Comment and Translation on "Cynewulf and Cyneheard" By Katharina Moczko Essay for the Seminar "Introduction to Old English" at The University of Potsdam, Wintersemester 2003

Contents:

1)The Manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle p.1

2)Preliminary remarks on Cynewulf and Cyneheard p.1

3)Old English Verbs p.2

4)Translation and Commentary

a) Cynewulf and Sygebryht p.3

b) Cyneheard p.4

c) The Ambush and the Death of the King p.6

d) The King 's Men p.7

e) The Rearguard p.9

f) The Prince 's Offer p.10

g) Cyneheard 's Death and Epilogue p.11

5)Bibliography p. 12

1) The Manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

The text 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard ' is an excerpt from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, whose manuscripts are currently owned by the British Library in London and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. According to the Website of The University of Calgary the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is one of the most important sources for the history of the British pre-conquest period. It starts with the reign of king ¨¡lfred the Great (a.D. 871 - 899) and shows the annual record of the history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.1

2) Preliminary remarks on Cynewulf and Cyneheard

The text of Cynewulf and Cyneheard differs from the other texts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by it 's length and details. The usual texts contain a mere listing of the personal changes in thrones and bishoprics during the years but 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard ' displays more complexity, even a narrative-like structure.

These differences in style and form have been speculated to result from a different origin of the text excerpt. It is assumed that it might have been an orally transmitted saga of the traditional storytellers, inserted by the authors of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle at its rightful place.

When translating the text of "Cynewulf and Cyneheard" I stumbled across some difficulties. For once Old English has a word order far more freely than modern English, for example the position of the verb, the subject and one or more objects. To ease the understanding of the text I therefore chose to show the original text in the first line, while the translation in the second line mainly follows the word order of Modern English syntax. I also added some words in square brackets [] which I thought necessary or helpful for the comprehension of the sentences.

Following each translated passage I will give additional information on important characteristics within the text, such as the appearance of weak and strong verbs within and their place in the Old English verbal paradigm.

For the citation of the Old English original text and its translation I used the chapter on prose texts2 and the glossary3 of "A Guide to Old English" by Bruce Mitchell and Fred C. Robinson.

2)Old English Verbs

In the Old English language verbs are divided in two categories, the weak and the strong verbs.

Strong verbs show a change of the vowel in the conjugational forms of the infinitive, the 1st person preterite, the 3rd person preterite, and the participle. According to the different kinds of vowel changes (gradation) the strong verbs are divided in seven classes. To simplify the categorization of the strong verbs I will not get into detail with the seven strong classes, but only show the vowel gradation of the verbs that appear in the text and their infinitives. The seven strong classes are notated with roman numerals.

There are three classes of weak verbs. The categorization depends on the relationship between the infinitive and the past tense forms by adding a suffix (in modE: learn-ed, walk-ed).

In Class 1 of the weak verbs, the infinitive ends in either -an or -ian, and always has an umlauted stem vowel, and the preterite suffix is either -ed- or -d-.

Class 2 verbs have infinitives which always end in -ian, have no umlauted stem vowels, and the preterite suffix is always -ode or -de.

The third class of weak verbs contains only four verbs: habban 'to have ', libban 'to live ', secgan 'to say ', and hycgan 'to think '. 4

In contrast to the strong verbs the categories of the weak verbs are notated with arabic numerals.

6)Translation and Commentary

a) Cynewulf and Sygebryht

Her Cynewulf benam Sigebryht his rices ond Westseaxna wiotan

Here Cynewulf took [from] Sigebryht his kingdom and Westsaxon 's wisemen

for unryhtum d©¡dum, buton Hamtunscire; ond he h©¡fde

because of (his) unjust deeds, except for Hamtunscire; and he [Sigebryht] had

©­a o©­ he ofslog ©­one aldormon ©­e him lengest wunode.

that [Hamtunscire] until he slew that alderman that [had] lived with him [for the] longest [time].

Ond hiene ©­a Cynewulf on Andred adr©¡fde ond he ©­©¡r wunade,

And then that Cynewulf drove [him, Sigebryht] into/to Andred and he lived there

o©­ ©­©¡t hiene an swan ofstang ©¡t Pryfetes flodan ; ond he

until that a swain slew him at the river Pryfetes; and [through this] he [that swain]

wr©¡c ©­one aldorman Cumbran.

avenged the alderman Cumbran.

infinitive

category

characteristics

benam

ben©¡man

IV strong

Vowel gradation inf. - 3rd sg. pret. (©¡ - a)

h©¡fde

habban

3 weak

One of the 4 verbs of the closed class

ofslog

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation (ea - o)

wunode

wunian

2 weak

infinitive -ian and 3rd sg. pret. -ode

adr©¡fde

adr©¡fan

1 weak

umlaut stem vowel ©¡; ending on -an

ofstan

ofstingan

III strong

vowel gradation (i - a)

wr©¡c

wrecan

V strong

vowel gradation (e - ©¡)

b) Cyneheard

Ond se Cynewulf oft miclum gefeohtum feaht uui©­ Bretwalum .

