A Consolidated Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Metadata

ID
https://clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/poem/A.3.23
Title
The Wife's Lament
Language
Old English
Bibliography
Other formats
TEI (xml) Plain text (txt) Metadata (json)

Tools

Highlight uncommon word forms
Poem Concordance

Repeated scansions (sievers)

Repeated scansions (bliss)

Formulas

The Wife's Lament

Wife 1. ic ðis giedd wrece || bi me ful geomorre þis ġiedd wrece || be full ġōmorre,
Bliss Scansion: 2C2b xxS|~x || d1c xxxSxx
Sievers Scansion: C3 xx / | ~ x || 0 xxx / | / x

Syntax: NV || aA

hs: g, aa: Q
Wife 2. minre sylfre sið || ic ðæt secgan mæg mīnre selfre sīþ. || þæt seċġan mæġ,
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xxSx|S || 3B1b xxSx|$
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx / | x / || 0 xx / | x /

Syntax: AgN || IV

hs: s, aa: D, da: D
Wife 3. hwæt ic yrmða gebad || siððan ic up weox hwæt iermþa ġe·bād, || siþþan up wēox,
Bliss Scansion: 3B*1c xxSx|xS || N/A xxxS|S
Sievers Scansion: B2 xx / | xx / || 0 xxx / | /

Syntax: NV || iV

hs: V, aa: 1
Wife 4. niwes oððe ealdes || no ma ðonne nu nīewes oþþe ealdes, || þonne nū.
Bliss Scansion: 1A*1b Sx|xxSx || 0 S|xxxS
Sievers Scansion: A1 / xxx | / x || N/A / \ xx | /

Syntax: AcA || aa

hs: n, aa: Q
Wife 5. a ic wite wonn || minra wræcsiða Ā wīte wann || mīnra wræc-sīða.
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xxSx|S || d2b xxSsx
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx / | x / || 0 xx / | / x

Syntax: NV || NC

hs: w, aa: D, da: D
Wife 6. ærest min hlaford gewat || heonan of leodum Ǣrest min hālford ġe·wāt || heonan of lēodum
Bliss Scansion: 3B*1c xxxSx|xS || 1A1a ~+|xSx
Sievers Scansion: B2 xxx / | xx / || N/A ~+ x | / x

Syntax: NV || aP

hs: h, aa: 1
Wife 7. ofer yða gelac || hæfde ic uhtceare ofer ȳða ġe·lāc; || hæfde ūht-ċeare
Bliss Scansion: 3B*1c xxSx|xS || d3c xxxS~x
Sievers Scansion: B2 xx / | xx / || 0 xxx / | ~ x

Syntax: NgN || NC

hs: V, aa: 1
Wife 8. hwær min leodfruma || londes wære hwǣr min lēod-fruma || landes wǣre.
Bliss Scansion: d3b xxS~x || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: C3 xx / | ~ x || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: NC || NV

hs: l, aa: 1
Wife 9. ða ic me feran gewat || folgað secan Þā fēran ġe·wāt || folgoþ sēċan,
Bliss Scansion: 3B*1c xxxSx|xS || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: B2 xxx / | xx / || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: IV || NI

hs: f, aa: 1
Wife 10. wineleas wræcca || for minre weaðearfe winelēas wreċċa%, || for mīnre wēa-þearfe.
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a ~+x|Sx || d2c xxxSsx
Sievers Scansion: A1 ~+ x | / x || 0 xxx / | / x

Error or emendation on A line:
Manuscript shelfmark: Exeter, Cathedral Library, 3501, Folio: 115, recto, Manuscript line: 9, Change by: editor. Reading emended: wræcca Original reading: wręcca Translitteratio: æ/e

Syntax: AN || NC

hs: w, aa: D, da: D
Wife 11. ongunnon ðæt ðæs monnes || magas hycgan On·gunnon þæt þæs mannes || māĝas hyċġan
Bliss Scansion: a1e xxxxxSx || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxxxx / x || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: VN || NI

hs: m, aa: 2
Wife 12. ðurh dyrne geðoht || ðæt hy todælden unc þurh dierne ġe·þōht, || þæt hīe tō·dǣlden unc,
Bliss Scansion: 2B1a xSx|xS || 3B1c xxxSx|S
Sievers Scansion: B2 x / | xx / || 0 xxx / | x /

Syntax: AN || Vi

hs: d, aa: 1
Wife 13. ðæt wit gewidost || in woruldrice þæt wit ġe·wīdost || on weorold-rīċe
Bliss Scansion: a1c xxxSx || d2a x~+sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxx / x || 0 x ~+ | / x

