Remnants of old history

 

Early European history is not documented very well. Among the sources we count Beowulf, which clearly is a work of fantasy just like the History of the High Kings, but is supposed to be based on true historic facts.

 

Other sources are mainly Danish in origin; among these are the “Snorri’s Edda’s” and the Latin text of the ”Saxo Grammaticus” The historic truth of Beowulf is mainly based on these sources as there are many similes between them; the same characters are centred on the stage.

 

 

One of the characters mentioned in many sources is King Hengest is even associated with the “Courts of King Arthur”, according to Roderick Robertson.

 

However, I found a surprising note in “De ontwikkelingsgang der Nederlandsche letterkunde.” (1) who posed that the origin of all of these texts, including the “Nibelungenlied” was not to be found with the Danes, nor the Saxons but in Friesland.

 

All these texts seem to have incorporated a fragment of a lost poem now known as “the Finnsburg Fragment” (2)

 

Finnsburg, or Finneshâm was the home of Finn, who is assumed to be one of the first Frisian kings, before Radbod and Hrodbed and was slain in by King Hengis in 445, a year after the Fight at Finnsburgh. However, very little is know about this mysterious character from Frisian history.

 

In the following parts I would like to show the evidence of this fragment occurring in all these texts and try to show why the origin is supposedly Frisian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(1) J. te Winkel, 1907. (P 120 – 130)

“De ontwikkelingsgang der Nederlandsche letterkunde.(Deel 1: Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche letterkunde van Middeleeuwen en Rederijkerstijd (1))”

(The development of Dutch literature, part 1 History of the Dutch literature from Medieval times to that of the rederijkers)

 

(2) The fragment in Beowulf is usually referred to as “the lay of Finn”

The Finnsburgh Fragment

Al that has remained of this work of early European epic poetry is a mere fragment of 48 lines.

 

The Fight at Finnsburu

................          "Are the gables burning?"

Hnaef answered boldly,     the bright battle-king:

"No gable blazes!     We greet no glaring dawn,

and here no winged dragon     deals his fiery dread.

Here battle-light quickens,     born of a broken oath,

and dark doom-criers shriek,     blackest war-birds.

The moon stands still     to stare at this shame,

as hungry wolves howl     and war-wood shouts.

Shield will answer shaft!     A shattered promise

flings this hall-lord,     faithless Finn, into woe.

Wake now, my warriors!     Lift bow and wield linden,

greet Frisian treachery     with grey iron's grief.

Brave men, faith-fast,     fight beside me at the door!"

Rose up his golden thanes,     good men girded on swords.

Keen for the battle,     worthy kin to kings,

Siegeferth ran to the door,     bold Eaha drew his blade.

High-hearted Ordlaf,     grey Guthlaf, and Hengest himself,

kept close beside.     Those canny soldiers

defended the door,     dared all for Hnaef.

Outside, Guthere spoke,      Guthlaf's own brother

to Guthlaf's own son: "Garulf, good prince, hold back.

Don't risk life or redden blade     in the fiery first rush."

Young Garulf didn't heed,     he would not be held,

though fate forced an oath     between his father and him.

Sharp, he shouted:     "Say! Who holds the door?"

The hall-ward answered,     the wide-known wanderer,

"Siegeferth am I,     sworn to stand.

My sword's hard edge     will hold this hall!"

Fierce battle-din     flooded Finn's hall.

Shield warded breast,     gripped swords shone,

Fated Garulf fell,     first under the arrows' flight.

Then smoke rose up,     reached sear ravens sailing,

and the golden war hawk     hung over the hall.

Sword-light blazed,     red on bleeding blades,

all of Finnsburuh fired     would flame as bright.

No king can boast of braver men,      nor any so bold

as these defending the door,     dauntless against foes.

These were steadfast hearts,     Hnaef's hall-friends.

Woven words have praised     no men more worthy

of the golden gifts,      the king-granted rings.

Five days, they fought.     Not one fell.

Then one, sword-bitten,     saw his blood surge.

A blade tore his byrnie,     the edge burst his helm.

He went to his king,     where war raged loudest.

Hnaef asked to hear     how the soldiers fared,

and which of the young men .................. (3)

 

 

The appearance of Finn in other texts

As said before, Finn makes his appearance in numerous old texts.

 

Beowulf, the Lay of Finn.

In the first fragment the clearest reference to Friesland is “Frysum”.

hyne wyrd fornam,
syþðan he for wlenco         wean ahsode,
fæhðe to Frysum.         He þa frætwe wæg,
eorclanstanas         ofer yða ful,
rice þeoden;         he under rande gecranc.

