WULF AND EADWACER: SAXON, FROM THE EXETER BOOK

This is an old elegiac poem from Saxon times, found in the Exeter book. The name Eadwacer is pronounced "OWD-watcher," while Wulf is pronounced like wolf. Fens are wetlands. The "pup" is obviously the child of the female narrator and Wulf, who is taken to be abandoned in the woods maybe because of illegitimacy? She was having an affair with Wulf, who was on the enemy side in this war, and married to Eadwacer, or so it appears...

It is to my people as if someone gave them a gift.
They want to kill him, if he comes with a troop.
It is different for us.
Wulf is on one island, I on another.

That island, surrounded by fens, is secure.
There on the island are bloodthirsty men.
They want to kill him, if he comes with a troop.
It is different for us.
I thought of my Wulf with far-wandering hopes,

whenever it was rainy weather, and I sat tearfully,
whenever the warrior bold in battle encompassed me with his arms.
To me it was pleasure in that, it was also painful.
Wulf, my Wulf, my hopes for you have caused
my sickness, your infrequent visits,

a mourning spirit, not at all a lack of food.
Do you hear, Eadwacer? Wulf is carrying
our wretched pup to the woods,
that one easily sunders which was never united:
our song together