Medieval Lament

Aufschreiber

Mitglied
Preface: I don't know too much about Old English, so this is just a try. Feel free to enlighten me, regarding my faults.

I bid thee farewell
thou dwellest in this heart of mine
now and forever.

The summer, blooming swell,
brought searing heat, but any loving shine
were showing ... never.

Astray, away thou wanderest,
oh, bright, angelic soul,
thou leavest aimlessly.

Alas, this love of mine thou squanderest.
A hull, just, with a burning heart-shaped hole
is, what remains of me.

Thou hast mine heart.
Be good, my lass, and treat it well!
It's brittle, tender.

And lest thou ever let it fall apart!
Sweet dreams is all I got to tell.
Thou be its guard, be time the mender.
 

Bernd

Foren-Redakteur
Teammitglied
Hi, it is not Old English. Old English is very similar to Althochdeutsch. Basically Anglosaxxon language.
The text looks even to be written after Chaucer.
It resembles Shakespeare time, may be. Many centuries after Old English.
I do not know enough to say more.


PS: it looks similar to early modern English.
 
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Bernd

Foren-Redakteur
Teammitglied
Example for Old English from the book of Exeter:

Rätsel 44:

Wrætlic hongað bi weres þeo,
frean under sceate. Foran is þyrel.
Bið stiþ ond heard, stede hafað godne;
þonne se esne his agen hrægl
ofer cneo hefeð, wile þæt cuþe hol
mid his hangellan heafde gretan
þæt he efenlang ær oft gefylde.

 

Aufschreiber

Mitglied
Thank you very much. You're absolutely right. - Having watched "Last Kingdom" lately, I have come to the same insight. It is what it is, a try to write using older forms. Your second text example bears also some resemblance to the scandinavian languages in their older forms, as well as Icelandic.
BTW: Look what I've found:

Thanks again!
 

Bernd

Foren-Redakteur
Teammitglied
Hi, it is no real problem.
I understand you poem in its form, resembling older style.
Some parts are preserved even in the Bible.
In newer translations they do not use "thy" and similar forms anymore if my information is correct.
 



 
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