Gehwearf þa in Francna fæþm         feorh cyninges,
breostgewædu         ond se beah somod;
wyrsan wigfrecan         wæl reafedon
æfter guðsceare,         Geata leode,
hreawic heoldon.         Heal swege onfeng. (4)

 

And in the second fragment, “Freslondum” is mentioned but also “Hygelac” (which I will explain later on)

 

No þæt læsest wæs

hondgemota,         þær mon Hygelac sloh,
syððan Geata cyning         guðe ræsum,
freawine folca         Freslondum on,
Hreðles eafora         hiorodryncum swealt,
bille gebeaten.         þonan Biowulf com

sylfes cræfte,         sundnytte dreah;
hæfde him on earme         ana XXX
hildegeatwa,         þa he to holme beag.
Nealles Hetware         hremge þorfton
feðewiges,         þe him foran ongean

linde bæron;         lyt eft becwom
fram þam hildfrecan         hames niosan. (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(3) Translation of the Finnsburgh Fragment copyright © 2002 by Nancy Varian Berberick

(4) Béowulf vs. 1206-1215

(5) Béowulf vs. 2355-2367

The third fragment mentions “Frysum”, “Fresna land” and again “Hegelac”

 

Nu ys leodum wen
orleghwile,         syððan underne
Froncum ond Frysum         fyll cyninges
wide weorðeð.         Wæs sio wroht scepen
heard wið Hugas,         syððan Higelac cwom

faran flotherge         on Fresna land,
þær hyne Hetware         hilde genægdon,
elne geeodon         mid ofermægene,
þæt se byrnwiga         bugan sceolde,
feoll on feðan,         nalles frætwe geaf

ealdor dugoðe.         Us wæs a syððan
Merewioingas         milts ungyfeðe. (6)

 

and of course, chapter XVI of “Beowulf”, known as “the lay of Finn”

1050

Ða gyt æghwylcum         eorla drihten
þara þe mid Beowulfe         brimlade teah
on þære medubence         maþðum gesealde,
yrfelafe,         ond þone ænne heht
golde forgyldan,         þone ðe Grendel ær

 

1055

mane acwealde,         swa he hyra ma wolde,
nefne him witig god         wyrd forstode
ond ðæs mannes mod.         Metod eallum weold
gumena cynnes,         swa he nu git deð.
Forþan bið andgit         æghwær selest,

 

1060

ferhðes foreþanc.         Fela sceal gebidan
leofes ond laþes         se þe longe her
on ðyssum windagum         worolde bruceð.
þær wæs sang ond sweg         samod ætgædere
fore Healfdenes         hildewisan,

 

1065

gomenwudu greted,         gid oft wrecen,
ðonne healgamen         Hroþgares scop
æfter medobence         mænan scolde
be Finnes eaferum,         ða hie se fær begeat,
hæleð Healfdena,         Hnæf Scyldinga,

 

1070

in Freswæle         feallan scolde.
Ne huru Hildeburh         herian þorfte
Eotena treowe;         unsynnum wearð
beloren leofum         æt þam lindplegan,
bearnum ond broðrum;         hie on gebyrd hruron,

 

 

 

 

 

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(6) Béowulf vs. 2911-2922

 

1075

gare wunde.         þæt wæs geomuru ides!
Nalles holinga         Hoces dohtor
meotodsceaft bemearn,         syþðan morgen com,
ða heo under swegle         geseon meahte
morþorbealo maga,         þær heo ær mæste heold

1080

worolde wynne.         Wig ealle fornam
Finnes þegnas         nemne feaum anum,
þæt he ne mehte         on þæm meðelstede
wig Hengeste         wiht gefeohtan,
ne þa wealafe         wige forþringan

 

1085

þeodnes ðegna;         ac hig him geþingo budon,
þæt hie him oðer flet         eal gerymdon,
healle ond heahsetl,         þæt hie healfre geweald
wið Eotena bearn         agan moston,
ond æt feohgyftum         Folcwaldan sunu

 

1090

dogra gehwylce         Dene weorþode,
Hengestes heap         hringum wenede
efne swa swiðe         sincgestreonum
fættan goldes,         swa he Fresena cyn
on beorsele         byldan wolde.

