This is my modern English translation of the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem "Widsith the Far-Traveler." Widsith had a very clever way of arguing that kings should give him gold rings and torques...
This last verse seems like a compelling argument as to why the wealthy and those in power should be more generous to poets and creative people. Also, the idea of a 'word-hoard' is ingenious, as if the poet has something of great value to trade. And he has indeed!
'The minstrel travels far, from land to land,
singing his needs, speaking his grateful thanks,
whether in the sunny southlands or the frigid northlands,
measuring out his word-hoard to those unstingy of gifts,
to those rare elect rulers who understand art's effect on the multitudes,
to those open-handed lords who would have their fame spread,
via a new praise-verse, thus earning enduring reputations
One would have to have access to the original text to be sure.
Michael Alexander has the line in the translation he did for Penguin Classic's "The Earliest English Poems" which he edited. The translation can be read here:
This last verse seems like a compelling argument as to why the wealthy and those in power should be more generous to poets and creative people. Also, the idea of a 'word-hoard' is ingenious, as if the poet has something of great value to trade. And he has indeed!
'The minstrel travels far, from land to land,
singing his needs, speaking his grateful thanks,
whether in the sunny southlands or the frigid northlands,
measuring out his word-hoard to those unstingy of gifts,
to those rare elect rulers who understand art's effect on the multitudes,
to those open-handed lords who would have their fame spread,
via a new praise-verse, thus earning enduring reputations
under the heavens.
Anglo-Saxon scops were famous for kennings like word-hoard, whale-path, ring-giver for a king, etc.
A thousand years later, they still please the ear and mind.
"But the makar's weird is to be a wanderer. [maker's/minstrel's fate]"
That's a nice line, but am I correct that it's not actually in Widsith?
One would have to have access to the original text to be sure.
Michael Alexander has the line in the translation he did for Penguin Classic's "The Earliest English Poems" which he edited. The translation can be read here:
https://library.agnescameron.info/poetry/The%20Earliest%20English%20Poems,%20Michael%20Alexander%20(1986).pdf