And that Cynewulf often fought many fights with[/against] [the] Britons.

Ond ymb xxxi wintra ©­©¡s ©­e he rice h©¡fde, he wolde adr©¡fan anne

And after 31 winters [in] that he had that kingdom he wanted to drive out a certain

©¡©­eling se was Cyneheard haten; ond se Cyneheard w©¡s ©­©¡s Sigebryhtes

prince who was named Cnyeheard and that Cyneheard was that Sigebrythes

bro©­ur. Ond ©­a geascode he ©­one cyning

Brother. And then he (Cyneheard) discovered [that] that king [Cynewulf] [to be with]

lytle werode on wifcy©­©­e on Merantune,

[a] little band at a mistresses place in Merantune,

ond hine ©­©¡r berad ond

and [he, Cyneheard ] him [Cynewulf] there overtook and

©­one bur utan beeode ©¡r hine ©­a men onfunden ©­e mid

sourrounded that burrow [from] outside before him the men found out who with

©­am kyninge w©¡run.

the king were.

infinitive

category

characteristics

feaht

feohtan

III strong

vowel gradation (eo - ea)

wolde

willan

anomalous

see below

adr©¡fan

adr©¡fan

1 weak

umlaut in infinitive, ends on -an

w©¡s

wesan

anomalous

see below

haten

haefde

3 weak

One of the 4 verbs of the closed class

geascode

geascian

2 weak

regular preterite ending

berad

I strong

regular preterite ending

Conjugation of the anomalous verbs:

Infinitive: willan5

Past Participle: gewillen

Present participle: willende

Present

ic wille

©­u wilt

he wille; wile

we willa©­

ge willa©­

hio willa©­

Past

ic wolde

©­u woldes; woldest

he wolde

we woldon

ge woldon

hio woldon

Imperative

©­u wille

Infinitive: wesan6

Past Participle: gewesen

Present participle: wesende

Present

ic wese

©­u wesst

he wes; west

we wesa©­

ge wesa©­

hio wesa©­

Past

ic w©¡s

©­u w©¡re

he w©¡s

we w©¡ron

ge w©¡ron

hio w©¡ron

Imperative

©­u wes

c)The Ambush and the Death of the King

Ond ©­a ongeat se cyning ©­©¡t, ond he on ©­a duru eode

And then the king perceived that, and he went through that door

ond ©­a unheanlice hine werede o©­ he on ©­one ©¡©­eling locude,

and then [he ] valiantly defended himself until he on perceived that prince,

ond ©­a ut r©¡sde on hine ond hine miclum gewundode;

and then out [he] rushed at him [Cyneheard] and [he] wounded him mightily;

ond hie alle on ©­one cyning w©¡run feohtende

and they [Cyneheard and his men] all against the king were fighting

o©­ ©­©¡t hie hine ofsl©¡genne h©¡fdon.

until that they had slain him.

infinitive

category

characteristics

ongeat

ongietan

V strong

vowel gradation ie - ea

eode

gan

anomalous

see below

werede

werian

1 weak

infinitive ends on -ian

locude

2 weak

regular preterite ending (-ode)

r©¡sde

r©¡san

1 weak

umlaut in inf. stem vowel, ends on -an

gewundode

gewundia

2 weak

regular preterite ending (-ode)

waerun

beode, wesan

anomalous

conjugation see paragraph c)

feohtende

feohtan

III strong

pret sg: feaht; vowel gradation ea - eo

ofsl©¡gene

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - ea

h©¡fdon

h©¡fdon

3 weak

one of the closed class verbs

Conjugation of the anomalous verb:

Infinitive: gan7

Past Participle: gegan

Present participle: gande

Present

ic ga

©­u g©¡st

he g©¡©­

we ga©­

ge ga©­

hio ga©­

Past

ic eode

©­u eodes; eodest

hu eode

we eodon

ge eodon

hio eodo

Imperative

©­u ga

d)The King 's Men

Ond ©­a on ©­©¡s wifes geb©¡rum onfundon ©­©¡s cyninges ©­egnas

And then from the women 's cries the king 's servants discovered

©­a unstilnesse, ond ©­a ©­ider urnon swa hwelc swa ©­onne gearo wear©­

the diturbance, and then thereto ran those who then were ready

ond radost. Ond hiera se ©¡©­eling gehwelcum feoh

and quick. And [to] them the prince each money

ond feorh gebead, ond hiera n©¡nig hit ge©­icgean nolde;

and life offered, and [of] them none would accept it;

ac hie simle feohtende w©¡ran o©­ hie alle l©¡gon

but [instead] they were constantly fighting until they all lay [dead]

butan anum Bryttiscum gisle, ond se swi©­e gewundad w©¡s.

