671. A homage to the English language




Today I wanted to pay homage to England and the ancient English people. The following text is from Beowulf, the first great literary classic in Old English, in its original version. I dedicate this post to E.O.M. I know he’ll like this post. The first line of the text below is number 22 in this poem. Beowulf was written sometime between the 8th century to the 11th century. / Photo from: Bayeux Tapestry historyofinformation com.



I think to remember that on this tapestry is shown the battle of Hastings (1066), when Normans entered England from France, led by William the Conqueror. From that time on, basically speaking, the English and French languages began to mingle, originating our English now. This former comment is simplistic and an ample view of the history scheme. Sorry.



22-46
þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen
wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume,
leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal
in mægþa gehwære man geþeon.
Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile
felahror feran on Frean wære;
hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe,
swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd,
þendenwordum weold wine Scyldinga---
leof landfruma lange ahte.
Þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna
isig ond utfus, æþelingesfær;
aledon þa leofne þeoden,
beaga bryttan on bearm scipes,
mærne be mæste. Þær wæs madma fela
of feorwegum frætwa gelæded;
ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan
hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,
billum ond byrnum;him on bearme læg
madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon
on flodes æht feor gewitan.



From: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/beowulf-oe.html

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