Syntax: Na || NC

hs: w, aa: D
Wife 14. lifdon laðlicost || ond mec longade lifdon lāðlicost || and mec langode.
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sx|Sxx || d1b xxSxx
Sievers Scansion: D*2 / x | / ~ x || 0 xx / | ~ x

Syntax: Va || iV

hs: l, ia: l, aa: Q, da: D
Wife 15. het mec hlaford min || herheard niman Hēt mec hālford min || hēr-heard niman,
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xxSx|S || 2A1 Ss|~x
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx / | x / || A2a / \ | ~ x

Syntax: NA || NI

hs: h, ia: h, aa: 1
Wife 16. ahte ic leofra lyt || on ðissum londstede āhte lēofra lȳt || on þissum land-stede,
Bliss Scansion: 3B1c xxxSx|S || d3c xxxS~x
Sievers Scansion: B1 xxx / | x / || 0 xxx / | ~ x

Syntax: AgN || NC

hs: l, ia: l, aa: D, da: D
Wife 17. holdra freonda || forðon is min hyge geomor holdra frēonda. || For·þon is min hyġe ġōmor,
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sx|Sx || 2C1d xxxx~+|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A1 / x | / x || 0 xxxx ~+ | / x

Syntax: AN || NA

hs: h, ia: h, aa: 1
Wife 18. ða ic me ful gemæcne || monnan funde þā full ġe·mæcne || mannan funde,
Bliss Scansion: a1e xxxxxSx || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxxxx / x || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: iA || NV

hs: m, aa: D
Wife 19. heardsæligne || hygegeomorne heard-sǣliġne, || hyġe-ġomorne,
Bliss Scansion: 1D1 S|Sxx || 1D1 ~+|Sxx
Sievers Scansion: D1 / | / \ x || N/A ~+ | / \ x

Syntax: AC || AC

hs: h, lab: h, aa: 1, acp: 1D1, bcp: 1D1
Wife 20. mod miðendne || morðor hycgendne mōd mīðendne, || morðor hyċġendne%.
Bliss Scansion: 1D1 S|Sxx || 1D1 S|Sxx
Sievers Scansion: D1 / | / \ x || D1 / | / \ x

Error or emendation on B line:
Manuscript shelfmark: Exeter, Cathedral Library, 3501, Folio: 115, recto, Manuscript line: 16, Change by: editor. Reading emended: hycgendne Original reading: hycgende

Syntax: NA || NA

hs: m, lab: h, aa: D, da: D
Wife 21. bliðe gebæro || ful oft wit beotedan Blīðe ġe·bǣru || full oft wit bēotodon
Bliss Scansion: 1A*1a Sx|xSx || d1c xxxSxx
Sievers Scansion: A1 / xx | / x || 0 xxx / | ~ x

Syntax: AN || iV

hs: b, aa: Q, da: D
Wife 22. ðæt unc ne gedælde || nemne deað ana þæt unc ne ġe·dǣlde || nemne dēaþ ana
Bliss Scansion: a1d xxxxSx || 2C1b xxS|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxxx / x || 0 xx / | / x

Syntax: iV || NA

hs: d, las: V, aa: Q
Wife 23. owiht elles || eft is ðæt onhworfen āwiht elles: || eft is þæt on·hworfen,
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sx|Sx || 1A1c S|xxxSx
Sievers Scansion: A1 / x | / x || N/A / xxx | / x

Syntax: Na || as

hs: V, las: V, law: hw, aa: D, da: D
Wife 24. is nu || swa hit no wære is || swā hit wǣre
Bliss Scansion: N/A $S || 2C1b xxS|Sx
Sievers Scansion: || 0 xxx / | / x

Syntax: Va || aV

hs: n, law: w, lab: n, aa: 2
Wife 25. freondscipe uncer || sceal ic feor ge neah frēondsċipe uncer. || Sċeal% feorr ġe nēah
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sxx|Sx || 2B1b xx$|xS
Sievers Scansion: A1 / xx | / x || 0 xx / | x /

Error or emendation on B line:
Manuscript shelfmark: Exeter, Cathedral Library, 3501, Folio: 115, recto, Manuscript line: 19, Change by: editor, Manuscript context: l unusually short ascender. Reading emended: Sceal Original reading: seal

Syntax: NA || aca

hs: f, ca: f, lab: n, aa: 1
Wife 26. mines felaleofan || fæhðu dreogan mīnes fela-lēofan || fǣhþu drēoĝan.
Bliss Scansion: d2b xx~+sx || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: C2 xx ~+ | / x || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: AC || NI

hs: f, ca: f, aa: 1
Wife 27. heht mec mon wunian || on wuda bearwe Hēt mec man wunian || on wuda bearwe,
Bliss Scansion: a1c xxx~+x || 2C1a x~+|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxx ~+ x || 0 x ~+ | / x

