47
2.3 Exclamatory Hwæt in Verseb. Hwæt , we eac gehyrdon be Iohanne/ æglæawe menn æðelo reccan!
(Fates 23)
‘What, we also heard men learned in the law tell of John’s lineage’
c. Hwæt , we þæt gehyrdon þurg halige bec ... (Fates 63)
‘What, we heard that through holy books ...’
d. Hwæt. Ic, swefna cyst secgan wylle ... (Dream 1)
‘What. I wish to tell the best of dreams ...’
e. Hwæt. Ic þysne sang siðgeomor fand/ on seocum sefan, samnode wide ...
(Fates 1)
‘What. I, weary of travel, discovered this song, with a sick mind gathered (it)
widely ...’
f. Hwæt we þissa wundra gewitan sindon. (Guth A,B 752)
‘What, we are witnesses of these wonders’
A character, rather than the poet, may also indicate how he or she has acquired
certain information:
(2) a. Hwæt , we þæt gehyrdon þurh halige bec ... (El 364)
‘What, we heard that through the holy book ...’
b. “ Hwæt , we Ebreisce æ leornedon ...” (El 397)
‘What, we learned Hebrew law ...’
An interesting use of hwæt is exemplifi ed in (3), where the poet reminds the
audience of what has just been narrated:
(3) a. Hwæt , ic hwile nu haliges lare,/ leoðgiddinga, lof þæs þe worhte,/ wordum
wemde ... (And 1478– 80)
‘What, I for a while now the story of the holy one, a song, praise of that which
he wrought, announced with words ...’
b. Hwæt , we nu gehyrdan hu þæt hælubearn ... (Christ A,B,C 586)
‘What, we now heard how that holy child ...’
In (4), a character reminds an addressee of what the addressee has just said (or
perhaps only thought):
(4) a. “ Hwæt. Þu worn fela, wine min <Unferð>,/ beore druncen ymb Brecan
spræce” (Beo 530– 31)
‘What. You spoke many things, my friend Unferth, drunk with beer, about
Breca ...’
b. “ Hwæt , þu me, wine min, wordum nægest,/ fusne frignest ...” (Guth A,B
1227– 28)
‘What, you, my friend, address me with words, ask eagerly ...’
c. “ Hwæt. Ðu huru wendest, wine Burgenda ...” (WaldB 14)
‘What. Certainly you think, friend of the Burgundians ...’
d. “ Hwæt þu, Ælfwine, hafast ealle gemanode/ þegenas to þearfe ...” (Mald
231– 32)
‘What, you Ælfwine, have admonished all the men as is needed ...’