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exeter book - the wanderer lyrics

‘oft the lonely one experiences comp-ssion
the creator’s kindness; though he with sorrowing mind
o’er the watery way, must long
agitate with his hands the rime-cold sea
go in exile tracks; his fate is full decreed.’– (5)
so said a wanderer, of his hardships mindful
of hostile slaughters, his dear friends’ fall.–
‘ oft i must alone, each morn
my care bewail: there is now none living
to whom my thoughts i dare (10)
tell openly. i in sooth know
that it is in man a n0ble quality
that he his soul’s coffer fast bind
hold his treasure. strive as he will
the weary-minded cannot fate withstand, (15)
nor the rugged soul’d help effect;
even the ambitious a sad one oft
in their breast’s coffer fast bind
so i my thoughts must
oft miserable, from country separated, (20)
far from my friends, in fetters bind
since that long ago my bounteous patron
earth’s cavern cover’d, and i abject thence
went, stricken with years, over the billowy m-ss;
sad sought the hall of some munificent lord, (25)
where i far or near might find
one who in the mead-hall my — might know
or me friendless would comfort
allure with pleasure. he knows who tries
how hapless is care as a comrade (30)
to him who little has of faithful friends;
him an exile’s track awaits, not twisted gold;
a trembling body, not earth’s riches:
he remembers the hall-retainers, and receipt of treasure;
how him in youth his bounteous patron (35)
train’d to the feast; but pleasure all has fall’n;
for he knows who must his dear lord’s
his lov’d master’s lessons long be depriv’d of
when sorrow and sleep at once together
a poor solitary often bind, (40)
that seems to him in mind, that he his lord
embraces and kisses, and on his knee lays
hands and head, as when he ere at times
in former days, his gifts enjoy’d;
then wakes again the friendless mortal, (45)
sees before him fallow ways
ocean fowls bathing, spreading their wings
rime and snow descending with hail mingled;
then are the heavier his wounds of heart
painful after dreaming; sorrow is renew’d, (50)
when his friends’ remembrance through his mind p-sses;
when he greets with songs, earnestly surveys
the seats of men, swims again away
the spirit of seafarers, brings there not many
known songs: but care is renew’d (55)
to him who must send very abundantly
over the billowy m-ss his weary spirit;
therefore i cannot think, throughout this world
why my mind it saddens
when i the chieftains’ life all consider; (60)
how they suddenly their halls resign’d
the proud kinsmen. so this mid-earth
every day declines and falls;
therefore may not become wise a man, ere he has p-ss’d
his share of winters in the world. the sagacious must be patient
must not be too ardent, nor too hurrying of fortune
nor too faint a soldier, nor too reckless, (67)
nor too fearful, nor too elate, nor too greedy of money
nor ever too vaunting, ere he be well experienced
a man must wait, when he a promise utters
till that he, bold of spirit, well know (71)
to what his breast’s thoughts shall lead
the prudent man should understand, how ghastly it will be
when all this world’s wealth shall stand waste
as now divers, over this mid-earth, (75)
with wind shaken walls stand
with rime bedeck’d: tottering the chambers
disturb’d are the joyous halls, the powerful lie
of joy bereft, the n0ble all have fall’n
the proud ones by the wall. some hath war destroy’d
borne on their journey hence; one the fowl hath borne away
o’er the deep ocean; one the h–r wolf (82)
by death hath separated; one with gory countenance
in an earth-grave a man hath hidden
so o’erwhelm’d this world the creator of men
till that of the inhabitants, in the briefest moment
the old works of giants stood desolate. (87)
but he who this wall’d place wisely devis’d
and this dark life profoundly contemplates
wise in spirit, afar oft remembers (90)
his many battles, and these words utters:
where is horse, where is man? where is the treasure-giver ?
where are the festive sittings ? where are the joys of the hall?
alas bright cup ! alas mail’d warrior ! (94)
alas chieftain’s splendour ! how the time has p-ss’d
has darken’d under veil of night, as if it had not been
stands now behind the beloved warriors
the wall of wonderous height, with worm carcases foul
the men has swept away the spearmen’s band, (99)
the slaughter-greedy weapon, and fate omnipotent
and these stone shelters storms dash
fierce-rushing; binds the earth
the winter’s violence; then comes dusky
darkens, the shade of night, from the north sends
the rough hail-shower, to men’s grievance. (105)
irksome is all the realm of earth
the fates’ decrees change the world under heaven:
here is wealth transient, here is a friend transient
here is man transient, here is a kinsman transient;
all this place of earth hall become desolate.’– (110)
so spake a sage in mind, sat apart in meditation
good is he who holds his faith. never his affliction too quickly should
a man from his breast make known, unless he ere the remedy can
vigorously forward. well it is for him who seeketh mercy
comfort, at the father in heaven, where all our fastness standeth

- exeter book lyrics

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