Exeter Riddle 3 in Spanish / en Español
MEGANCAVELL
Date: Mon 05 Jul 2021This Spanish translation of Riddle 3 from the Exeter Book is by Carlos M. Cepero. Carlos is an architect who was born, raised and lives in Rosario, Argentina. He studied English and German at and after school, is a ravenous reader and a declared Britophile. He is passionate about medieval literature, especially Old English and Old Norse literature. Thank you for your translation, Carlos!
Esta traducción al español del Acertijo 3 del Libro de Exeter es de Carlos M. Cepero. Carlos es un arquitecto que nació, creció y vive en Rosario, Argentina. Estudió inglés y alemán en y después de la escuela, es un lector voraz y un britófilo declarado. Es un apasionado de la literatura medieval, especialmente la literatura antigua inglesa y nórdica antigua. ¡Gracias por tu traducción, Carlos!
Hwilum mec min frea fæste genearwað,
sendeð þonne under salwonges
bearm þone bradan, ond on bid wriceð,
þrafað on þystrum þrymma sumne,
5 hæste on enge, þær me heord siteð
hruse on hrycge. Nah ic hwyrftweges
of þam aglace, ac ic eþelstol
hæleþa hrere; hornsalu wagiað,
wera wicstede, weallas beofiað,
10 steape ofer stiwitum. Stille þynceð
lyft ofer londe ond lagu swige,
oþþæt ic of enge up aþringe,
efne swa mec wisaþ se mec wræde on
æt frumsceafte furþum legde,
15 bende ond clomme, þæt ic onbugan ne mot
of þæs gewealde þe me wegas tæcneð.
Hwilum ic sceal ufan yþa wregan,
streamas styrgan ond to staþe þywan
flintgrægne flod. Famig winneð
20 wæg wið wealle, wonn ariseð
dun ofer dype; hyre deorc on last,
eare geblonden, oþer fereð,
þæt hy gemittað mearclonde neah
hea hlincas. Þær bið hlud wudu,
25 brimgiesta breahtm, bidað stille
stealc stanhleoþu streamgewinnes,
hopgehnastes, þonne heah geþring
on cleofu crydeþ. Þær bið ceole wen
sliþre sæcce, gif hine sæ byreð
30 on þa grimman tid, gæsta fulne,
þæt he scyle rice birofen weorþan,
feore bifohten fæmig ridan
yþa hrycgum. Þær bið egsa sum
ældum geywed, þara þe ic hyran sceal
35 strong on stiðweg. Hwa gestilleð þæt?
Hwilum ic þurhræse, þæt me on bæce rideð
won wægfatu, wide toþringe
lagustreama full, hwilum læte eft
slupan tosomne. Se bið swega mæst,
40 breahtma ofer burgum, ond gebreca hludast,
þonne scearp cymeð sceo wiþ oþrum,
ecg wið ecge; earpan gesceafte
fus ofer folcum fyre swætað,
blacan lige, ond gebrecu ferað
45 deorc ofer dryhtum gedyne micle,
farað feohtende, feallan lætað
sweart sumsendu seaw of bosme,
wætan of wombe. Winnende fareð
atol eoredþreat, egsa astigeð,
50 micel modþrea monna cynne,
brogan on burgum, þonne blace scotiað
scriþende scin scearpum wæpnum.
Dol him ne ondrædeð ða deaðsperu,
swylteð hwæþre, gif him soð meotud
55 on geryhtu þurh regn ufan
of gestune læteð stræle fleogan,
farende flan. Fea þæt gedygað,
þara þe geræceð rynegiestes wæpen.
Ic þæs orleges or anstelle,
60 þonne gewite wolcengehnaste
þurh geþræc þringan þrimme micle
ofer byrnan bosm. Biersteð hlude
heah hloðgecrod; þonne hnige eft
under lyfte helm londe near,
65 ond me on hrycg hlade þæt ic habban sceal,
meahtum gemagnad mines frean.
Swa ic þrymful þeow þragum winne,
hwilum under eorþan, hwilum yþa sceal
hean underhnigan, hwilum holm yfan
70 streamas styrge, hwilum stige up,
wolcnfare wrege, wide fere
swift ond swiþfeorm. Saga hwæt ic hatte,
oþþe hwa mec rære, þonne ic restan ne mot,
oþþe hwa mec stæðþe, þonne ic stille beom.
Por momentos mi amo me confina firmemente,
me envía bajo el vasto regazo
de fértiles campos, y me impele a detenerme,
fuerza parte de mi poder a las tinieblas,
5 estrechándome ferozmente; allí la tierra, mi pastora,
se sienta sobre mi lomo. No tengo escape
de esa aflicción, mas sacudo
la patria de héroes; tiemblan los salones de corníferos gabletes (1),
la morada de mortales, los muros tiritan
10 inclinados sobre sus dueños. Calmo parece
el aire sobre la faz, y el mar enmudece,
hasta que estallo en mi confinamiento,
mientras a mi origen me guía
aquél que me dispuso en vendajes,
15 lazos y cadenas, para que no me incline
bajo la energía que me indica el derrotero.
