Aldhelm Riddle 58: Vesper sidus

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022
Original text:

Tempore de primo noctis mihi nomen adhaesit,
Occiduas mundi complector cardine partes;
Oceano Titan dum corpus tinxerit almum
Et polus in glaucis relabens volvitur undis,
Tum sequor, in vitreis recondens lumina campis
Et fortunatus, subito ni tollar ab aethra,
Ut furvas lumen noctis depelleret umbras.

Translation:

My name sticks because of the early time of night,
When I encircle the western parts at the axis of the world;
While Titan immerses his nourishing body in the ocean,
And the sky, sliding down, is revolved into the grey waves,
Then I follow, hiding my lights in the glassy plains,
And I am fortunate that I am not suddenly removed from the skies,
So that my light may dispel the night’s dark shadows.

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Evening Star


Notes:

This edition is based on Rudolf Ehwald, ed. Aldhelmi Opera Omnia. Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi, 15. Berlin: Weidmann, 1919, pages 59-150. Available online here



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