The Wife's Lament
Wife 1. |
ic
ðis
giedd
wrece
||
bi
me
ful
geomorre
Iċ
þis
ġiedd
wrece
||
be
mē
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.
||
Iċ
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
iċ
iermþa
ġe·bād,
||
siþþan
iċ
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,
||
nā
mā
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
iċ
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
iċ
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
iċ
mē
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
iċ
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
iċ
mē
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
nū
||
swā
hit
nā
wǣre
Bliss Scansion: N/A $S || 2C1b xxS|Sx Sievers Scansion: || 0 xxx / | / x Syntax: Va || aV hs: n, law: w, lab: n, aa: 2 |
Wife 25. |
freondscipe
uncer
||
sceal
ic
feor
ge
neah
frēondsċipe
uncer.
||
Sċeal%
iċ
feorr
ġe
nēah
Bliss Scansion: 2A1a Sxx|Sx || 2B1b xx$|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
iċ
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
iċ
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
iċ
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
iċ
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
iċ
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
nē
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
sē
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;
||
hē
ġe·man
tō
oft
Bliss Scansion: 1D*3 Sx|S~x || 2B1b xx$|xS Sievers Scansion: D*2 / x | / ~ x || 0 xx / | x / Syntax: AN || Va hs: m, aa: D, da: D |
Wife 52. |
wynlicran
wic
||
wa
bið
ðam
ðe
sceal
wynlicran
wīċ.
||
Wā
biþ
þām
þe
sċeall
Bliss Scansion: 3 E1 Sxx|S || Rem. S|xxx$ 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 |