✵
Ofer wídne gársecg
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⸱
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Þa ofer wídne gársecg wéow unwidre ceald,
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When the cold blast was blowing across the broad ocean,
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:
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Sum hagusteald on lagu féoll on nicera geweald.
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a young man fell into the sea, into the power of monsters.
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⸱ ⸱
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He legde lást swa fýres gnást, he snúde on sunde fléah,
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As fast as fire he made his way, he swam along so quickly –
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:
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Oþþæt he métte meremenn déopan grunde néah.
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until he met the mermen near the deep sea-bottom.
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♬ First refrain:
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♬ First refrain:
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⸱
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La! hwæt, ic Gárdena on geárdagum geseah
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Listen, I have seen the power
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⸱⸱
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þéodcyninga-ninga-ninga þrym and –
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of the kings of the people of the Spear-Danes in days gone by –
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brýdealoþ under brimfaroþ déopan grunde néah!
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and also the bridal beneath the sea, near the deep sea-bottom!
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⸱
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Þæt merewíf þá of stóle úplang héo gestód,
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The mermaid then stood up from her chair,
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⸱ :
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Mid fágum fintan fægniende: wæs hire grétung gód.
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fawning with her shining tail: her greeting was good.
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⸱ ⸱
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Héo smearciende smǽre hie wende, tǽhte hire hand;
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Smirking with her lip she turned and stretched out her hand.
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⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱
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“Nú, wilcuma, lá, hláford mín, on meremenna land!”
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“Now welcome indeed, my lord, to the mermen’s land!”
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♬ Second refrain:
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♬ Second refrain:
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⸱
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La! hwæt, ic Gárdena on geárdagum onfand
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Listen, I have discovered the power
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⸱⸱
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þéodcyninga-ninga-ninga þrym and –
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of the kings of the people of the Spear-Danes in days gone by –
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brýdealoþ under brimfaroþ on meremenna land!
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and also the bridal beneath the sea, in the mermen’s land!
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⸱
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“Hér leng ne mót ic bídan, gedǽle ic nú wiþ þé!”
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“I may not stay here any more, now separate from me!’
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⸱ ⸱ :
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Héo cwæþ: ‘Ná, ná! ne biþ hit swá ! Þu gewífast nu on mé.
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She said: “No, no, I will not be so! Now you will marry me.
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⸱ ⸱ ⸱
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Nú eft þu gá, and cweþ: – Nó má fare’ ic on sunde héah;
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Now go back again and say: – I’ll go on the high sea no more.
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:
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Gemæcca mín is meremann déopan grunde néah.”
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My wife is from the mermen near the deep sea-bottom.”
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(♬ First refrain)
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(♬ First refrain)
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⸱
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On nacan his genéatas hine sóhton wíde ymb sund;
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His companions in the ship sought him far across the sea.
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:
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Hi wéopon and hi hréopon and hi sméadon þone grund.
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They wept and cried out and scanned the sea-bottom.
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⸱ ⸱
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Þa úp he sprang and hlúde sang, and hearde helman hrand:
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Then up he sprang and sang aloud and thrust hard at the rudder:
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:
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“Gáþ eft ongén! me béodeþ cwén on meremenna land.”
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“Go back again! The queen makes me an invitation, from the mermen’s land!”
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(♬ Second refrain)
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(♬ Second refrain)
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⸱ ⸱ ⸱
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“Tódǽlaþ nú mín ágen, pannan, páde, préon!
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“Share out my goods, my pots and coats and brooches,
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⸱
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Gifaþ hrægelciste mínre nifte, méder míne méon!”
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give my clothes-chest to my niece and my shoes to my mother!”
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⸱ ⸱
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Se stéorman stód on stefne wód, and he to brime béah;
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The steersman stood angrily at the prow, and turned toward the sea,
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⸱ ⸱
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Cwæþ: “Far nu wel! þe hæbbe Hel, déopan grunde néah!”
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said: “Fare you well, and may Hell take you, near the deep sea-bottom.”
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(♬ First refrain)
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(♬ First refrain)
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