Cambridge Songs

Jan Ziolkowski, ed. and trans., Cambridge Songs. Garland, 1994, #6.

Let us celebrate in these modes the deeds of the dear ones

and friends, in whose honor this fine proem is inscribed
with the most noble title of Lantfrid and Cobbo.
Although one may read
about many kinds of friendship,
there have been none so outstanding
as the friendship of these comrades,
who were so sharing
that neither of them
possessed anything solely his own.

They share exile – Lantfrid says ‘It makes me weary…

of my own so dismal life
to pass my time without you here in these parts
that I will snatch up my wife and
go off with you, an exile with you
just as you have been with me for a long time,
repaying your love in kind.

Cobbo asks for L’s wife, and L gives her to him. He sails off, and L is worried, saying
‘let a brother not become a dishonour to a brother’.
Finally, Cobbo returns and soothes him:

Here you have, my sweetest love [perdulcis amor],

what you gave, untouched
before the test of love.