A veces excito el oleaje desde arriba,
incito las corrientes y empujo hacia las orillas
la riada grisácea (2). Espumosas, las ondas
20 batallan contra acantilados, fuscas se elevan
las colinas desde las profundidades; de huella oscura
otra avanza, mezclada con la mar,
juntándose sobre los márgenes,
junto a las altas riberas (3). Allí son ruidosas las naves (4),
25 el griterío de los huéspedes del mar (5); las empinadas pendientes de roca
esperan en sosiego la contienda de corrientes,
el estrellarse de las olas, cuando el elevado empuje
presiona contra los acantilados. Ahí la barcaza anticipa
lucha atroz si el océano la arrastra
30 sobre esa marea nefanda, colmada de almas,
tal que quedará al garete (6),
privada (7) de vida, cabalgando espumosa
sobre el dorso de las ondas. Allí el terror
se hará patente al hombre, deberé obedecer,
35 fuerte en mi arduo camino. ¿Quién aplacará eso?
A veces corro a través, de manera que sombrías vasijas con agua (8)
montan sobre mi espalda, desparramando ampliamente
raudales de lluvia; a veces las dejo
deslizarse juntas. Ahí es mayor el sonido,
40 el rumor sobre las ciudadelas y el fragor de la colisión,
cuando las nubes chocan contra nubes,
filo contra filo; una criatura negruzca,
presta sobre el gentío, exuda fuego,
pálidas flamas, y el clamor viaja
45 prieto sobre las huestes con gran estruendo,
viaja lidiando, dejando caer
la savia de oscuro sonido de su seno,
humedad de su vientre. Riñendo avanza
la terrible tropa; el terror asciende,
50 gran tormento mental para la humanidad,
horror de las ciudadelas, cuando el rastrero espectro
dispara débil armas filosas.
necio aquél que desdeña las lanzas de la muerte,
pues sucumbirá sin igual, si el verdadero Juez (9),
55 con derecho, deja que asombrosas
flechas bajen volando, saetas volantes,
desde arriba entre la lluvia. Pocos sobreviven,
de los alcanzados por el arma del visitante fugaz (10).
Yo causo el origen de ese conflicto,
60 cuando oriento la reunión de nubarrones,
presionando a través del tumulto con harta fuerza
sobre el ardiente seno. Estalla ruidosamente,
la altiva masa de tempestad; luego me inclino
bajo el yelmo del aire cercano a la tierra,
65 cargando sobre mi espalda la carga que debo portar,
exhortado por la fortaleza de mi señor.
Así yo, poderoso siervo, me esfuerzo por momentos,
a veces bajo la tierra, a veces bajo las olas
me debo sumergir, a veces desde arriba del piélago
70 excito las corrientes, a veces me elevo,
provocando los nómades nimbos, viajando por doquier
ligero y violento. Decid cómo me llamo,
o quién me arenga, cuando no puedo descansar,
o quién me tranquiliza, cuando estoy en calma.
Notes:
(1) Salones de corníferos gabletes: hornsele en el original, se refiere a los gabletes de los halls y longhouses germánicos (nórdicos, anglosajones), que solían estar rematados por proyecciones con forma de cuernos (comparar con “The Fight at Finnesburh”: … hornas byrnað?).
(2) El texto dice flintgræg “gris como el pedernal.” Elijo traducir como “grisácea” por considerar que la lectura fluye mejor.
(3) El texto dice hlinc, y se refiere a un terreno ondulado y arenoso junto a la costa. Pasó al inglés moderno a través del Scots como “links”, término con el que se designan las canchas de golf por haberse originado sobre dicho terreno.
(4) Considero que la correcta traducción del término anglosajón wudu, “bosque, madera”, corresponde a “nave, barco, navío”, ya que por sinécdoque se refiere a éstas, según el contexto.
(5) kenning, “marineros.”
(6) Elijo traducir scyle rice birofen weorþan (algo así como “deberá estar privada de control”) por el término náutico “al garete”, cuyo significado es el mismo y no alarga la lectura del verso.
(7) Traduzco como “privar” el término befeohtan, de extrema riqueza semántica: “privar por medio de la lucha, la batalla, conseguir por medio la lucha.”
(8) kenning, “nubes.”
(9) Traduzco como “Juez” el término metod “el que mide”, refiriéndose a Dios.
(10) rynegiest, un “visitante” o “enemigo” que llega velozmente, probablemente un kenning para el rayo.
Tags: anglo saxon exeter book old english riddle 3 Carlos M. Cepero
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Exeter Riddle 3
Commentary for Exeter Riddles 1-3
MEGANCAVELL
Date: Thu 21 Mar 2013Matching Riddle: Exeter Riddle 1
Riddles 1 to 3 are quite clearly thematically linked, and it is because of this that they have also been read as one very long riddle (especially because Riddle 2 and the sections of Riddle 3 begin with the same word: Hwilum (sometimes)). This, of course, throws off the riddle numbering system (which you should note is an editorial practice and does not appear in the Exeter Book manuscript). For this website’s purposes, we’re sticking to the old school riddle numbering (i.e. the one in Krapp and Dobbie’s edition – see the About the Exeter Book page for more on this) because this is the system most online riddle resources use.