except [for] one British hostage, and that [one] was severely wounded.

infinitive

category

characteristics

onfundon

onfindan

III strong

vowel gradation u- i, o - a

urnon

irnan

III stromg

vowel gradation u - i; o - a

wear©­

weor©­an

III strong

vowel gradation ea - eo

gebead

(ge)beodan

II strong

vowel gradation ea - eo

nolde

nyllan (ne wolde)

anomalous

see below

feohtende

feohtan

III

vowel gradation e - a

w©¡ran

wesan

anomalous

see b)

l©¡gon

licgan

Vstrong

vowel gradation ©¡ - i; o - a

gewundad

(ge)wundian

2 weak

regular 3rd sing pret: gewundode

w©¡s

wesan

anomalous

see b)

The anomalous verb nyllan:

Nyllan is the negation of the anomalous verb: willan. It originates from the formation of ne willan ( not want) which has, due to its high frequency in the language, shrunk to the verb nyllan.

Other words who have their own negational paradigm are for example:

nabban = ne habban

or

n©¡ren = ne waeren

naes = ne waes

(the conjugation of n©¡ren follows in chapter f)

Conjugation of nyllan:

Infinitive: nyllan8

Past Participle: gewillen

Present participle: willende

Present

ic nyle, nelle

©­u nyle, nille, nele

he nylla©­, nella©­

we nylla©­

ge nylla©­

hio nylla©­

Past

ic nolde

©­u noldest

he nolde

we noldon

ge noldon

hio noldon

e) The Rearguard

¨­a on morgenne gehierdun ©­©¡t, ©­©¡s cyninges ©­egnas ©­e

Then in (the) morning heard that ( news) the king 's servants, that

him be©¡ftan w©¡run, ©­©¡t se cyning ofsl©¡gen w©¡s.

were (left)behind him, that the king was slain.

¨­a ridon hie ©­ider, ond his aldormon Osric ond Wifer©­ his ©­egn, ond

Then rode they thereto, and his alderman Osric and Wifer©­ his servant and

©­a men ©­e he be©¡ftan him l©¡fde ©¡r. ond ©­one ©¡©­eling on ©­©¡re

the men that he had left behind him earlier. And they met that prince at that

byrig metton ©­©¡r se cyning ofsl©¡gen l©¡g ond ©­a gatu him to

burrow where the king lay slain and (they) had the gate to him

belocen h©¡fdon ond ©­a ©­©¡rto eodon.

closed and then thereto went.

infinitive

category

characteristics

gehierdun

(ge) hieran

1 weak

regular ending of 3rd sing pret: gehyrde

w©¡run

wesan

anomalous

see b)

ofsl©¡gen

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - ea

w©¡s

wesan

anomalous

see b)

ridon

ridan

I strong

vowel gradation o - a

l©¡fde

l©¡fan

1 weak

regular pereterite ending (-de)

metton

metan

1 weak

regular ending of 3rd sg pret : gemette

ofsl©¡gen

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - ea

l©¡g

licgan

V strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - i

h©¡fdon

haefde

3 weak

One of the 4 verbs of the closed class

eodon

gan

anomalous

see c)

f) The Prince 's Offer

Ond ©­a gebead he him hiera agenne dom feos

And then offered he (Cyneheard) them (of) their own judgement money

ond londes, gif hie him ©­©¡s rices u©­on, ond him cy©­de

and land, if they him the kingdom (would) grant, and them (he) informed

©­©¡t hiera m©¡gas him mid w©¡ron ©­a ©­e him from noldon.

that their kinsmen were with him that (would) not go from him.

Ond ©­a cu©¡don hie ©­©¡t him n©¡nig m©¡g

And then they (Cynewulf 's men) said that (to) them no kinsmen

leofra n©¡re ©­onne hiera hlaford, ond hie n©¡fre his banan folgian noldon

was more loved than their lord, and they never wanted to follow his slayer.

Ond ©­a budon hie hiera m©¡gum ©­©¡t hie gesunde from eodon.

And then they bade their kinsmen that they (could) unharmed go from (there).