 

1095

ða hie getruwedon         on twa healfa
fæste frioðuwære.         Fin Hengeste
elne, unflitme         aðum benemde
þæt he þa wealafe         weotena dome
arum heolde,         þæt ðær ænig mon

 

1100

wordum ne worcum         wære ne bræce,
ne þurh inwitsearo         æfre gemænden
ðeah hie hira beaggyfan         banan folgedon
ðeodenlease,         þa him swa geþearfod wæs;
gyf þonne Frysna hwylc         frecnan spræce

 

1105

ðæs morþorhetes         myndgiend wære,
þonne hit sweordes ecg         seðan scolde.
Ad wæs geæfned         ond icge gold
ahæfen of horde.         Herescyldinga
betst beadorinca         wæs on bæl gearu.

 

1110

æt þæm ade wæs         eþgesyne
swatfah syrce,         swyn ealgylden,
eofer irenheard,         æþeling manig
wundum awyrded;         sume on wæle crungon.
Het ða Hildeburh         æt Hnæfes ade

 

 

 

 

 

1115

hire selfre sunu         sweoloðe befæstan,
banfatu bærnan         ond on bæl don
eame on eaxle.         Ides gnornode,
geomrode giddum.         Guðrinc astah.
Wand to wolcnum         wælfyra mæst,

 

1120

hlynode for hlawe;         hafelan multon,
bengeato burston,         ðonne blod ætspranc,
laðbite lices.         Lig ealle forswealg,
gæsta gifrost,         þara ðe þær guð fornam
bega folces;         wæs hira blæd scacen. (7)

 

The Translation:

 

Then song and music mingled sounds
in the presence of Healfdene's head-of-armies
and harping was heard with the hero-lay
as Hrothgar's singer the hall-joy woke
along the mead-seats, making his song
of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn.
Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding,
was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter
Hildeburh needed not hold in value
her enemies' honor! Innocent both
were the loved ones she lost at the linden-play,
bairn and brother, they bowed to fate,
stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!
None doubted why the daughter of Hoc
bewailed her doom when dawning came,
and under the sky she saw them lying,
kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned
of the sweets of the world! By war were swept, too,
Finn's own liegemen, and few were left;
in the parleying-place he could ply no longer
weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,
and rescue his remnant by right of arms
from the prince's thane. A pact he offered:
another dwelling the Danes should have,
hall and high-seat, and half the power
should fall to them in Frisian land;
and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald's son
day by day the Danes should honor,
the folk of Hengest favor with rings,
even as truly, with treasure and jewels,
with fretted gold, as his Frisian kin
he meant to honor in ale-hall there.
Pact of peace they plighted further
on both sides firmly. Finn to Hengest
with oath, upon honor, openly promised
that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid,
nobly to govern, so none of the guests
by word or work should warp the treaty,
or with malice of mind bemoan themselves
as forced to follow their fee-giver's slayer,
lordless men, as their lot ordained.

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(7) Béowulf vs. 1050-1125

 

Should Frisian, moreover, with foeman's taunt,
that murderous hatred to mind recall,
then edge of the sword must seal his doom.
Oaths were given, and ancient gold
heaped from hoard. -- The hardy Scylding,
battle-thane best, on his balefire lay.
All on the pyre were plain to see
the gory sark, the gilded swine-crest,
boar of hard iron, and athelings many
slain by the sword: at the slaughter they fell.
It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre
the bairn of her body on brands to lay,
his bones to burn, on the balefire placed,
at his uncle's side. In sorrowful dirges
bewept them the woman: great wailing ascended.
Then wound up to welkin the wildest of death-fires,
roared o'er the hillock:heads all were melted,
gashes burst, and blood gushed out
from bitesof the body. Balefire devoured,
greediest spirit, those spared not by war
out of either folk: their flower was gone. (8)

 

Song of the Nibelungen

(1) "Nibelungenlied", the lay of the Nibelungs. The ordinary etymology of this name is ‘children of the mist’ ("Nebelkinder", O.N. "Niflungar"), and it is thought to have belonged originally to the dwarfs. Piper, I, 50, interprets it as ‘the sons of Nibul’; Boer, II, 198, considers "Hniflungar" to be the correct Norse form and interprets it as ‘the descendants of Hnaef’ (O.E. "Hnaef", O.H.G. "Hnabi"), whose death is related in the "Finnsaga".(9)

 

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(8) Béowulf translation: “Beowulf in Hypertext” http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html

(9) "The Nibelungenlied", translated by Daniel B. Shumway (Houghton-Mifflin Co., New York, 1909)