Eric Zhao 2025 1 10 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002D/ zzhaoe-002D /zzhaoe-002D/ the illusory middle landscape musings Plenty of people have spoken or written about the enduring mystic of Skyrim.So I shall, shamelessly, add my own. In fact, I wrote one several years ago for a course blog. Although it hovered vaguely around a similar sort of focus, in any case it said something entirely separate and possessed a rather different flavor. In spite of newer experiences which may boast gripping narratives or real-to-life visuals or delightful gameplay loops, those whose hearts upon which has lain the tender yet unyielding hold of idyllic Tamriel find themselves returning again and again, even nigh fifteen years now, to that northern corner of the world. By most reasonable measures the game's combat mechanics are rather lacking; the quest writing varies from uninspired to abominable; the whole experience is rife with visual and functional deficiency and defect, of both comic and exasperating character. Yet somehow it is a spring from which all weariness seems to depart; when novelties have worn off, one remembers the rugged peak and the rolling pastures, the surly wanderer and the unassuming stableboy, the hidden cove and the homely home. At some point, I discovered mods, and then the possibilities had truly opened before me. For by way of the bottomless trove of fan-made modifications I could make the world a place of my own: new characters to befriend, equipment to craft; fair vistas to behold, deep dungeons to crawl. In short time I discovered, somewhat paradoxically, that I could only best feed my wants and my wonders by imposing restrictions. It is absurd, after all, to wade an icy bay or eat a half-quiver of arrows without much thought; one should suffer, respectively, hypothermia and outright death. One should wonder why prisoners remain in their chains and carriage drivers at their seats if instantaneous teleportation to any point-of-interest costs neither money nor effort. Until then I had cared for good cooking only after a brutal stabbing. Now I respected the snow squalls and esteemed the bow; I cherished my feet and my mare; I welcomed to my parched lips even the most insipid soup and stale loaf after any jaunt in the woods. For the harsh land of the Nords demands hardy living; by endurance one claims the high ridge; through peril comes the richest spoil; it is hinter that makes home. The untamed grasses rush furiously, I can see the glowing parapet, nigh is the slumbering grove; here I stand. Its name is Wilderness—yet not altogether Wild. This was the reality away from reality: the middle landscape, fraught with many dangers—but comforts are never so out of reach. I sought more, driven to wilder wilds, homelier homes. But satisfaction is a doomed pursuit, a chasing after the wind. There is always some greater adventure to be tasted. It is this regrettable truth that, whilst no longer surprising, never loses its vexing flavour. For the sub-creation of man, though it may refract and magnify the splintered rays of the primary creation, remains just that: a partial mosaic of the hale light. And man whose heart was made for the light has fallen very far into the shadows. References Context Backlinks Eric Zhao 2024 10 20 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002E/ zzhaoe-002E /zzhaoe-002E/ poorly