 |
| Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire 2005 |
The Ruin
An fragment of an Old English poem from the Exeter Book - this transcription taken from the Labyrinth. For a stab at a translation, see the page of Siân Echard, University of British Columbia.
Wrætlic is þes wealstan, wyrde gebræcon;
burgstede burston, brosnað enta geweorc.
Hrofas sind gehrorene, hreorge torras,
hrungeat berofen, hrim on lime,
scearde scurbeorge scorene, gedrorene,
ældo undereotone. Eorðgrap hafað
waldend wyrhtan forweorone, geleorene,
heardgripe hrusan, oþ hund cnea
werþeoda gewitan. Oft þæs wag gebad
ræghar ond readfah rice æfter oþrum,
ofstonden under stormum; steap geap gedreas.
Wonað giet se ...num geheapen,
fel on
grimme gegrunden
scan heo...
...g orþonc ærsceaft
...g lamrindum beag
mod mo... ...yne swiftne gebrægd
hwætred in hringas, hygerof gebond
weallwalan wirum wundrum togædre.
Beorht wæron burgræced, burnsele monige,
heah horngestreon, heresweg micel,
meodoheall monig dreama full,
oþþæt þæt onwende wyrd seo swiþe.
Crungon walo wide, cwoman woldagas,
swylt eall fornom secgrofra wera;
wurdon hyra wigsteal westen staþolas,
brosnade burgsteall. Betend crungon
hergas to hrusan. Forþon þas hofu dreorgiað,
ond þæs teaforgeapa tigelum sceadeð
hrostbeages hrof. Hryre wong gecrong
gebrocen to beorgum, þær iu beorn monig
glædmod ond goldbeorht gleoma gefrætwed,
wlonc ond wingal wighyrstum scan;
seah on sinc, on sylfor, on searogimmas,
on ead, on æht, on eorcanstan,
on þas beorhtan burg bradan rices.
Stanhofu stodan, stream hate wearp
widan wylme; weal eall befeng
beorhtan bosme, þær þa baþu wæron,
hat on hreþre. þæt wæs hyðelic.
Leton þonne geotan
ofer harne stan hate streamas
un...
...þþæt hringmere hate
þær þa baþu wæron.
þonne is
...re; þæt is cynelic þing,
huse ...... burg....
19 comments:
Nid wyf yn deall Hen Saesneg
An excellent photograoh, thanks for sharing it.
An interesting photo, especially as it is necessary to scroll down to see it, and the middle and bottom are different from what I expected to see.
Heh heh - I don't understand Old English either, Nigel! (The translation I link to seems reasonable though.) But you have to admit it fits the subject. :)
A great 'dip' into history, thank you Sean. I'll skip the olde English if that wouldn't be rude.
I loved your photograph. What a surprise I had when scrolling down. I tried the Old English but gave up after 1 line!
Nancy
Oh, that's a great photograph!
AS wonderful photo but I really would appreciate a translation :)
Nice shot, special effect ...
Great B&W
This is an amazing image... I wonder what the two young people look like today.
I was wondering if maybe you would submit your link to my meme The Human Condition as this image fits the theme perfectly
http://365.mollysdailykiss.com/the-human-condition-2/
Mollyxxx
I have fond memories of a visit to Bolton Abbey many years ago. Good to be reminded of it.
I have some Bolton photos too, including one fro the roof. It's within easy travelling distance from us.
A very interesting photo, and I totally agree with Postcardy about challenging our expectations!
Thank you all. A sort of Cartier-Bresson capturable moment... I knew as I posted this that I had to enlarge it both to reveal the subjects of the photo to be the kids, since they're so small in relation to the abbey. I didn't post the translation because I thought the original adhered a bit more to the "sepia" nature of the subject (plus because of the translator's humble caveats) - it's a good poem though if you follow that link. And thanks for alerting me to your meme, Molly, I just Linky'd my name there!
Wow!!! Great shot!!! I love the juxtaposition of the ruin, the cemetery, and the young people having fun in the water... Well done!!! The ruin is almost ethereal in the background...with the vibrancy of the young people in the foreground...an interesting contrast of life as well as photographic style!!!
Great photo, interesting to study the details!
Well done!
An amazing experience to scroll down that photo! Like scrolling through yesterdays to today all in one image! Fascinating scene!
Wonderful photo. Thanks for the introduction to the Exeter Book, (and I thought I was challenging readers this weekend with a Scottish poem:-)
I'd sure like to know the story of that photo. Looks to me, like they're up to no good. And they seem to be being chased. Maybe they got caught in the churchyard and jumped the fence only to land in the water. It's a very interesting photo whatever the story!
Barbara
Post a Comment