Curious
Gondolin
Nov 6 2007, 4:40pm
Views: 927
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Thanks for Heaney's version.
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The more translations the better, I suppose, when I don't know how to read the original.
The other translations don't make it clear whether we are talking about ring-mail or ring-adorned treasure or treasure worth many rings (rings almost seem to function like currency in this poem). But at any rate, I agree that rings are associated with treasure and that treasure is associated with endless feuds. And of course the poet is Christian, and perhaps a monk, so it seems quite possible that he did not approve of endless feuds, even though he recognized the virtue of generous ring-lords.
You talk about the Dark Ages as unique, but didn't Greek mythology also portray a decline from the Golden Age of yesteryear? Don't most mythologies portray history as a long decline? Look at the Bible -- and not just the Garden of Eden, but also the Tower of Babel, which was built in the Age when all men spoke one language. Then later the rule of David and Solomon was romanticized, probably well beyond the historical record. The Romans themselves mythologized the past, as we see in Virgil's Aeneid.
Only in the post-industrial world do we seem to mythologize the future, inventing science fiction to satisfy our fantasy needs. Although perhaps Christian tales of what will happen when Christ comes again, and other religious beliefs about the end of the world could be considered mythologizing the future. But usually the end comes only after the world has gone to hell.
As I said in my own response, I'm not sure the Danes are flaunting Heathobard treasure. I think the Danes may not be able to dress properly without someone wearing something that was formerly owned by the Heathobards.
(This post was edited by Curious on Nov 6 2007, 4:42pm)
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