modernising "The Battle of Brunanburh" musings Since ceasing to return again and again to Skyrim, I have found that I return again and again to a desire to study Old English, for which I had taken a class a couple of years ago as a sophomore at Michigan. There were five or six of us enrolled,Mostly, from what I recall, seniors in the German department; though this is probably really inaccurate. But the best student seemed to be a Middle-Eastern studies fellow. though on a typical day only three or four might show up to class, which centered mostly around reading and modernising texts in Moore and Knott's The Elements of Old English, 10th ed. There was some discussion of sound changes which I've entirely forgotten. It was sometimes a slog, sometimes great fun, and anyways it has been difficult to keep up since then, however much I would like. In recent weeks I've been slowly working through An Introduction to Old English.The power of the interlibrary loan is not to be understated. It's proven to be, in many ways, substantially more digestible. I could complain much about the textbooks and the other resources, but probably, at the end of the day, I just don't practice it enough. So here's to more practice,And to work these sidenotes to the limit. by glossing and modernising the famous "The Battle of Brunanburh", the only poem I've worked through in its entirety in the past. The text is the edition in the OEPF, edited by Martin Foys. I suppose I can compare with Tennyson's afterwards. Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002F/ zzhaoe-002F /zzhaoe-002F/ a somewhat and poorly glossed "The Battle of Brunanburh" Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002G/ zzhaoe-002G /zzhaoe-002G/ lines 1–5a Her Æþelstan cyning,Her adv. which can mean 'here', but in this case is probably closer to 'in this year'. cyning nom. sg. masc. n. cyning, 'king'.      eorla dryhten,eorla gen. pl. masc. n. eorl, 'earl'. dryhten nom. sg. masc. n. dryhten, 'lord'. beorna beahgifa,beorna gen. pl. masc. n. beorn, 'warrior' (poet.). beahgifa nom. sg. masc. n. bēahgifa, 'ring-giver'; bēah + gifa.      and his broþor eac,his 3 gen. sg. masc. pron. broþor nom. sg. masc. n. brōþor, 'brother'. eac adv. 'also, likewise'. Eadmund æþeling,æþeling nom. sg. masc. n. æþeling, 'noble'; æþel + ing (dim. suf.).      ealdorlangne tirealdorlangne acc. sg. masc. adj. ealdorlang, 'life-long'; ealdor + lang; mod. tir. tir acc. s.g masc. n. tīr, 'glory'. geslogon æt sæccegeslogon 3 pl. pret. ind. str. vi ġeslēan, 'to kill, slaughter'. sæcce dat. sg. fem. n. sæc, 'conflict'.      sweorda ecgumsweorda gen. pl. neut. n. sweord, 'sword'. ecgum ins. pl. fem. n. ecg, 'edge'. ymbe Brunanburh.ymbe adv. 'around'. Brunanburh dat. sg. masc. n. 'Brunanburh'.      Bordweal clufan, › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 1 15 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002H/ zzhaoe-002H /zzhaoe-002H/ lines 5b–10a ‹ ymbe Brunanburh.      Bordweal clufan,Bordweal nom. sg. masc. n. bordweal, 'shield-wall'; bord + weal. clufan ... heowan heaþolindeheowan 3 pl. pret. ind. hēawan, 'to strike, chop'. heaþolinde acc. pl. fem. n. heaþolind, 'linden war-shield'.      hamora lafan,hamora gen. pl. masc. n. hamor, 'hammer'. lafan ins.(?) pl. fem. n. lāf, 'remains, legacy' (poet. usage). hamora lafan refers to swords, which are made by hammers. afaran Eadweardes,afaran 3 pl. pret. ind. str. vi vb. āfaran, 'to depart, march out'. Eadweardes gen. sg. masc. n. Eadweard, 'Edward'; gen. of source(?).      