Widsith

"Widsith" (Old English: "Ƿidsið"), also known as The Traveller's Song,[1] is an Old English poem of 143 lines. The poem survives only in the Exeter Book, a manuscript of Old English poetry compiled in the late 10th century containing approximately one sixth of all surviving Old English poetry. Widsith is located between the poems Vainglory and The Fortunes of Men. Since the donation of the Exeter Book in 1076, it has been housed in Exeter Cathedral in southwest England. The poem is for the most part a survey of the people, kings, and heroes of Europe in the Heroic Age of Northern Europe.

Date of original composition

There is some controversy as to when Widsith was first composed. Some historians, such as John Niles, argue that the work was invented after King Alfred's rule to present "a common glorious past", while others such as Kemp Malone have argued that the piece is an authentic transcription of old heroic songs.[2]:181 Among the works appearing in the Exeter Book, there are none quite like Widsith,[2]:182 which may be by far the oldest extant work that gives a historical account of the Battle of the Goths and the Huns, recounted as legends in later Scandinavian works such as the Hervarar saga.[2]:179 Archaeologist Lotte Hedeager argues that Widsith goes back to Migration Age history, at least part of it was composed in the 6th century, and that the author demonstrates familiarity with regions outside of Britain, including Denmark and the Baltic coast.[2]:184-186

Contents

Excluding the introduction of the scop Widsith, the closing, and brief comments regarded by some scholars as interpolations, the poem is divided into three 'catalogues', so-called thulas. The first thula runs through a list of the various kings of renown, both contemporary and ancient ("Caesar ruled the Greeks"), the model being '(name of a king) ruled (name of a tribe)'. The second thula contains the names of the peoples the narrator visited, the model being 'With the (name of a tribe) I was, and with the (name of another tribe).' In the third and final thula, the narrator lists the heroes of myth and legend that he has visited, with the model '(Hero's name) I sought and (hero's name) and (hero's name).'

The poem refers to a group of people called the Ƿicinga cynn, which may be the earliest mention of the word "Viking" (lines 47, 59, 80). It closes with a brief comment on the importance and fame offered by poets like Widsith, with many pointed reminders of the munificent generosity offered to tale-singers by patrons "discerning of songs."

Hroþƿulf ond Hroðgar heoldon lengest
sibbe ætsomne suhtorfædran,
siþþan hy forƿræcon ƿicinga cynn
ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan,
forheoƿan aet Heorote Heaðobeardna þrym.

Hroðulf and Hroðgar held the longest
peace together, uncle and nephew,
since they repulsed the Viking-kin
and Ingeld to the spear-point made bow,
hewn at Heorot Heaðobards' army.

—lines 45–59

The widely travelled poet Widsith (his name simply means "far journey") claims himself to be of the house of the Myrgings, who had first set out in the retinue of "Ealhild, the beloved weaver of peace, from the east out of Angeln to the home of the king of the glorious Goths, Eormanric, the cruel troth-breaker." The Ostrogoth Eormanric was defeated by the Huns in the 5th century. It is moot whether Widsith literally intends himself, or poetically means his lineage, either as a Myrging or as a poet, as when "the fictive speaker Deor uses the rhetoric of first-person address to insert himself into the same legendary world that he evokes in the earlier parts of the poem through his allusions to Weland the smith, Theodoric the Goth, Eormanric the Goth, and other legendary figures of the Germanic past." [3] Historically, we know that one speaker could not travel to see all of these nations in one lifetime. In a similar vein, "I was with the Lidwicingas, the Leonas and the Langobards," Widsith boasts,

with heathens and heroes and with the Hundingas.
I was with the Israelites and with the Assyrians,
with the Hebrews and the Indians and with the Egyptians...

The forests of the Vistula[4] in the ancient writing tradition (Widsith, v. 121) are the homeland of the Goths, the material remains of which are generally associated with the Wielbark Culture.[5]

Ƿulfhere sohte ic ond Ƿyrmhere; ful oft þær ƿig ne alæg,
þonne Hræda here heardum sƿeordum,
ymb Ƿistlaƿudu ƿergan sceoldon
ealdne eþelstol Ætlan leodum.