As for solutions (1), you may have noticed that the same ones crop up for each of the three related riddles. They are all commonly solved as Storm or Wind, but this doesn’t come close to covering all the potential solutions (scholars like to disagree). Other suggestions include Atmosphere, Power of Nature, Sun (esp. for riddles 2 and 3) and all manner of different types of storms (including Apocalyptic Storm, Hurricane, Earthquake, Storm at Sea and Thunderstorm). Riddle 1 has also been solved as Fire and Raiding Party or Army, while Riddle 2 has been solved as Anchor and Riddle 3 as Revenant. In addition to the stormy weather solutions, another trend can be seen throughout the riddles and that relates to religion. This is unsurprising considering the Exeter Book was donated to a cathedral library by a bishop – in fact, most early English literature has a strong religious connection because of the structure of this society and its scribal culture (think monasteries!). So, this religious trend has resulted in the following solutions: Riddle 1 as God, Riddle 2 as Christ and Riddle 3 as Cross, Spirit and Supernatural Force.
Having read a good chunk of Old English poetry, it seems pretty clear that each of the three riddles does possess religious connotations. All this talk of leaders controlling the destructive action of whatever þrymful þeow (powerful servant) is narrating definitely signals a divine entity. In fact, these poems echo in some ways the verse lines of the Old English translation of Boethius’ Consolatione philosophiae (Consolation of Philosophy). A section from Metre 20 (lines 63-74), which deals with the elements, reads:
Habbað þeah þa feower frumstol hiora,
æghwilc hiora agenne stede,
þeah anra hwilc wið oðer sie
miclum gemenged and mid mægne eac
fæder ælmihtiges fæste gebunden,
gesiblice, softe togædre
mid bebode þine, bilewit fæder,
þætte heora ænig oðres ne dorste
mearce ofergangan for metodes ege,
ac [geþweorod] sint ðegnas togædre,
cyninges cempan, cele wið hæto,
wæt wið drygum, winnað hwæðre. (2)
(Nevertheless each of the four have their proper station, their own place, although each of them may be greatly mixed with the other and also, by the might of the almighty father, bound fast, peaceably, gently together by your decree, merciful father, so that none of them dared to go over the other’s boundary because of fear of the lord, but the retainers are made to agree, the champions of the king, cold with heat, wet with dry, yet they compete.)
Rambunctious elements! Photo (by Terry Lucas) from Wikimedia Commons (licence: CC BY 3.0).
The rest of the poem goes on to discuss God’s control over the elements, which is again mentioned in relation to binding a hundred lines later:
Hafað fæder engla fyr gebunden
efne to þon fæste þæt hit fiolan ne mæg
eft æt his eðle þær þæt oðer fyr
up ofer eall þis eardfæst wunað. (153-56)
(The father of angels has bound fire precisely so fast that it may not return to its homeland where that other fire, up over all this, remains firmly fixed.)
Riddle 3’s focus on confinement in particular maps nicely onto this Boethian vision of the cosmos. It’s also noteworthy that Riddles 2 and 3 end with a similar challenge to the listener: the riddler not only asks what is narrating the poem, but also what is controlling the speaker:
Saga, þoncol mon,
hwa mec bregde of brimes fæþmum,
þonne streamas eft stille weorþað,
yþa geþwære, þe mec ær wrugon. (12b-15)
(Say, thoughtful one, who draws me from the depths of the ocean, when the streams become still again, obedient the waves, which earlier concealed me.)
and
Saga hwæt ic hatte,
oþþe hwa mec rære, þonne ic restan ne mot,
oþþe hwa mec stæðþe, þonne ic stille beom. (72b-4)
(Say what I am called, or who raises me, when I may not rest, or who stays me, when I am still.)
Although Riddle 1 doesn’t end this way, it does include a reference to the powers that control it:
heahum meahtum
wrecen on waþe, wide sended (10b-11).
(pressed into wandering / by the powers on high, sent afar).
This all seems to suggest that the solution calls for a master-servant duo. And so, perhaps God and the Elements (or in Old English: God ond þa Feower Gesceafta) would make a nice solution for all three of these poems. Of course, the poet seems to prefer the destructive aspect of each element…but without central heating, this isn’t particularly surprising!
(1) For a convenient list of solutions and solvers, see Donald K. Fry’s article, “Exeter Book Riddle Solutions,” Old English Newsletter 15.1 (1981), pp. 22-33, although unfortunately and for obvious reasons it does not take into account suggested solutions after 1981.
(2) These lines are quoted from the brilliant, new-ish edition by Malcolm Godden and Susan Irvine, The Old English Boethius: An Edition of the Old English Versions of Boethius’s De Consolatione Philosophiae, 2 volumes (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). The translations, along with this post, are by Megan.
Tags: anglo saxon exeter book riddles old english solutions riddle 1 riddle 2 riddle 3
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