swa him geæþele wæshim 3 dat. pl. masc. pron. geæþele nom.(?) sg. masc. str. adj. geæþele, 'congenial, in accordance with one's nature'. wæs 3 sg. pret. ind. anom. vb. bēon, 'to be'. from cneomægum,cneomægum dat. pl. masc. n. *cnēomǣg, 'relation, kindred'; cnēomǣgas is attested.      þæt hi æt campehi 3 nom. pl. masc. pron. æt prep. 'at'. campe dat. sg. masc. n. camp, 'battle'. oft wiþ laþra gehwænelaþra gen. pl. masc. n. laþ, 'loathsome, hateful'. gehwæne ?, 'each, every'.      land ealgodon,land acc. sg. neut. n. land, 'land'. ealgodon 3 pl. pret. ind. wk. 2 vb. ealgian, 'to defend'. hord and hamas.hord acc. sg. masc. n. hord, 'hoard'. hamas acc. pl. masc. n. hām, 'home'.      Hettend crungun, › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 1 19 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002J/ zzhaoe-002J /zzhaoe-002J/ lines 10b–17a ‹ hord and hamas.      Hettend crungun,Hettend nom. pl. masc. (str. nd-stem) n. hettend, 'enemy'. crungun 3 pl. pret. ind. str. iiia vi. cringan, 'fall, yield'. Sceotta leodaSceotta gen. pl. masc. (str. n-stem) n. Sceottas, 'the Scots (the Irish)'; of leoda. leoda gen. pl. masc. n. lēod, 'prince'; of Hettend(?).      and scipflotanscipflotan nom. pl. wk. masc. n. sċipflota, 'sailor'. fæge feollan,fæge nom. pl. masc. str. adj. fǣġe, 'fey, doomed to die'. feollan 3 pl. pret. ind. str. vii vb. feallan, 'to fall'.      feld dennadefeld nom. sg. masc. n. feld, 'field'. dennade 3 sg. pret. ind. wk. 2 vb. dennian, 'to become slippery'. secga swate,secga gen. pl. masc. n. seċġ, 'warrior' (poet. usage). swate dat.(?) sg. masc. swāt, 'blood'.      siðþan sunne upsiðþan conj. 'since'. sunne nom. sg. wk. fem. n. sunne, 'sun'. up adv. 'up'. on morgentid,on prep. w. acc., 'on, during'. morgentid acc. sg. fem. n. morġentīd, 'morning-tide'; morġen + tīd.      mære tungol,mære acc. sg. neut. str. adj. mǣre, 'renowned'; of tungol. tungol acc. sg. neut. n. tungol, 'heavenly body, star'; app. sunne. glad ofer grundas,glad 3 sg. pret. ind. str. i vi. glīdan, 'to glide, slip'. ofer prep. w. acc. indicating motion from above. grundas acc. pl. masc. n. grund, 'ground'.      godes condel beorht,godes gen. sg. masc. n. gōd, 'God'. condel nom. sg. fem. n. condel, 'candel'. beorht nom. sg. fem. str. adj. beorht, 'bright'. eces drihtnes,eces gen. sg. masc. str. adj. ēce, 'eternal, perpetual'. drihtnes gen. sg. masc. n. drihten, 'lord'; of godes.      oð sio æþele gesceaftoð conj. 'until'. sio nom. sg. fem. def. art. æþele nom. sg. fem. wk. adj. æþele, 'noble, eminent'. gesceaft nom. sg. fem. n. gesceaft, 'the creation'. sah to setle.sah 3 sg. pret. ind. str. i vb. sīgan, 'to sink, fall'. setle dat. sg. masc./neut. n. setl, 'seat, residence'.      Þær læg secg mænig › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 1 20 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002Q/ zzhaoe-002Q /zzhaoe-002Q/ lines 17b–20a ‹ sah to setle.      Þær læg secg mænigÞær adv. 'there'. læg 3 sg. pret. ind. str. v vi. liċġan, 'to lie'. secg nom. sg. masc. n. seċġ, 'man' (poet.). mænig adj. w. sg. n. 'many'; of secg. garum ageted,garum ins. pl. masc. n. gar, 'spear, arms'. ageted pp. wk. 1 vb. agetan, 'to destroy'.      guma norþernaguma nom. sg. wk. masc. n. guma, 'man'; of secg mænig. norþerna nom. sg. mas. wk. adj. norþerne, 'northern'. ofer scild scoten,ofer prep. w. acc. 