I sought Wulfhere and Wyrmhere; there battle did not abate
when the Gothic army with their sharp swords,
in the Vistula woods had to defend
their ancient seat against Attila's host.

—lines 121–

The poem that is now similarly titled Deor, also from the Exeter Book, draws on similar material.

Tribes of Widsith

The list of kings of tribes is sorted according to "fame and importance", according to Hedeager, with Attila of the Huns coming first, followed immediately by Eormanric of the Ostrogoths; by contrast, the Byzantine emperor is number five.[2]:187

Widsið maðolade,
  wordhord onleac,
se þe monna mæst
  mægþa ofer eorþan,
folca geondferde;
  oft he on flette geþah
mynelicne maþþum.
  Him from Myrgingum

Widsith spake,
  he unlocked his treasure of words.
He who among men
  had travelled most in the world,
through peoples and nations;
  he had often in the hall
earned valuable treasures.
  He was one of the Myrgings

5.

æþele onwocon.
  He mid Ealhhilde,
fælre freoþuwebban,
  forman siþe
Hreðcyninges
  ham gesohte
eastan of Ongle,
  Eormanrices,
wraþes wærlogan.
  Ongon þa worn sprecan:

of noble blood.
  He together with Ealhhilde,
the friendly weaver of peace
  went for the home
of the king of the Goths (Hreiðgoths)
  he was searching
east of the Angles,
  Ermanaric,
wrathful against traitors.
  He began to speak:

... 15

ond Alexandreas
  ealra ricost
monna cynnes,
  ond he mæst geþah
þara þe ic ofer foldan
  gefrægen hæbbe.
ætla weold Hunum,
  Eormanric Gotum,
Becca Baningum,
  Burgendum Gifica.

and Alexander's
  whole kingdom
together with the men of his clan
  and he prospered most
of which I all over the world
  have heard the reports.
Attila ruled the Huns,
  Ermanaric ruled the Goths,
Becca the Banings,
  Gebicca the Burgundians,

20

Casere weold Creacum
  ond Cælic Finnum,
Hagena Holmrygum
  ond Heoden Glommum.
Witta weold Swæfum,
  Wada Hælsingum,
Meaca Myrgingum,
  Mearchealf Hundingum.
þeodric weold Froncum,
  þyle Rondingum,

Caesar ruled the Greeks
  and Caelic the Finns,
Hagena the Rugians
  and Heoden the Gloms.
Witta ruled the Suebi,
  Wada the Hälsings,
Meaca the Myrgings,
  Mearchealf the Hundings.
Theuderic ruled the Franks,
  Thyle the Rondings,

25

Breoca Brondingum,
  Billing Wernum.
Oswine weold Eowum
  ond Ytum Gefwulf,
Fin Folcwalding
  Fresna cynne.
Sigehere lengest
  Sædenum weold,
Hnæf Hocingum,
  Helm Wulfingum,

Breoc the Brondings,
  Billing the Varni.
Oswin ruled the Aviones
  and Getwulf the Jutes,
Finn Folcwalding
  the Frisian clan.
Sigar longest
  ruled the sea-Danes,
Hnæf the Hocings,
  Helm the Wulfings,

30

Wald Woingum,
  Wod þyringum,
Sæferð Sycgum,
  Sweom Ongendþeow,
Sceafthere Ymbrum,
  Sceafa Longbeardum,
Hun Hætwerum
  ond Holen Wrosnum.
Hringweald wæs haten
  Herefarena cyning.

Wald the Woings,
  Wod the Thuringians,
Saeferth the Sycgs,
  Ongenþeow the Swedes,
Sceafthere the Ymbers,
  Sceafa the Lombards,
Hun the Chattuarii
  and Holen the Wrosns.
Hringweald was called
  the king of the war-chiefs.