Syntax: iI || NgN

hs: w, aa: 2
Wife 28. under actreo || in ðam eorðscræfe under āc-trēo || on þām eorþ-sċræfe.
Bliss Scansion: d2b xxSsx || d3b xxS~x
Sievers Scansion: C1 xx / | / x || 0 xx / | ~ x

Syntax: NC || NC

hs: V, ca: V, aa: D
Wife 29. eald is ðes eorðsele || eal ic eom oflongad Eald is þēs eorþ-sele, || eall eom of·langod,
Bliss Scansion: N/A S|xxS~+ || N/A $|xxxSx
Sievers Scansion: A2b / xx | / ~+ || N/A / xxx | / x

Syntax: AvN || avs

hs: V, ca: V, lab: V, aa: D, da: D
Wife 30. sindon dena dimme || duna uphea sindon dena dimme, || dūna up-hēa,
Bliss Scansion: 2C1b xx~+|Sx || 2A2 Sx|Ss
Sievers Scansion: C2 xx ~+ | / x || N/A / x | / \

Syntax: NA || NA

hs: d, lab: V, aa: D, da: D
Wife 31. bitre burgtunas || brerum beweaxne bitre burg-tūnas, || brērum be·weaxne,
Bliss Scansion: 1D*3 Sx|Ssx || 1A*1a Sx|xSx
Sievers Scansion: D*1 / x | / \ x || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: AN || Nts

hs: b, las: w, lab: b, aa: D, da: D
Wife 32. wic wynna leas || ful oft mec her wraðe begeat wīċ wynna lēas. || Ful oft mec hēr wrāðe be·ġeat
Bliss Scansion: 1D1 S|Sxx || 3B*1d xxxxSx|x$
Sievers Scansion: D4 / | / x \ || 0 xxxx / | xx /

Syntax: NA || aV

hs: w, las: w, lab: b, aa: D, da: D
Wife 33. fromsið frean || frynd sind on eorðan fram-sīþ frēan. || Frīend sind on eorðan,
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Ss|Sx || 1A1b S|xxSx
Sievers Scansion: A2a / \ | / x || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: NNg || NvP

hs: f, ac: fr, aca: fr, acb: fr, aa: D, da: D
Wife 34. leofe lifgende || leger weardiað lēofe libbende, || leġer weardiaþ,
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sx|Sxx || 1D1 ~+|Sxx
Sievers Scansion: D*1 / x | / \ x || N/A ~+ | / ~ x

Syntax: AN || NV

hs: l, aa: D, da: D
Wife 35. ðonne ic on uhtan || ana gonge þonne on ūhtan || ana gange
Bliss Scansion: a1d xxxxSx || 2A1a Sx|Sx
Sievers Scansion: A3 xxxx / x || N/A / x | / x

Syntax: iP || AV

hs: V, ca: V, aa: D
Wife 36. under actreo || geond ðas eorðscrafu under āc-trēo || ġond þās eorþ-sċrafu.
Bliss Scansion: d2b xxSsx || d3b xxS~x
Sievers Scansion: C1 xx / | / x || 0 xx / | ~ x

Syntax: NC || NC

hs: V, ca: V, aa: 1
Wife 37. ðær ic sittan mot || sumorlangne dæg Þǣr sittan% mōt || sumor-langne dæġ,
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xxSx|S || 300 ~+sx|$
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx / | x / || N/A / \ x | /

Error or emendation on A line:
Manuscript shelfmark: Exeter, Cathedral Library, 3501, Folio: 115, verso, Manuscript line: 5, Change by: editor, Manuscript context: m- of subsequent mot. Reading emended: sittan Original reading: sittam Translitteratio: m/n

Syntax: IV || AN

hs: s, lab: s, aa: 1
Wife 38. ðær ic wepan mæg || mine wræcsiðas ðǣr wēpan mæġ || mīne wræc-sīðas,
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xxSx|$ || d2b xxSsx
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx / | x / || 0 xx / | / x

Syntax: IV || NC

hs: w, lab: s, aa: 1
Wife 39. earfoða fela || forðon ic æfre ne mæg earfoþa fela; || for·þon ǣfre ne mæġ
Bliss Scansion: 30 Sxx|~+ || 3B*1c xxxSx|x$
Sievers Scansion: E / ~ x | ~+ || 0 xxx / | xx /

