Nelson Goering
@ahannahim.bsky.social
Itinerant philologist, postdoc University of Oslo, teacher at Signum University. Author of Prosody in Medieval English and Norse (open-access PDF from OUP!).
Wow, yes. I mean, there are a lot of great things about living in Europe (yay trains!), but utopia it is emphatically not. And a lot of the factors that make life harder are (as is depressingly predictable) the same: racism, sexism, transphobia, Islamaphobia, etc.
August 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Wow, yes. I mean, there are a lot of great things about living in Europe (yay trains!), but utopia it is emphatically not. And a lot of the factors that make life harder are (as is depressingly predictable) the same: racism, sexism, transphobia, Islamaphobia, etc.
J'ai vu le loup, le renard et la belette
J'ai vu le loup et le renard danser.
youtu.be/XL8JedSwpp0?...
J'ai vu le loup et le renard danser.
youtu.be/XL8JedSwpp0?...
Tri Yann - Le Loup, le Renard et la Belette (La Jument de Michao)
YouTube video by XxX194XxX
youtu.be
August 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
J'ai vu le loup, le renard et la belette
J'ai vu le loup et le renard danser.
youtu.be/XL8JedSwpp0?...
J'ai vu le loup et le renard danser.
youtu.be/XL8JedSwpp0?...
"I indeed saw the wolf, and the weasel too, and with them the fierce fox, swift in the chase, an animal powerful in subtlety who is named Renard among the Gauls, plunderer of hens, (I saw them) dancing happily, drinking bowls of wine."
August 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"I indeed saw the wolf, and the weasel too, and with them the fierce fox, swift in the chase, an animal powerful in subtlety who is named Renard among the Gauls, plunderer of hens, (I saw them) dancing happily, drinking bowls of wine."
If you did translate it, you'd have at least one reader here!
August 6, 2025 at 8:41 AM
If you did translate it, you'd have at least one reader here!
Chambers also took Sievers' metrical findings on board, but marked them differently. Where Holthausen restored trisyllabic "līffrē[g]a" with a missing letter, Chambers prints "Līf-frêa", the carrot-top meant to hint at the older pronunciation. This has become a standard practice.
June 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Chambers also took Sievers' metrical findings on board, but marked them differently. Where Holthausen restored trisyllabic "līffrē[g]a" with a missing letter, Chambers prints "Līf-frêa", the carrot-top meant to hint at the older pronunciation. This has become a standard practice.
Another early 20c edition of Beowulf. R.W. Chambers was a leading Beowulf scholar of his generation. In 1914 he revised A.J. Wyatt's edition, and the result is one of my favourite English-language editions out there. Wonderful notes, and a lot of comments on words in the glossary.
June 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Another early 20c edition of Beowulf. R.W. Chambers was a leading Beowulf scholar of his generation. In 1914 he revised A.J. Wyatt's edition, and the result is one of my favourite English-language editions out there. Wonderful notes, and a lot of comments on words in the glossary.
There are a certain number of genuine (non-patronymic/matronymic) surnames in Iceland, and this is one of them. You can read a bit more about them here: www.arnastofnun.is/is/utgafa-og...
Ættarnöfn á Íslandi
Þessi skrá um ættarnöfn á Íslandi er birt hér á vinnslustigi til þess að afla nánari upplýsinga um tilkomu nafnanna hér á landi. Hún byggist á ýmsum heimildum, ekki síst Ættarnafnabók, sem stjórnvöld ...
www.arnastofnun.is
June 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
There are a certain number of genuine (non-patronymic/matronymic) surnames in Iceland, and this is one of them. You can read a bit more about them here: www.arnastofnun.is/is/utgafa-og...
Holthausen's text is one of the first to build on Sievers' metrical findings, which explains small details like his printing of līffrē[g]a 'life-lord': the bracketed letter makes the historical, two-syllable pronunciation clearer. In his economical apparatus he duly credits Sievers for this.
June 14, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Holthausen's text is one of the first to build on Sievers' metrical findings, which explains small details like his printing of līffrē[g]a 'life-lord': the bracketed letter makes the historical, two-syllable pronunciation clearer. In his economical apparatus he duly credits Sievers for this.
12. The people were not cowards, while weeping they escorted from the court
The land’s leader and the readied ones eager for battle.*
Then Hǫgni’s young heir said,
“Travel now fortunately and prudently, wherever your intent leads you.”
*Emended: the MS seems to say “from the court of the Huns”.
The land’s leader and the readied ones eager for battle.*
Then Hǫgni’s young heir said,
“Travel now fortunately and prudently, wherever your intent leads you.”
*Emended: the MS seems to say “from the court of the Huns”.
February 2, 2024 at 8:06 AM
12. The people were not cowards, while weeping they escorted from the court
The land’s leader and the readied ones eager for battle.*
Then Hǫgni’s young heir said,
“Travel now fortunately and prudently, wherever your intent leads you.”
