The Battle of Maldon, page 16
on (o for u being consequent on change of m). The regular on of the subjunctive in Maldon is primarily not a phonetic but a grammatical change due to assimilation of en to on beginning in the preterite present and modal verbs (so sceoldon, Maldon 19, 291, 307, moston 83, 263). en is maintained in pp. and such words as þeoden.
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4 Another case of prose-glossing is conceivable: e.g. (min) hlaford has replaced a poetical synonym beginning with m, as mundbora. Or the compound heafod mæg, a poetical equivalent of mæg may be concerned; but this probably requires us also to reshuffle the line to min hlaford and min heafod mæg. Mundbora occurs in the Chronicle poems of the tenth century especially in association with Myrcna.
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5 The weakness of the attractive emendation bewegen is that the word only occurs twice elsewhere, both in verse and both in sense ‘cover’. Since forwegen ‘slain’ occurs actually in Maldon 228 it would probably be best to use this: in the special circumstances of the passage it would be almost equally likely to be corrupted into begen.
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6 The first hemistich of this line is of a freer or more casual type – but does not break the rules: the language is colloquial not formal. Man is quite weak and subordinate; moni man is a colloquial substitute for the missing weak or pronominal form of monig, and is metrically equivalent to (/ u). The prefix for – it is not really a separate adverb – in the sense ‘too’ or ‘very’ (like Latin per) is sometimes stressed, usually not. Compare the variation with prefix un-, and the variable stress of our ‘too’: that is too many or that is too many. Forswið, forswiðe in Wonders of Creation 26, and Psalm 84 respectively, and forwel Psalm 131 are shown by alliteration or scansion to have unstressed for. forheardne in Maldon 156 has stressed for. These are the only verse examples.
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7 For the stress on swiðe cf. l. 115.
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8 If the corruption is scribal it probably resides in gehyrst: i.e. A prose-substitution for (ge)frigest, a poetical word: ‘dost thou enquire?’ The resulting crossed alliteration being then closely parallel to 189 and the proposed emendation of line 7.
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9 Note raðe 288 does not certify that the alliteration was on h. Both hr and r are proved by alliteration in OE verse, and both forms are etymologically distinct. In Maldon the written form is only raðe which occurs also in 164, where it does not share in the alliteration.
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10 Alliteration of Lift 2 neglecting a preceding adjective is also seen in ealra þæra Wynna 174; and þæt þu minum gaste 176. But these can be parallelled in older verse, and min, þin were variably treated.
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11 Cf. also eorl to þam ceorle 132. Compare ceorlum 7 eorlum Menolog. (Abingdon Chronicle l.31)
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12 The only parallel to rhyme usurping the function of alliteration that I can point to is rather a remote one. The type of half-line in OE that consists of three stressed words (usually arranged as D or E types) is common. There are 70 examples in Beowulf in the first hemistich, and in every case they have double alliteration, except only in 1422 flod blode weol, where clearly rhyme is used for the same effect in lightening the weight. Cf. flod blod gewod (Exodus 463). A late example of rhyme with alliteration is seen in Chron. 1067 Margaret (lines of irregular scansion but all alliterated): mid lichomlicre heortan on þisan life sceortan.
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13 Such as 959 DE Character of Eadgar.
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14 But we do not get except occasionally and probably accidentally three staves in the first half – which is nearly as destructive of the proper character of the metre as two staves in the second. Wodon þa wælwulfas 96 is the only clear example and is probably casual and hardly felt – but is the sort of germ from which the ME overweighting and triple-alliteration might develop. Not unconsciously! But by choice of poets – who nonetheless must be judged to have lost the taste for and perception of the structure of the old economy.
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* * *
Works by J.R.R. Tolkien
THE HOBBIT
LEAF BY NIGGLE
ON FAIRY-STORIES
FARMER GILES OF HAM
THE HOMECOMING OF BEORHTNOTH
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL
THE ROAD GOES EVER ON (WITH DONALD SWANN)
SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR
Works published posthumously
SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL AND SIR ORFEO*
THE FATHER CHRISTMAS LETTERS
THE SILMARILLION*
PICTURES BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN*
UNFINISHED TALES*
THE LETTERS OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN*
FINN AND HENGEST
MR BLISS
THE MONSTERS AND THE CRITICS & OTHER ESSAYS*
ROVERANDOM
THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN*
THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRÚN*
THE FALL OF ARTHUR*
BEOWULF: A TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY*
THE STORY OF KULLERVO
THE LAY OF AOTROU AND ITROUN
BEREN AND LÚTHIEN*
THE FALL OF GONDOLIN*
THE NATURE OF MIDDLE-EARTH
THE FALL OF NÚMENOR
The History of Middle-earth – by Christopher Tolkien
I THE BOOK OF LOST TALES, PART ONE
II THE BOOK OF LOST TALES, PART TWO
III THE LAYS OF BELERIAND
IV THE SHAPING OF MIDDLE-EARTH
V THE LOST ROAD AND OTHER WRITINGS
VI THE RETURN OF THE SHADOW
VII THE TREASON OF ISENGARD
VIII THE WAR OF THE RING
IX SAURON DEFEATED
X MORGOTH’S RING
XI THE WAR OF THE JEWELS
XII THE PEOPLES OF MIDDLE-EARTH
*Edited by Christopher Tolkien
About the Publisher
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J. R. R. Tolkien, The Battle of Maldon
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4 Another case of prose-glossing is conceivable: e.g. (min) hlaford has replaced a poetical synonym beginning with m, as mundbora. Or the compound heafod mæg, a poetical equivalent of mæg may be concerned; but this probably requires us also to reshuffle the line to min hlaford and min heafod mæg. Mundbora occurs in the Chronicle poems of the tenth century especially in association with Myrcna.