Syntax: Ngf || aV

hs: V, las: m, aa: 1
Wife 40. ðære modceare || minre gerestan ðǣre mōd-ċeare || mīnre ġe·restan,
Bliss Scansion: d3b xxS~x || 1A*1a Sx|xSx
Sievers Scansion: C3 xx / | ~ x || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: NC || AI

hs: m, las: m, aa: 1
Wife 41. ne ealles ðæs longaðes || ðe mec on ðissum life begeat ealles þæs langoþes || þe mec on þissum līfe be·ġeat.
Bliss Scansion: d1d xxxxSxx || 3B*1e xxxxxSx|x$
Sievers Scansion: C3 xxxx / | ~ x || 0 xxxxx / | xx /

Syntax: AN || PV

hs: l, aa: 2
Wife 42. a scyle geong mon || wesan geomormod Ā sċyle ġung mann || wesan ġōmor-mōd,
Bliss Scansion: N/A xxxS|S || d5b xxSxs
Sievers Scansion: N/A xxx / | / || 0 xx / | x /

Syntax: AN || AC

hs: g, xa: gmgm, aa: 1
Wife 43. heard heortan geðoht || swylce habban sceal heard heortan ġe·þōht, || swelċe habban sċeall
Bliss Scansion: 1D6 S|Sxxs || 3B1b xxSx|$
Sievers Scansion: D4 / | / xx \ || 0 xx / | x /

Syntax: AN || IV

hs: h, law: sc, aa: D, da: D
Wife 44. bliðe gebæro || eac ðon breostceare blīðe ġe·bǣru, || ēac þon brēost-ċeare,
Bliss Scansion: 1A*1a Sx|xSx || d3b xxS~x
Sievers Scansion: A1 / xx | / x || 0 xx / | ~ x

Syntax: AN || NC

hs: b, law: sc, aa: D
Wife 45. sinsorgna gedreag || sy æt him sylfum gelong sīn-sorgna ġe·drēah, || sīe æt him selfum ġe·lang
Bliss Scansion: 3E*1 Ssx|xS || 3B*1c xxxSx|xS
Sievers Scansion: E / \ xx | / || 0 xxx / | xx /

Syntax: NgN || PA

hs: s, aa: 1
Wife 46. eal his worulde wyn || sy ful wide fah eall his weorolde wynn, || sīe full wīde fāh
Bliss Scansion: 3B1b xx~+x|$ || 3B1b xxSx|S
Sievers Scansion: B1 xx ~+ | x / || 0 xx / | x /

Syntax: NgN || aA

hs: w, las: f, aa: D, da: D
Wife 47. feorres folclondes || ðæt min freond siteð feorres folc-landes, || þæt min frēond siteþ
Bliss Scansion: 1D*3 Sx|Ssx || 2C2b xxS|~x
Sievers Scansion: D*1 / x | / \ x || 0 xx / | ~ x

Syntax: AN || NV

hs: f, las: f, aa: D, da: D
Wife 48. under stanhliðe || storme behrimed under stān-hliðe || storme be·hrīmed,
Bliss Scansion: d3b xxS~x || 1A*1a Sx|xSx
Sievers Scansion: C3 xx / | ~ x || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: NC || NtA

hs: st, xa: sthlsthr, aa: 1
Wife 49. wine werigmod || wætre beflowen wine wēriġ-mōd, || wætere be·flōwen
Bliss Scansion: 1D5 ~+|Sxs || 1A*1a Sx|xSx
Sievers Scansion: D4 ~+ | / x \ || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: NA || Nts

hs: w, lab: w, aa: D, da: D
Wife 50. on dreorsele || dreogeð se min wine on drēor-sele. || Drēoĝeþ min wine
Bliss Scansion: d3a xS~x || N/A Sx|xx~x
Sievers Scansion: C3 x / | ~ x || N/A / xx | ~ x

Syntax: NC || VN

hs: d, ac: dr, lab: w, aa: 1
Wife 51. micle modceare || he gemon to oft miċele mōd-ċeare; || ġe·man oft
Bliss Scansion: 1D*3 Sx|S~x || 2B1b xx$|xS
Sievers Scansion: D*2 / x | / ~ x || 0 xx / | x /

Syntax: AN || Va

hs: m, aa: D, da: D
Wife 52. wynlicran wic || wa bið ðam ðe sceal wynlicran wīċ. || biþ þām þe sċeall
Bliss Scansion: 3 E1 Sxx|S || Rem. S|xxx$
Sievers Scansion: E / \ x | / || N/A / \ xx | /

Syntax: AN || NvV

hs: w, aa: D, da: D
Wife 53. of langoðe || leofes abidan of langoþe || lēofes ā·bīdan.
Bliss Scansion: d1a xSxx || 1A*1a Sx|xSx
Sievers Scansion: C3 x / | ~ x || N/A / xx | / x

Syntax: NC || AI

hs: l, aa: 1