Deorwine
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Deorwine is a Tretridian epic poem that tells the story of the hero Deorwine, who fled turmoil in Concord following the collapse of the Ulvrikian Empire with a great fleet and sailed west to Tretrid, where his people laid the roots to what would become Easþrena. It is considered one of the most important works of Tretridian literature and is generally considered the Tretridian national epic. It was written by Beda of Easþrena in the 11th century as a gift to Ceolmund II, the Easþrenan king, along with the heroic poem Cenhelm.
| Deorwine | |
|---|---|
| by Beda of Easþrena | |
.jpg) Preserved fragment of the Blawport Manuscript, which is believed to be Beda's original manuscript | |
| Written | 1041-1053 |
| First published in | 1053 |
| Country | Easþrena |
| Language | Tretridian |
| Subject(s) | The voyage of the hero Deorwine and the foundations of Tretrid |
| Genre(s) | Epic poem |
| Form | Alliterative verse |
| Lines | 9,600 |
The historicity of Deorwine has been a subject of scholarly debate. While Cenhelm drew mainly from historical events, there is a general absence of written historical evidence in Tretrid in the 6th and 7th centuries, when the poem is set. However, it is generally agreed to be a codification of oral tradition within which the cultural memory of the Ulvrikian migration into Tretrid was preserved. The poem is considered to be derived from the Ulvrikian storytelling tradition, though there are many Celanor-influenced element in the poem, likely from frequent contact between the people of Tretrid and the Celanor Empire.
Summary
Flight from Ulvrikia
Deorwine begins with the funeral of the Ulvrikian eorl Beorhtmund, a kinsman of the last Fylkir of the recently collapsed Ulvrikian Empire. Beorhtmund's young son Deorwine makes an oration over Beorhtmund's funeral pyre recounting how he secured the lands under his rule amidst the chaos of the Ulvrikian collapse, after which Beorhtmund's soldiers proclaim Deorwine the new eorl. Shortly after the funeral, the Gothir present, Ecgstan, reminds Deorwine of a prophecy: shortly after his birth, a seeress told Beorhtmund that Deorwine would bring his people to a peaceful, bountiful land west beyond the Concordian Ocean, and that he should seek favor from Nærð. Deorwine tells Ecgstan that he does not believe that the time is ripe but that he will seek to do his divinely mandated duty and will begin to prepare for the task set out for him. He orders the planting of many trees in preparation for the great fleet that he will need to build.
About a decade later, Deorwine receives Nori, on his return journey from many years of traveling throughout Ulvrikia. The two discuss the state of affairs in Ulvrikia since the volcanic winter and famine of 512, which Deorwine compares to the Fifelwinter. The topic of their discussion slowly drifts over to Nori's travels, at which point Nori brings up his intent to write down everything he had picked up on his travels into a great saga in an effort to restore order to Ulvrikia. Deorwine responds enthusiastically and urges Nori to do so. He arranges a meeting between Nori and Ecgstan, where the two discuss the gods and Nori's own teachings, before Nori sets out again.
A few months afterward, Deorwine orders the trees he ordered planted cut down and begins the construction of his fleet. Deorwine's neighboring eorls mistrust his intentions and form an army to halt construction, but Deorwine repels their forces in battle. His enemies regroup and attack again in far greater numbers when construction is nearly finished, and this time Deorwine is only able to delay his enemies in a series of battles until the fleet is finished, at which point he evacuates his people to the fleet and makes the final sacrifices to Nærð for good sailing and to Þunor for fair weather as the opposing army closes in. As the fleet sets sail, the last sight Deorwine sees of his homeland is the enemy setting it ablaze.
The ships are described as they sail forth, chief among them being Deorwine's flagship, Sæ-wægn (lit. "Sea-wagon"), which he had named in honor of Nærð.
The sea
Langeyjar and Ostretheia
After setting out from Langeyjar, Deorwine's fleet arrives in Sæfæst (Saefastr), the westernmost Ulvrikian settlement. Deorwine is warmly welcomed by Sæfæst's king, Sægar, his son Wigheard, and his daughter Osflæd. Osflæd in particular is described as being blessed by Frowe with incredible beauty and beloved by all the people of Sæfæst. Deorwine recounts his journey and mission in Sægar's court, after which Sægar gives him permission to stay in Sæfæst as long as suited him. He hears from traders of a land across the sea further to the west and believes that it is his destination. While Deorwine initially prepares to set out immediately, he decides to tarry and help the construction and development of Sæfæst before he continues.
Meanwhile, Osflæd falls in love with Deorwine, and when Deorwine initially doesn't reciprocate her feelings, she appeals to Frowe for help. Frowe is reluctant to grant her request, as she knows that granting her request will lead to great strife, but she eventually does so. Deorwine begins to develop feelings for Osflæd, and soon Osflæd sneaks into Deorwine's chambers at night and seduces him. Osflæd is unable to bear the idea of leaving Sæfæst behind even for Deorwine, so Deorwine resolves to stay.
A couple weeks later, as Deorwine is walking along the beaches of what will become Ostretheia, he encounters Nærð. Nærð reminds him that he must carry out his duty even if it would be ruinous to him, recounting Tiw's sacrifice of his hand and noting the numerous gods who are fated to die in Ragnarök and who nonetheless will still march unflinchingly into battle. With new clarity of purpose, Deorwine gathers his host and prepares to set sail again. As he is about to embark on his ship on the harbors of Sæfæst, Osflæd finds him and pleads to him not to go. With a heavy heart, Deorwine tells her that his fate lies not in Sæfæst but further westward, embarks on Sæ-wægn, and sets sail. Osflæd runs to a cliff overlooking the sea near Sæfæst to watch as Deorwine's fleet disappears over the horizon, and, despairing, throws herself into the sea and drowns herself.
Osflæd's body is claimed by Ran, but Frowe convinces her to give it up. Osflæd's body washes up on the shore the next day, causing immense grief for the people of Sæfæst. At her funeral, Sægar and Wigheard vow to extract a great wergeld from Deorwine for Osflæd's death, not now, but when Deorwine and his descendants have grown wealthy off their lands, such that far more gold can be taken from them in recompense. The entire population of Sæfæst follow suit.
Landing in Tretrid
Hildweald, the king of the Crenings, is paid a visit by Tiw and is informed of Deorwine's approach. Tiw advises Hildweald to welcome the fleet with open arms and to accept Deorwine like he would a son. Soon afterwards, Deorwine lands at the Crenish coast, close to where Sigested would be. He is greeted by Woden in the guise of a hermit, who tells him briefly of the history of the land, and that it is held close to Tiw.