DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Acolyte, v. 2, issue 3, whole no. 7, Summer 1944

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Acolyte, v. 2, issue 3, whole no. 7, Summer 1944

Page 14

REGNAR ODBRUG'S EPICEDIUM

(An 8th Century Funeral Song....
Translated from Olaus Wormius)
by H. P. Lovecraft.

(Editors' note: This interesting item presents to Acolyte readers what to us, at least, an entirely new facet of HPL's writings. Written about 1920, The Epicedium is probably one of the very earliest attempts by Lovecraft to "translate" a mythical manuscript, and is also notable for the first reference to the redoubtable Olaus Wormius, who later became renowned as translator and publisher of the diabolic writings of the mad Arab, Abdul Alhazred. The various gaps in poem are, we assume, deliberate; and probably are meant to convey the idea that only portions of so ancient and bettered a vellum could be deciphered. So far as we know, Regnar Lodbrug's Epicedium is new to print. It appears here through the courtesy of R. H. Barlow and August Derleth. FTL-SDR.)

With our swords have we contended!
Come but new to Gothland's shore
For the killing of the serpent
We have gain'd from Thor (    )
(                                      )
From this deed they call me man
Because I have transfix'd the adder:
Shaggy Breeches from that slaughter.
(                                     )
I have thrust a spear into the serpent
With metal brighter (     )

With our swords have we contended!
But a youth was I when eastward
In the channel of Oregon
With our foeman's gore in torrents
We the (     ) and wolves delighted;
And the yellow-footed buzzard.
There the harden'd steel resounded
On the high-wrought hostile helmets.
One vast wound was all the ocean
And the hungry raven waded
Searching for its carrion food     )
Deep in dead men's thick'ning blood.   )

With our swords have we contended!
Ere two score of years we counted
High we bore our glist'ning lances
Wide we heard our fame and praises.
In the east before the harbour
(Barons eight we overcame;)
We the rav'ning eagle glutted;
Dripping wounds fill'd up the ocean.
Weary of the hopeless fray,     )
All he host dissolved away     )

-- 14 --

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REGNAR ODBRUG'S EPICEDIUM (An 8th Century Funeral Song.... Translated from Olaus Wormius) by H. P. Lovecraft. (Editors' note: This interesting item presents to Acolyte readers what to us, at least, an entirely new facet of HPL's writings. Written about 1920, The Epicedium is probably one of the very earliest attempts by Lovecraft to "translate" a mythical manuscript, and is also notable for the first reference to the redoubtable Olaus Wormius, who later became renowned as translator and publisher of the diabolic writings of the mad Arab, Abdul Alhazred. The various gaps in poem are, we assume, deliberate; and probably are meant to convey the idea that only portions of so ancient and bettered a vellum could be deciphered. So far as we know, Regnar Lodbrug's Epicedium is new to print. It appears here through the courtesy of R. H. Barlow and August Derleth. FTL-SDR.) With our swords have we contended! Come but new to Gothland's shore For the killing of the serpent We have gain'd from Thor ( ) ( ) From this deed they call me man Because I have transfix'd the adder: Shaggy Breeches from that slaughter. ( ) I have thrust a spear into the serpent With metal brighter ( ) With our swords have we contended! But a youth was I when eastward In the channel of Oregon With our foeman's gore in torrents We the ( ) and wolves delighted; And the yellow-footed buzzard. There the harden'd steel resounded On the high-wrought hostile helmets. One vast wound was all the ocean And the hungry raven waded Searching for its carrion food ) Deep in dead men's thick'ning blood. ) With our swords have we contended! Ere two score of years we counted High we bore our glist'ning lances Wide we heard our fame and praises. In the east before the harbour (Barons eight we overcame;) We the rav'ning eagle glutted; Dripping wounds fill'd up the ocean. Weary of the hopeless fray, ) All he host dissolved away ) -- 14 --