[115.] Becca. See [note to v. 8]. Seafola and Theodoric: probably Theodoric of Verona and his retainer, Sabene of Ravenna. On the other hand, the references may be to Theoderic the Frank. (See [v. 24].)
[116.] Sifeca: probably the evil councillor who brought about the murder by Eormanric of his nephews, the Harlungs. (See [vv. 112, 113, note].)
[117-119.] These names are all very obscure.
[120.] Hrædas: the Goths.
[121.] The struggle between the Goths and the Huns did not actually occur in the Vistula wood, but after the Goths had left the Vistula.
[124, 130.] Wudga and Hama. The typical outlaws of German tradition. Hama appears in Beowulf (v. 1198) as a fugitive who has stolen the Brising necklace and fled from Eormanric. Wudga, the Widia of Waldhere ([B, vv. 4, 9]) came finally to be known for his treachery. He was connected with the court of Theodoric and received gifts from him, but he is later represented as having betrayed the king. The traditions about both of these men are badly confused.
[135-143.] One of the passages that give us a definite impression of the scop, or minstrel, and his life. It serves very well for the conclusion of a poem descriptive of the life of a minstrel.
DEOR’S LAMENT
[Critical text and translation: Dickins, Runic and Heroic Poems, Cambridge University Press, 1915, p. 70.
Alliterative translation: Gummere, Oldest English Epic (1910), p. 186.