Ond hie cu©¡don ©­©¡t t©¡t ilce hiera geferum geboden w©¡re

And they said that the same (thing) was offered (to) their comrades

©­e ©¡r mid ©­am cyninge w©¡run. ¨­a cu©¡don hie ©­©¡t

who before with the king were/had been. Then said they that

hie ©­©¡s ne onmunden '©­on ma ©­e eowre geferan ©­e

they that (offer) not (would) pay attention 'any more than your comrades that

mid ©­am cyninge ofsl©¡gene w©¡run. '

with the king were slain. '

infinitive

category

characteristics

gebead

(ge)beodan

II strong

vowel gradation ea - eo

u©­on

unnan

3rd persp person preterite subjunctive

cy©­de

cy©­dan

1 weak

regular 3rd sing preterite (-de)

w©¡ron

wesan

anomalous

see b)

noldon

nyllan (ne wolde)

anomalous

see d)

cu©¡don

cwe¥äan

V strong

vowel gradatuion ©¡ - e; o - a

n©¡re

n©¡ren (ne w©¡ren)

anomalous

see below

noldon

nyllan (ne wolde)

anomalous

see d)

budon

beodan

II strong

vowel gradation u - eo; o - a

eodon

gan

anomalous

see c)

cu©¡don

cwe¥äan

V strong

vowel gradatuion ©¡ - e; o - a

w©¡re

wesan

anomalous

see b)

onmunden

onmunan

word group

pret 3rd person subjunctive

ofsl©¡gen

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - ea

Conjugation of the verb n©¡re (ne w©¡ren ):

Infinitive: n©¡re9

Present

ic neom

he nis

we nearon

ge nearon

hio nearon

Past

ic n©¡s

©­u n©¡re

he n©¡s

we n©¡ron, n©¡ren

ge n©¡ron, n©¡ren

hio n©¡ron, n©¡ren

g) Cyneheard 's Death and Epilogue

Ond hie ©­a ymb ©­a gatu feohtende w©¡ron o©­ ©­©¡t hie

And they then around the gate (they) were fighting until that they

©­©¡rinne fulgon ond ©­one ©¡©­eling ofslogon,

therein penetrated and slew that prince,

ond ©­a men ©­e him mid w©¡run, alle butan anum, se w©¡s ©­©¡s aldormonnes

And the men that with him were, all except one, that was the alderman 's

godsunu; ond he his feorh generede, ond ©­eah he w©¡s oft gewundad.

godson; and he kept his life , and although he was often wounded.

Ond se Cynewulf ricsode xxxi wintra and his lic li©­ ©¡t Wintanceastre,

And that Cynewulf reigned 31 winters and his body lies at Wintanceastre

ond ©­©¡s ©¡©­elinges ©¡t Ascanmynster;

and that prince (lies) at Ascanmynster

ond hiera ryhtf©¡derencyn g©¡©­ to Cerdice.

and their direct paternal ancestry goes (back) to Cerdice.

infinitive

category

characteristics

feohtende

feohtan

III strong

vowel gradation e - a

w©¡ron

wesan

anomalous

see b)

fulgon

feolan

III strong

vowel gradation u - eo; o - a

ofslogon

ofslean

VI strong

vowel gradation ©¡ - ea

w©¡run

wesan

anomalous

see b)

generede

(ge)nerian

1 weak

regular preterite ending -de

gewundad

(ge)wundian

2 weak

regular 3rd sing pret: gewundode

ricsode

ricsian

2weak

regular preterite ending -de

li©­

licgan

Vstrong

vowel gradation ©¡ - i; o - a

g©¡©­

gan

anomalous

see c)

Bibliography:

McGillivray, Murray: Universtity of Calgary

http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/engl401/lessons/cynintro.htm,

31st march 2004

Mitchell, Bruce and Robinson, Fred C.: "A Guide to Old English" Blackwell Publishers; 6th edition, June 2001

Perralu 's Plaza,

http://www.geocities.com/perralu/oldenglish.html

Simms, Douglas: University of Texas at Austin

http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/lrc/iedocctr/ie-ling/ie-gram/text-oe-gram- vb21.html; 31st march 2004

Verbix Verb Conjugation and Grammar

http://www.verbix.com/languages/oldenglish.shtml, 31st march 2004

Bibliography: McGillivray, Murray: Universtity of Calgary http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/engl401/lessons/cynintro.htm, 31st march 2004 Mitchell, Bruce and Robinson, Fred C.: "A Guide to Old English" Blackwell Publishers; 6th edition, June 2001 Perralu 's Plaza, http://www.geocities.com/perralu/oldenglish.html Simms, Douglas: University of Texas at Austin http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/lrc/iedocctr/ie-ling/ie-gram/text-oe-gram- vb21.html; 31st march 2004 Verbix Verb Conjugation and Grammar http://www.verbix.com/languages/oldenglish.shtml, 31st march 2004