Back to text
5 The weakness of the attractive emendation bewegen is that the word only occurs twice elsewhere, both in verse and both in sense ‘cover’. Since forwegen ‘slain’ occurs actually in Maldon 228 it would probably be best to use this: in the special circumstances of the passage it would be almost equally likely to be corrupted into begen.
Back to text
6 The first hemistich of this line is of a freer or more casual type – but does not break the rules: the language is colloquial not formal. Man is quite weak and subordinate; moni man is a colloquial substitute for the missing weak or pronominal form of monig, and is metrically equivalent to (/ u). The prefix for – it is not really a separate adverb – in the sense ‘too’ or ‘very’ (like Latin per) is sometimes stressed, usually not. Compare the variation with prefix un-, and the variable stress of our ‘too’: that is too many or that is too many. Forswið, forswiðe in Wonders of Creation 26, and Psalm 84 respectively, and forwel Psalm 131 are shown by alliteration or scansion to have unstressed for. forheardne in Maldon 156 has stressed for. These are the only verse examples.
Back to text
7 For the stress on swiðe cf. l. 115.
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8 If the corruption is scribal it probably resides in gehyrst: i.e. A prose-substitution for (ge)frigest, a poetical word: ‘dost thou enquire?’ The resulting crossed alliteration being then closely parallel to 189 and the proposed emendation of line 7.
Back to text
9 Note raðe 288 does not certify that the alliteration was on h. Both hr and r are proved by alliteration in OE verse, and both forms are etymologically distinct. In Maldon the written form is only raðe which occurs also in 164, where it does not share in the alliteration.
Back to text
10 Alliteration of Lift 2 neglecting a preceding adjective is also seen in ealra þæra Wynna 174; and þæt þu minum gaste 176. But these can be parallelled in older verse, and min, þin were variably treated.
Back to text
11 Cf. also eorl to þam ceorle 132. Compare ceorlum 7 eorlum Menolog. (Abingdon Chronicle l.31)
Back to text
12 The only parallel to rhyme usurping the function of alliteration that I can point to is rather a remote one. The type of half-line in OE that consists of three stressed words (usually arranged as D or E types) is common. There are 70 examples in Beowulf in the first hemistich, and in every case they have double alliteration, except only in 1422 flod blode weol, where clearly rhyme is used for the same effect in lightening the weight. Cf. flod blod gewod (Exodus 463). A late example of rhyme with alliteration is seen in Chron. 1067 Margaret (lines of irregular scansion but all alliterated): mid lichomlicre heortan on þisan life sceortan.
Back to text
13 Such as 959 DE Character of Eadgar.
Back to text
14 But we do not get except occasionally and probably accidentally three staves in the first half – which is nearly as destructive of the proper character of the metre as two staves in the second. Wodon þa wælwulfas 96 is the only clear example and is probably casual and hardly felt – but is the sort of germ from which the ME overweighting and triple-alliteration might develop. Not unconsciously! But by choice of poets – who nonetheless must be judged to have lost the taste for and perception of the structure of the old economy.
Back to text
* * *
Works by J.R.R. Tolkien
THE HOBBIT
LEAF BY NIGGLE
ON FAIRY-STORIES
FARMER GILES OF HAM
THE HOMECOMING OF BEORHTNOTH
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL
THE ROAD GOES EVER ON (WITH DONALD SWANN)
SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR
Works published posthumously
SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL AND SIR ORFEO*
THE FATHER CHRISTMAS LETTERS
THE SILMARILLION*
PICTURES BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN*
UNFINISHED TALES*
THE LETTERS OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN*
FINN AND HENGEST
MR BLISS
THE MONSTERS AND THE CRITICS & OTHER ESSAYS*
ROVERANDOM
THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN*
THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRÚN*
THE FALL OF ARTHUR*
BEOWULF: A TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY*
THE STORY OF KULLERVO
THE LAY OF AOTROU AND ITROUN
BEREN AND LÚTHIEN*
THE FALL OF GONDOLIN*
THE NATURE OF MIDDLE-EARTH
THE FALL OF NÚMENOR
The History of Middle-earth – by Christopher Tolkien
I THE BOOK OF LOST TALES, PART ONE
II THE BOOK OF LOST TALES, PART TWO
III THE LAYS OF BELERIAND
IV THE SHAPING OF MIDDLE-EARTH
V THE LOST ROAD AND OTHER WRITINGS
VI THE RETURN OF THE SHADOW
VII THE TREASON OF ISENGARD
VIII THE WAR OF THE RING
IX SAURON DEFEATED
X MORGOTH’S RING
XI THE WAR OF THE JEWELS
XII THE PEOPLES OF MIDDLE-EARTH
*Edited by Christopher Tolkien
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Battle of Maldon