'over'. scild acc. sg. masc. n. sċild, 'shield'. scoten pp. str. ii vb. sċēotan, 'to shoot'; of secg mænig, guma.      swilce Scittisc eac,swilce adv. 'as, like'. Scittisc nom. pl. masc. undecl.(?) adj. Scittisc, 'Scottish (Irish)'. eac adv. 'also, too'. werig, wiges sæd.werig nom. sg. masc. str. adj. weriġ, 'weary, tired'. wiges gen. sg. masc. n. wīg, 'war, battle' (poet.). sæd nom. sg. masc. str. adj. sǣd, 'sated, weary'.      Wesseaxe forð › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 1 20 2025 3 20 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002R/ zzhaoe-002R /zzhaoe-002R/ lines 20b–24a ‹ werig, wiges sæd.      Wesseaxe forðWesseaxe dat. sg. masc. n. Wesseaxe, 'Wessex'. forð adv. 'forth, thence'. ondlongne dægondlongne acc. sg. neut. str. adj. ondlong, 'all-along, throughout'. dæg acc. sg. masc. n. dæg, 'day'.      eorodcistumeorodcistum dat. pl. fem. n. ēorodcist, 'company, troop'. on last legdunon prep. w. dat./ins. expressing .... last dat.(?) sg. masc. n. lāst, 'footstep, track'. legdun 3 pl. pret. ind. wk. 1 vb. leċġan, 'to slay'(?).      laþum þeodumlaþum dat. pl. fem. adj. lāþ, 'hateful, evil'. þeodum dat. pl. fem. n. þeōd, 'nation, people'., heowan hereflemanheowan 3 pl. pret. ind. str. vii vb. hēawan, 'to strike, chop'. herefleman acc. pl. masc. n. hereflēma, 'one who flees from battle'.      hindan þearlehindan adv. 'from behind'. þearle adv. 'severely, sorely'. mecum mylenscearpan.mecum ins. pl. masc. n. mēce, 'sword, falchion'. mylenscearpan ins. pl. masc. adj. mylenscearp, 'ground sharp'; str. decl. mylenscearpum in some MS.      Myrce ne wyrndon › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 3 20 2025 12 16 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-002Y/ zzhaoe-002Y /zzhaoe-002Y/ lines 24b–28a ‹ mecum mylenscearpan.      Myrce ne wyrndonMyrce nom. pl. masc. n. Myrce, 'The Mercians'. wynrdon 3 pl. pret. ind. wk. 2 vb. wyrnan, 'to keep from, refuse'; in this case w. gen. of what is prohibited. heardes hondpleganheardes gen. sg. masc. adj. heard, 'hard, harsh'. hondplegan gen. sg. masc. n. honplega, 'hand-play'.      hæleþa nanumhæleþa gen. pl. masc. n. hæleþ, 'man, warrior'. nanum det.(?) nān, 'not one, not any'. þæra þe mid Anlafeþæra gen. pl. masc. pron. Anlafe dat. sg. masc. n. Ānlāf, 'Olaf, king of Dublin'.      ofer æra geblandofer prep. 'over'. æra gen. pl. masc. n. ær, 'ocean'; here, pl. 'waves of the ocean'. gebland dat.(?) sg. neut. n. gebland, 'mingling, commotion'. æra gebland 'the agitation of the sea'. on lides bosmelides gen. sg. neut. n. lid, 'vessel, ship'. bosme dat. sg. masc. n. bōsm, 'breast, bosom'.      land gesohtun,land acc. neut. n. land, 'land'. gesohtun 3 pl. pre. ind. wk. 1 vt. ġesēċan, 'to seek'. fæge to gefeohte.fæge nom. pl. masc. str. adj. fǣġe, 'fey, doomed to die'. gefeohte dat. sg. neut. n. ġefeoht, 'fight, battle'.      Fife lægun › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 12 16 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-003J/ zzhaoe-003J /zzhaoe-003J/ lines 28b–32a ‹ fæge to gefeohte.      Fife lægunFife nom. pl. num. fīf, 'five'. lægun 3 pl. pret. ind. str. v. vi. liċġan, 'to lie'. on þam campstedeþam dat. sg. masc. det. campstede dat. sg. masc. n. campstede, 'battlefield'.      