Wæstm: Installment Number Five!

Echoes of familiar tales...

Eala friends! First of all, I want to apologize for my absence recently, which has been mainly due to exam period at my school. Today I’m finally back with more of my Wæstm project, a segment very heavily based on the Bosch triptych. It adheres very closely to some of the images on the rightmost panel, specifically the instruments and inexplicably floating ears (this is why I love medieval art!). The language was modeled after the traditional image of Christ’s descent into hell, a reoccurring motif in Christian art and writing from the Medieval period and onwards, such as the painting shown above. If you are interested, the biblical evidence most people source this material from is found in the New Testament, 1 Peter 4:6, and although the canonical authenticity of this particular moment are widely questioned, you can find many depictions of the scene from a variety of periods and origins.

I hope you enjoy this installment, and I’ll try to be more consistent about posting from now on. Also, please look up this word in the title of the chapter. It’s one of my favorites!

Chapter the Fifth: A prolonged flight, an agathokakological journey, and a ethical, internal tug-of-war

He sees many beautiful places

He gesihð fela forfæger ern

Pink castles and blue orbs

Þurh-hwitu readu castelu ond hæwe hringas

The apple gasps

Se wæstm fnēsð

A beautiful tree in a garden

For-fæger trēow in gewyrtune

The apple sees his home

Se wæstm gesihð his ēðle 

Soon light is gone 

Sōna leoht bið gegān 

The apple sees musical instruments

Se wæstm gesihð hearpan 

People are fighting and flying 

Leoda bēoð feohtende ond gefleogende

Fires burn and ears fly

Ældas inbeornanað ond earan gefleogað

In the middle: a pear with horns

Tōmmides: peru mid hornum 

The apple feels his destiny

Se wæstm gefelð his metod