*Emended: the MS seems to say “from the court of the Huns”.
The land’s leader and the readied ones eager for battle.*
Then Hǫgni’s young heir said,
“Travel now fortunately and prudently, wherever your intent leads you.”
*Emended: the MS seems to say “from the court of the Huns”.
“The wolf will rule the inheritance of the Niflungs,
Old grey companies (wolves), if Gunnar is gone.
Dun-pelted bears will bite with hostile teeth,
Leaving sport for dogs, if Gunnar doesn’t return.”
(This stanza has a large number of small textual difficulties.)
Old grey companies (wolves), if Gunnar is gone.
Dun-pelted bears will bite with hostile teeth,
Leaving sport for dogs, if Gunnar doesn’t return.”
(This stanza has a large number of small textual difficulties.)
February 2, 2024 at 8:04 AM
“The wolf will rule the inheritance of the Niflungs,
Old grey companies (wolves), if Gunnar is gone.
Dun-pelted bears will bite with hostile teeth,
Leaving sport for dogs, if Gunnar doesn’t return.”
(This stanza has a large number of small textual difficulties.)
Old grey companies (wolves), if Gunnar is gone.
Dun-pelted bears will bite with hostile teeth,
Leaving sport for dogs, if Gunnar doesn’t return.”
(This stanza has a large number of small textual difficulties.)
Note to stanza 10:
Gunnar’s response to Hǫgni’s warning may seem abrupt: in what follows it is clear that he intends to accept the invitation, but he does not say so explicitly, nor does he ever explain his reasoning. He is, presumably, motivated by his sense of honour and fear of cowardice.
Gunnar’s response to Hǫgni’s warning may seem abrupt: in what follows it is clear that he intends to accept the invitation, but he does not say so explicitly, nor does he ever explain his reasoning. He is, presumably, motivated by his sense of honour and fear of cowardice.
February 2, 2024 at 8:02 AM
Note to stanza 10:
Gunnar’s response to Hǫgni’s warning may seem abrupt: in what follows it is clear that he intends to accept the invitation, but he does not say so explicitly, nor does he ever explain his reasoning. He is, presumably, motivated by his sense of honour and fear of cowardice.
Gunnar’s response to Hǫgni’s warning may seem abrupt: in what follows it is clear that he intends to accept the invitation, but he does not say so explicitly, nor does he ever explain his reasoning. He is, presumably, motivated by his sense of honour and fear of cowardice.
10. “Get up, Fjǫrnir,* send the golden cups of the men
Around the hall-floor into peoples’ hands.
*Otherwise unknown figure.
Around the hall-floor into peoples’ hands.
*Otherwise unknown figure.
February 2, 2024 at 8:00 AM
10. “Get up, Fjǫrnir,* send the golden cups of the men
Around the hall-floor into peoples’ hands.
*Otherwise unknown figure.
Around the hall-floor into peoples’ hands.
*Otherwise unknown figure.
²Note to stanza 8: Guthrún, the sister of Gunnar and Hǫgni and wife of Atli.
³Note to stanza 8: The heath-dweller is a roundabout way of saying wolf, and the wolf's “clothing” is its fur.
2/2
³Note to stanza 8: The heath-dweller is a roundabout way of saying wolf, and the wolf's “clothing” is its fur.
2/2
December 18, 2023 at 11:11 AM
²Note to stanza 8: Guthrún, the sister of Gunnar and Hǫgni and wife of Atli.
³Note to stanza 8: The heath-dweller is a roundabout way of saying wolf, and the wolf's “clothing” is its fur.
2/2
³Note to stanza 8: The heath-dweller is a roundabout way of saying wolf, and the wolf's “clothing” is its fur.
2/2
¹Note to stanza 8: The speaker isn't actually specified in the manuscript, but since Gunnar has just asked his brother for advice, this is presumably Hǫgni's reply.
1/2
1/2
December 18, 2023 at 11:10 AM
¹Note to stanza 8: The speaker isn't actually specified in the manuscript, but since Gunnar has just asked his brother for advice, this is presumably Hǫgni's reply.
1/2
1/2
9. None of the clan urged Gunnar on, nor anyone else close to him,
Neither counsellors nor advisors, nor those who were powerful.
Gunnar then spoke up like a king ought to,
Renowned in the mead-hall, moved by his great spirit.
Neither counsellors nor advisors, nor those who were powerful.
Gunnar then spoke up like a king ought to,
Renowned in the mead-hall, moved by his great spirit.
December 18, 2023 at 11:10 AM
9. None of the clan urged Gunnar on, nor anyone else close to him,
Neither counsellors nor advisors, nor those who were powerful.
Gunnar then spoke up like a king ought to,
Renowned in the mead-hall, moved by his great spirit.
Neither counsellors nor advisors, nor those who were powerful.
