Things are hard but you will overcome them - that is the refrain of the poem Deor, found in the Exeter Book.
The Exeter Book is one of the biggest repositories of early medieval poetry, compiled at some point in the late tenth century. The poem, which has been given the later title Deor, is a lament. The minstrel, who’s name is Deor, has been replaced by another rival singer. In the poem, he tries to comfort himself by reminding himself of the trials and tribulations of the people he sings about, including the refrain ‘Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.’
R. K. Gordon, (who’s translation is probably outdated but I like), translates this as ‘That passed away, so may this.’
You can read the whole poem online here - which instead uses the word ‘overcome’, which I also enjoy - ‘That was overcome, so may this be’.
I’m back in the library for Section 2 of the thesis, which is in slightly better shape currently than Section 1, but also, who knows. I thought Section 1 was a disaster and turns out I was wrong, so my own opinions about my work are probably not very reliable. We have so long to go, I know it is going to go so quickly.
Anyway, I read Deor, then The Wanderer, and then I thought wow. Poets have been depressed forever. How beautiful that despair is always there, how beautiful that people have continued on through it. That passed away, so may this.
Other!
I have had a stye for three and a half weeks and I’m being so brave about it. Unfortunately, the number of presents I have promised myself as a reward for when it finally goes are now extremely numerous.
I’ve had a whole week in Oxford. The place smells like dissertation and spring. I’ve been working in the tower room in the Old Bod, thinking about my master’s year and telling myself I finished that then, and I’ll finish this now.
Got a new mop :)