cyningas giunge,cyningas nom. pl. masc. n. cyning, 'king'. giunge nom. pl. masc. str. adj. ġeong, 'young'. sweordum aswefede,sweordum ins. pl. neut. n. sweord, 'sword'. aswefede pp. wk. 1 vt. āswebban, 'to lull, pacify; to annul, destroy'.      swilce seofene eacswilce adv. swelċe 'also, likewise'. seofene nom. pl. num. seofon, 'seven'. eac adv. 'too'. eorlas Anlafes,eorlas nom. pl. masc. n. eorl, 'nobleman'. Anlafes gen. sg. masc. n. Ānlāf, 'Olaf, king of Dublin'.      unrim heriges,unrim nom. pl. neut. n. unrīm, 'countnless number'; w. gen. heriges gen. sg. masc. n. here, 'army, host'; used of enemies in assocation w. devastation and robbery. flotan and Sceotta.flotan gen.(?) pl. masc. n. flota, 'shipman; ship'. Sceotta gen. pl. masc. n. Scottas, 'the Irish'.      Þær geflemed wearð › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 12 16 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-003K/ zzhaoe-003K /zzhaoe-003K/ lines 32b–36b ‹ flotan and Sceotta.      Þær geflemed wearðgeflemed pp. wk. 1 vt. ġeflīeman, 'to drive away, put to flight'. wearð 3 pl. pret. ind. str. iii vi. weorþan, 'to be'; forming the passive voice. Norðmanna bregu,Norðmanna gen. pl. masc. n. Norþmann, 'Norseman, Dane'. bregu nom. sg. masc. n. brego, 'prince, lord'.      nede gebeded,nede adv. 'of necessity'. gebeded pp. wk. 1 vt. gebǣdan, 'compelled, urged'. to lides stefnelides gen. sg. neut. n. līd, 'vessel, ship'. stefne dat. sg. masc. n. stefn, 'stem, prow'.      litle weorode;litle ins.(?) sg. str. adj. lȳtel, 'small, little'. weorode ins. sg. neut. n. weorod, 'band, troop'. cread cnear on flot,cread 3 sg. pret. ind. str. iii vt. crēodan, 'to crowd, press, drive'. cnear acc. sg. masc. n. cnear, 'ship, galley (of the Norse)'. flot dat. sg. neut. n. flot, 'water deep enough for a ship; the sea'.      cyning ut gewatcyning nom. sg. masc. n. cyning, 'king'. ut adv. 'out'. gewat 3 sg. pret. ind. str i vi. ġewītan, 'to depart'. on fealene flod,fealene acc. sg. masc. str. adj. fealu, 'yellow, dusky, grey'. flod acc. sg. masc. n. flōd, 'flowing of the tide; deluge'.      feorh generede.feorh acc. pl. neut. n. feorh, 'life (in danger); soul; living being'. generede pp. wk. 1 vt. nerian, 'to save, rescue'. "There was put to flight the lord of the Danes, driven with a little bad by necessity to the prow of the ship; crowding the ship on the sea, the king departed on fallow tides to save his life." Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 12 17 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-003L/ zzhaoe-003L /zzhaoe-003L/ lines 37a–44a Swilce þær eac se frodaSwilce adv. 'likewise'. þær adv. 'there'. eac adv. 'too'. se nom. sg. masc. art. 'the'. froda nom. sg. masc. wk. adj. 'wise, experienced'.      mid fleame comfleame ins. sg. masc. n. flēam, 'escape, flight'. com 3 sg. pret. ind. str. iv vi. cuman 'to come'. on his cyþþe norð,on prep. 'onto, into'; w. acc. expressing allative. his 3 gen. sg. masc. pron. cyþþe acc. sg. fem. n. cȳþþu, 'native country, home'.      Costontinus,Constontinus nom. sg. masc. n. Constantīnus, 'Constantine II, king of Scotland'. har hildering,har nom. sg. masc. str. adj. hār, 'hoary'. hildering nom. sg. masc. n. hilderinc, 'warrior' (poet.).      hreman ne þorftehreman inf. hrīeman, 'to boast, brag'. þorfte 3 sg. pret. ind. pret-pres. vb. þurfan, 'to need, have good cause to do something'; maybe subj.? mæca gemanan;mæca gen. pl. masc. (str. ja-stem) n. mǣċe, 'sword'. gemanan acc.