35

Offa weold Ongle,
  Alewih Denum;
se wæs þara manna
  modgast ealra,
no hwæþre he ofer Offan
  eorlscype fremede,
ac Offa geslog
  ærest monna,
cnihtwesende,
  cynerica mæst.

Offa ruled the Angles,
  Alewih the Danes;
he was among all men;
  the bravest,
but was not braver than Offa,
  because the noble
Offa conquered,
  before he was a man,
in battle
  most of his kingdom

40

Nænig efeneald him
  eorlscipe maran
on orette.
  Ane sweorde
merce gemærde
  wið Myrgingum
bi Fifeldore;
  heoldon forð siþþan
Engle ond Swæfe,
  swa hit Offa geslog.

None of his age
  showed earlship more.
With single sword
  he spread his borders.
Against the Myrgings
  marked the bound
by Fiveldor.
  Henceforth 'twas held
by Sueve and Angle
  as Offa won it.

45

Hroþwulf ond Hroðgar
  heoldon lengest
sibbe ætsomne
  suhtorfædran,
siþþan hy forwræcon
  wicinga cynn
ond Ingeldes
  ord forbigdan,
forheowan æt Heorote
  Heaðobeardna þrym.

Hrolf Kraki and Hrothgar
  held longest
the peace,
  uncle and nephew,
after having repulsed
  the Vikings
and Ingeld
  bowed down at spear-point,
he was cut to pieces at Heorot
  with the army of the Heathobards.

... 55

mænan fore mengo
  in meoduhealle
hu me cynegode
  cystum dohten.
Ic wæs mid Hunum
  ond mid Hreðgotum,
mid Sweom ond mid Geatum
  ond mid Suþdenum.
Mid Wenlum ic wæs ond mid Wærnum
  ond mid wicingum.

to this noble company
  in the mead hall,
how my worthy patrons
  rewarded me.
I was with Huns
  and with Goths,
and with Swedes and with Geats
  and with south-Danes.
With Vandals I was and with Varni
  and with Vikings.

60

Mid Gefþum ic wæs ond mid Winedum
  ond mid Gefflegum.
Mid Englum ic wæs ond mid Swæfum
  ond mid ænenum.
Mid Seaxum ic wæs ond Sycgum
  ond mid Sweordwerum.
Mid Hronum ic wæs ond mid Deanum
  ond mid Heaþoreamum.
Mid þyringum ic wæs
  ond mid þrowendum,

With the Gepids I was and with Wends
  and with Gevlegs.
With the Angles I was and with Suebi
  and with Aenenes.
With the Saxons I was and with Sycgs
  and with swordsmen (Suarines?).
With the Hrons I was and with Deans
  and with Heatho-Reams.
With the Thuringians I was
  and with the Throwens,

65

ond mid Burgendum,
  þær ic beag geþah;
me þær Guðhere forgeaf
  glædlicne maþþum
songes to leane.
  Næs þæt sæne cyning!
Mid Froncum ic wæs ond mid Frysum
  ond mid Frumtingum.
Mid Rugum ic wæs ond mid Glommum
  ond mid Rumwalum.

and with Burgundians,
  there they gave me a ring:
there Guthere gave me
  a shining treasure,
as a reward for my songs.
  He was not a bad king!
With the Franks I was and with Frisians
  and with Frumtings.
With the Rugians I was and with Gloms
  and with Romans.

70

Swylce ic wæs on Eatule
  mid ælfwine,
se hæfde moncynnes,
  mine gefræge,
leohteste hond
  lofes to wyrcenne,
heortan unhneaweste
  hringa gedales,
beorhtra beaga,
  bearn Eadwines.

I was in Italy
  with Alboin too:
of all men he had,
  as I have heard,
the readiest hand
  to do brave deeds,
the most generous heart
  in giving out rings
and shining torcs,
  Audoin's son.

