48
Old English Hwæt
A character may also remind an addressee of what the addressee is or has done:
(5) a. Hwæt , ðu leoda feala/ forleolce ond forlærdest. (And 1363– 64)
‘What, you deluded and misled many people’
b. Hwæt , þu mec þreades/ þurh sarslege. (Jul 546– 47)
‘What, you attacked me with a painful blow’
c. Hwæt , ge witgena/ lare onfengon ... (El 334– 35)
‘What, you received the teaching of the wise men ...’
d. Hwæt , ðu golde eart,/ sincgife, sylla. (And 1508– 09)
‘What, you are better than gold, giver of treasure’
Moreover, that which is evident (6a) or visible (6b– c) to the addressee may be
remarked upon:
(6) a. Hwæt , þu glæm hafast/ ginfæste giefe, geoguðhades blæd. (Jul 167– 68)
‘What, you have beauty, ample favor, the glory of youth’
b. “ Hwæt , we þe þas sælac, sunu Healfdenes,/ leod Scyldinga, lustum brohton/
tires to tacne, þe þu her to locast.” (Beo 1652– 54)
‘What, we brought you this sea– gift with pleasure, son of Healfdane, leader
of the Scyldings, as a token of fame, which you here behold’
c. “ Hwæt , ge nu eagum to on lociað,/ folca leofost, færwundra sum ...” (Ex
278– 79)
‘What, you, behold now with your eyes, dearest of peoples, a terrible
wonder ...’
Finally, the poet or a character may recall past events and times, as in (7), or
express a general truth, as in (8):
(7) a. Hwæt , we for dryhtene iu dreamas hefdon,/ song on swegle selrum tidum,
(Sat 44– 45)
‘What, we before had joys in front of the lord, song in the heavens in
better times’
b. Hwæt , me þæs on eþle
Grendel wearð,/ ealdgewinna, ingenga min; (Beo 1774– 77))
‘What, a reversal of this came to me in my homeland, grief after joy, when
Grendel, the old adversary, become my invader’
c. Hwæt , hyt ær on ðe/ gode begeaton. (Beo 2248– 49)
‘What, good women obtained it before from you’
(8) a. “ Hwæt , we ðæt hyrdon þurh halige bec/ hæleðum cyðan þæt ahangen wæs/
on Caluarie cyninges freobearn, ...” (El 670– 72)
‘What, we heard that through holy books, made known to men, that the king’s
noble child was hanged on Calvary ...’
b. Hwæt , ic þæt for worulde geþolade. (Christ A,B,C 1423)
‘What, I suffered that for the world’