(?) sg. wk. masc. n. gemana, 'intercourse'.      he wæs his mæga sceard,he 3 nom. sg. masc. pron. wæs 3 sg. pret. ind. anom. vi. wesan, 'to be'. his 3 gen. sg. masc. pron. mæga gen. pl. masc. n. mǣg, 'relative, kinsman'. sceard nom. sg. masc. str. adj. 'notched, chipped, broken'(?); here, 'bereaved'. freonda gefylledfreonda gen. pl. masc. n. frēond, 'friend'. gefylled pp. wk. 1 vi. fiellan, 'to fall'.      on folcstede,on prep. 'at, on'; w. dat. folcstede. folcstede dat. sg. masc. n. folcstede 'battle-place, battlefield'. beslagen æt sæcce,beslagen pp. str. vi vt. beslēan, 'to strike, take away, bereave'. æt prep. 'at'; w. dat. sæcce. sæcce dat. sg. fem. n. sæċċe, 'battle, fighting'.      and his sunu forlethis 3 gen. sg. masc. pron. sunu acc. sg. neut. n. sunu, 'son'. forlet 3 sg. pret. ind. str. vii vt. forlǣtan, 'to abandon, forsake'. on wælstowewælstowe dat. sg. fem. n. wælstōw, 'place of the slain, battlefield'; wæl 'slaughter, the slain' + stōw 'place'.      wundun fergrunden,wundun ins.(?) pl. fem. n. wund 'wound, injury'. fergrunden pp. str. iii vt. forgrindan 'to destroy by crushing, grind'; for- internsifier + grindan. giungne æt guðe.giungne acc. sg. masc. str. adj. giung, 'young'; of sunu. guðe dat. sg. fem. n. guþ, 'war, battle'. "Likewise there also the experienced one came in flight to his native country—Constontinus the hoary warrior. He had no good reason to boast of the meeting of swords; bereaved of his kinsmen, friends fallen on the battlefield, slain in the fighting, in the place of the slain he abandoned his son, with wounds crushed, young in war."      Gelpan ne þorfte › Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 12 19 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-003M/ zzhaoe-003M /zzhaoe-003M/ lines 44b–52b ‹ giungne æt guðe.      Gelpan ne þorfteGelpan inf. str. iii vt. gelpan, 'to glory, boast'; w. gen. þorfte 3 sg. pret. ind. pret-pres. vb. þurfan, 'to need, have good cause to do something'. beorn blandenfeaxbeorn nom. sg. masc. n. beorn, 'man, warrior' (poet.). blandenfeax nom. sg. masc. str. adj. blandenfeax, 'having mixed or grizzly hair'; blanden (pp. of blandan) + feax 'hair'.      bilgeslehtes,bilgeslehtes gen. sg. neut. n. bilgesleht, 'clashing of swords, battle'; bil 'sword' + gesleht 'clashing' from slēan. eald inwidda,eald nom. sg. masc. str. adj. eald, 'old'. inwidda nom. sg. masc. str. adj. inwidda, 'deceit, guile'.      ne Anlaf þy ma;Anlaf nom. sg. masc. n. Ānlāf, 'Olaf, king of Dublin'. þy adv. 'therefore, for this reason'. ma adv. 'more, rather, further'. mid heora herelafumheora 3 gen. pl. masc. pron. herelafum dat. pl. fem. n. herelāf, 'remnant of an army'; here 'host, army' + lāf 'remnant'.      hlehhan ne þorftunhlehhan inf. str. vi vb. hlehhan, 'to laugh'; w. gen. of thing laughed at. þorftun 3 pl. pret. ind. þurfan, 'to need, have good cause to do something'; maybe subj.? þæt heo beaduweorcaheo nom. pl. masc. pron.(?) beaduweorca nom. sg. wk. masc. n. beauduweorca, 'war-worker, soldier'; beadu 'battle, war' + weorc 'work, labor'.      beteran wurdunbeteran betera, 'better'; comp. of gōd. wurdun 3 pl. pret. ind. str. iii vi. weorþan, 'to be'. on campstedecampstede dat. sg. masc. n. campstede, 'battlefield'.      cumbolgehnastes,cumbolgehnastes gen. sg. neut. n. cumbolgehnāst, 'conflict of banners, battle'; cumbol 'ensign, standard, banner' + gehnāst 'conflict'. garmittinge,garmittinge dat. sg. fem. n. gārmitting, 'meeting of spears, battle'; gār 'spear, javelin' + mitting 'meeting'.      