ANONYMOUS – Wulf and Eadwacer

Wulf and Eadwacer

To my people he's prey, a bloodgift.
They will offer him up, if he approaches their pack.
Ungelīc is ūs.

Wulf's on one island, I on another.
His island's a fortress, fastened by fens.
Here bloodthirsty men roam this island.
They will offer him up, if he approaches their pack.
Ungelīc is ūs.

My wide-ranging thoughts dogged Wulf.
Whenever it rained and I wept, disconsolate,
battle-strong arms soon embraced me.
For me there was pleasure, but its end was loathsome.
Wulf, my Wulf! My desire for you
has made me sick; your seldom-comings
have troubled my mind much more than missed meat.
Did you hear Heaven-Watcher? The whelp we delivered
has been borne by a wolf to the woods.
One can easily sever what was never one:
our song together.

literal translation by Michael R. BURCH