The following is a fragment of an Old English poem found in my computer. I call it
The Wanderer B after the authentic Old English poem
The Wanderer, since it is most probable that the poet had it in mind when composing this poem. The poet seems even to have borrowed some half-lines directly from
The Wanderer. Readers may also find some echoes from other works such as
Beowulf and
The Menologium.
Presumably, it reflects what the poet experienced in Oxford in the spring of 2020, when colleges, libraries, pubs and other things were all closed down because of the COVID-19 outbreak. It contains a hapax legomenon, deorcadl perhaps meaning 'evil disease'. It may contain some scribal errors requiring emendation.
... Meodoseld sceoldon, manna gehwylcum,
idlu standan, eormenðeodum,
wide heallas wisra dryhte,
siððan deorcadle, dyrne cræfte,
5 ellorgastas atole heoldon
freoburh gumena, folces eðel,
side rice Sexna cyninges.
Wineleas anstapa wordum cwiþeð:
'Hwær cwomon burhwaras? Hwær cwom bocera heap?
10 Hwær cwom hæleða dream? Hwær cwom hearpan sweg?
Eala beorht bune! Eala beorsele!
Wynn eal gedreas; Wyrd bið ful aræd!'
PR