gumena gemotes,gumena gen. pl. wk. masc. guma 'man, hero' (poet.). gemotes gen. sg. neut. n. gemōt, 'meeting, moot, coming together'. wæpengewrixles,wæpengewrixles gen. sg. neut. n. wæpengewrixl, 'turning of weapons'; wæpen 'weapon' + gewrixl 'turn, change, vicissitude'.      þæs hi on wælfeldaþæs adv. 'where, in which place'. hi 3 pl. masc. pron. wælfelda gen. pl. masc. n. wælfeld, 'field of slaughter'; wæl 'slaughter, carnage' + feld 'field'. wiþ EadweardesEadweardes gen. sg. masc. n. Eadweard, 'Edward'.      afaran plegodan.afaran. 3 pl. pret. ind. str. vi vi. āfaran, 'to depart, march'. plegodan 3 pl. pret. ind. wk. 2 vb. plegian, 'to contend, fight'. "No cause to boast had the grizzly haired warrior, old and crafty, nor more did Olaf; with the remnant of their army they had no cause to laugh, that they were better on the battlefield of banner-conflict, the meeting of spears and assembly of warriors, the trading of weapons, where against Edward's men they marched and contended."" Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 2025 12 25 https://mustardfox.org/zzhaoe-003N/ zzhaoe-003N /zzhaoe-003N/ lines 53a–56b Gewitan him þa NorþmenGewitan 3 pl. pret. ind. str. i vi. ġewitan, 'to depart'. him 3 dat. sg. neut. pron. þa nom. pl. masc. def. art. Norþmen nom. pl. masc. Norþmann, 'Norseman'.      nægledcnearrum,nægledcnearrum ins. pl. masc. nægledcnear, 'vessel whose sides are nailed together'; nægled pp. wk. 1 vt. næglan 'to nail' + cnear 'ship, vessel'. dreorig daraða laf,dreorig nom. sg. masc. str. adj. drēorig, 'sad, sorrowful, dreary'. daraða gen. pl. masc. daraþ, 'dart, spear, weapon'. laf nom. sg. masc. lāf, 'remnant, remainder'.      on Dinges mereDinges unk. mere dat. sg. masc. mere, 'lake, pool, sea'. ofer deop wæterofer prep. w. acc.(?) 'across'. deop acc. sg. neut. str. adj. deop, 'deep'. wæter acc. sg. neut. wæter, 'water'.      Difelin secan,Difelin acc. sg. masc. Difelin, 'Dublin'. secan inf. wk. 1 vt. seċan, 'to look for, seek'. eft Iraland,eft adv. 'back (of return)'. Iraland dat. sg. masc. Iraland, 'Ireland'.      æwiscmode.æwiscmode nom. pl. masc. str. adj. æwiscmōd, 'shameful, dishonored'; æwisc 'shame, disagrce' + mōd '-minded, -spirited'. "Departed there the Norsemen on nailed vessels, the sorry remnant from the battle, upon Dingesmere, across deep water to seek Dublin, humiliated." Eric Zhao 2025 1 11 lines 57a–73 Swilce þa gebroþer      begen ætsamne, cyning and æþeling,      cyþþe sohton, Wesseaxena land,      wiges hremige. Letan him behindan      hræw bryttian saluwigpadan,      þone sweartan hræfn, hyrnednebban,      and þane hasewanpadan, earn æftan hwit,      æses brucan, grædigne guðhafoc      and þæt græge deor, wulf on wealde.      Ne wearð wæl mare on þis eiglande      æfer gieta folces gefylled      beforan þissum sweordes ecgum,      þæs þe us secgað bec, ealde uðwitan,      siþþan eastan hider Engle and Seaxe      up becoman, ofer brad brimu      Brytene sohtan, wlance wigsmiþas,      Weala s ofercoman, eorlas arhwate      eard begeatan. Related Bethesda Game Studios 2011 https://mustardfox.org/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/ the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim /the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim reference Contributions