Gunnar then spoke up like a king ought to,
Renowned in the mead-hall, moved by his great spirit.
Hǫgni replied:¹
8. “What do you think the bride² signified when she sent us a ring
Wrapped with the clothing of the heath-dweller?³ I think she’s showing us a warning.
I found hair of the heath-dweller tied round the red ring.
The path for us two is wolfish, riding on this errand.”
8. “What do you think the bride² signified when she sent us a ring
Wrapped with the clothing of the heath-dweller?³ I think she’s showing us a warning.
I found hair of the heath-dweller tied round the red ring.
The path for us two is wolfish, riding on this errand.”
December 18, 2023 at 11:09 AM
Hǫgni replied:¹
8. “What do you think the bride² signified when she sent us a ring
Wrapped with the clothing of the heath-dweller?³ I think she’s showing us a warning.
I found hair of the heath-dweller tied round the red ring.
The path for us two is wolfish, riding on this errand.”
8. “What do you think the bride² signified when she sent us a ring
Wrapped with the clothing of the heath-dweller?³ I think she’s showing us a warning.
I found hair of the heath-dweller tied round the red ring.
The path for us two is wolfish, riding on this errand.”
7. [cont.] A single one of mine is better than would be those of all the Huns.”
*Note to stanza 7: “My helm the whitest” is “My helm and shield the whitest” in the manuscript, but 'oc skiold' disrupts both the metre and the grammar, and is probably added later.
*Note to stanza 7: “My helm the whitest” is “My helm and shield the whitest” in the manuscript, but 'oc skiold' disrupts both the metre and the grammar, and is probably added later.
December 18, 2023 at 10:40 AM
7. [cont.] A single one of mine is better than would be those of all the Huns.”
*Note to stanza 7: “My helm the whitest” is “My helm and shield the whitest” in the manuscript, but 'oc skiold' disrupts both the metre and the grammar, and is probably added later.
*Note to stanza 7: “My helm the whitest” is “My helm and shield the whitest” in the manuscript, but 'oc skiold' disrupts both the metre and the grammar, and is probably added later.
7. “We’ve got seven buildings full of swords:
On each one the hilt is made of gold.
I know my horse to be the best, and my sword the sharpest,
My bow proud above the bench, and my armour made of gold,
My helm* the whitest, come from Caesar’s hall. [cont.]
On each one the hilt is made of gold.
I know my horse to be the best, and my sword the sharpest,
My bow proud above the bench, and my armour made of gold,
My helm* the whitest, come from Caesar’s hall. [cont.]
December 18, 2023 at 10:39 AM
7. “We’ve got seven buildings full of swords:
On each one the hilt is made of gold.
I know my horse to be the best, and my sword the sharpest,
My bow proud above the bench, and my armour made of gold,
My helm* the whitest, come from Caesar’s hall. [cont.]
On each one the hilt is made of gold.
I know my horse to be the best, and my sword the sharpest,
My bow proud above the bench, and my armour made of gold,
My helm* the whitest, come from Caesar’s hall. [cont.]
6. Then Gunnar turned his head and said to Hǫgni,
“What do you advise, younger warrior, as we hear such things?
I’m not aware of any gold on Gnita Heath
That the two of us don’t have as much again.
“What do you advise, younger warrior, as we hear such things?
I’m not aware of any gold on Gnita Heath
That the two of us don’t have as much again.
December 18, 2023 at 10:38 AM
6. Then Gunnar turned his head and said to Hǫgni,
“What do you advise, younger warrior, as we hear such things?
I’m not aware of any gold on Gnita Heath
That the two of us don’t have as much again.
“What do you advise, younger warrior, as we hear such things?
I’m not aware of any gold on Gnita Heath
That the two of us don’t have as much again.
**Note 2 to stanza 5: There is a syntactic disfluency in the original, and the bulk of stanza 5 has material that doesn't fit very well (where did the Dnieper come into things?). Material from some other poem may have accidentally entered in here.
December 18, 2023 at 10:36 AM
**Note 2 to stanza 5: There is a syntactic disfluency in the original, and the bulk of stanza 5 has material that doesn't fit very well (where did the Dnieper come into things?). Material from some other poem may have accidentally entered in here.
*Note to stanza 5: Gnita Heath is where Sigurth killed the dragon Fáfnir and won his gold. This is the only hint in this poem in of a link between Sigurth and the Niflungs. In later legend, Guthrún is Sigurth's widow, but this is't yet part of the story or else is downplayed in the current poem.
December 18, 2023 at 10:36 AM
*Note to stanza 5: Gnita Heath is where Sigurth killed the dragon Fáfnir and won his gold. This is the only hint in this poem in of a link between Sigurth and the Niflungs. In later legend, Guthrún is Sigurth's widow, but this is't yet part of the story or else is downplayed in the current poem.