commend thy prayer to the praise and glory of Christ and Saint Mary and the Holy Rood, and to the honor _50_ of him who owns the land and to all those that are subject to him. When all this is done, get some unknown seed from beggars, and give them twice as much as thou takest from them. Then gather all thy plowing gear together and bore a hole in the beam and put in _55_ it incense and fennel and consecrated soap and consecrated salt.

Take the seed and put it on the body of the plow, and then say:_

Erce, Erce, Erce, of earth the mother, May he graciously grant thee, G.o.d Eternal, 60 To have fertile fields and fruitful harvests, Growing in profit and gaining in power; A host of products and harvests in plenty, Bright with the broad barley harvest; And heavy with the white harvest of wheat, 65 And all the harvest of the earth. May the Almighty Lord grant And all his saints who are seated in heaven, That against all of the enemies this earth may be guarded, Protected and made proof against the powers of evil, Against sorceries and spells dispersed through the land.

70 Now I pray to the Power who planned the creation That no woman of witchcraft, no worker of magic, May change or unspell the charm I have spoken.

_Then drive forth the plow and turn the first furrow and say:_

75 Hail to thee, Earth, of all men the mother, Be goodly thy growth in G.o.d's embrace, Filled with food as a favor to men.

_Then take meal of every kind and bake a loaf as broad as it will lie between the two hands, kneading _80_ it with milk and with holy water, and lay it under the first furrow. Say then:_