75

Mid Sercingum ic wæs
  ond mid Seringum;
mid Creacum ic wæs ond mid Finnum
  ond mid Casere,
se þe winburga
  geweald ahte,
wiolena ond wilna,
  ond Wala rices.
Mid Scottum ic wæs ond mid Peohtum
  ond mid Scridefinnum;

With the Saracens I was
  and with Seres.
With the Greeks I was and with the Finns
  and with Caesar,
he who a grand city
  possessed,
treasures and female slaves,
  and the Roman Empire.
With the Scots I was and with Picts
  and with Saamis.

80

mid Lidwicingum ic wæs ond mid Leonum
  ond mid Longbeardum,
mid hæðnum ond mid hæleþum
  ond mid Hundingum.
Mid Israhelum ic wæs
  ond mid Exsyringum,
mid Ebreum ond mid Indeum
  ond mid Egyptum.
Mid Moidum ic wæs ond mid Persum
  ond mid Myrgingum,

With the Lidvikings I was and with Leons
  and with Lombards,
with heathens and with heroes
  and with Hundings.
With the Israelites I was
  and with Assyrians,
with Hebrews and with Indians
  and with Egyptians.
With the Medes I was and with Persians
  and with Myrgings

85

ond Mofdingum
  ond ongend Myrgingum,
ond mid Amothingum.
  Mid Eastþyringum ic wæs
ond mid Eolum ond mid Istum
  ond Idumingum.
Ond ic wæs mid Eormanrice
  ealle þrage,
þær me Gotena cyning
  gode dohte;

and with Mofdings
  against the Myrgings,
and with Amothings.
  With the East-Thuringians I was
and with Eols and with Ists
  and Idumings.
And I was with Ermanaric
  during some time,
there the Goth king to me
  did his best to do good;

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Anscombe, Alfred (1915), "The Historical Side of the Old English Poem of 'Widsith'", Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal Historical Society, 9: 123, doi:10.2307/3678298, JSTOR 3678298
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lotte, Hedeager, (2011). "Knowledge production reconsidered". Iron Age myth and materiality : an archaeology of Scandinavia, AD 400-1000. Abingdon, Oxfordshire; New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 177–190. ISBN 9780415606042. OCLC 666403125.
  3. ↑ Niles, John D. (2003). "The Myth of the Anglo-Saxon Oral Poet". Western Folklore. 62: 10. JSTOR 1500445.
  4. ↑ Viscla, 7 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa on Porticus Vipsania
  5. ↑ "Die Wilkinensage: Schlüssel zur unbekannten Frühgeschichte der Niederlande und Belgiens." Thidrekssaga-Forum E.V. 2006. p. 129

References

  • Anglo-Saxon poetry: an anthology of Old English poems tr. S. A. J. Bradley. London: Dent, 1982 (translation into English prose).
  • Chambers, R. W. (Ed.). Widsith: A study in Old English heroic legend. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1912.
  • Malone, Kemp (Ed.). Widsith. Rosenkilde and Bagger: Copenhagen, 1962.
  • Neidorf, Leonard. "The Dating of Widsith and the Study of Germanic Antiquity." Neophilologus 97 (2013): pp. 165–83.
  • Pascual, Rafael (April 2016). "Old English Metrical History and the Composition of Widsið". Neophilologus. 100 (2): 289–302. doi:10.1007/s11061-015-9460-6.
  • Weiskott, Eric. "The Meter of Widsith and the Distant Past." Neophilologus.
  • Old English text, digitised from George Philip Krapp and Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie (eds), The Exeter Book, The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records, 3 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1936)
  • The original text of the verse with a translation.
  • A Verse Translation by Douglas B. Killings
  • A translation by Bella Millett
  • Norton Anthology of English Literature on-line: "The linguistic and literary contexts of Beowulf"
  • Niles, John D. (1999). "Widsith and the Anthropology of the Past". Philological Quarterly. 78.
  • Niles, John D. (2003). "The Myth of the Anglo-Saxon Oral Poet". Western Folklore. 62: 7–61. JSTOR 1500445.
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