Peterhouse MS 255 open at the sermon's mention of Wade.Master and Fellows of Peterhouse / University of Cambridge
Peterhouse MS 255 open at the sermon's mention of Wade.Master and Fellows of Peterhouse / University of Cambridge
Elrond Half-wolven.
One thing doesn’t make sense: one word does not change a monster-filled epic to courtly intrigue or chivalric romance. There would be a lot of other contacts for the form a poem takes.
Interesting. I’d never heard of Wade before and now I’ve learned something:
The Germanic poems and legends surrounding Wade—also known as Vadi in Norse and Wate in Middle High German—form a fascinating but fragmented tapestry of myth, romance, and folklore. Here’s what we know:
🧝♂️ Who Was Wade?
Mythological Origins: Wade is described as the son of King Vilkinus and a mermaid named Wachilt in the Þiðrekssaga, a Norse saga. This makes him a semi-divine figure with strong ties to the sea.
Family Ties: His son is the legendary smith Wayland (Völundr), and his possible brothers include Egil and Slagfin, mentioned in the Poetic Edda.
Folkloric Role: In Anglo-Saxon lore, Wade was known as the “Keeper of the Ford,” a ferryman and protector, often associated with water and mysterious exploits.
📜 Literary Mentions
Old English Poem “Widsith”: Wade is briefly mentioned, suggesting his fame among Germanic heroes.
Chaucer’s Allusions:
In Troilus and Criseyde, Pandarus tells the “tale of Wade” to stir romantic feelings.
In The Merchant’s Tale, “Wade’s boat” is referenced as a metaphor for trickery or sexual cunning.
Lost Poem – “The Song of Wade”:
Only three lines survive, found in a Latin sermon from the 12th century (Peterhouse MS 255).
Originally translated as involving “elves,” but recent scholarship by James Wade and Seb Falk argues they were actually “wolves,” shifting the tone from mythic to chivalric2.
🛶 Wade’s Boat – Guingelot
Magical Vessel: Chaucer’s references and later commentary suggest Wade’s boat, Guingelot, was magical, possibly winged, and used in daring exploits.
Symbolism: The boat became a metaphor for cunning and deception, especially in romantic or sexual contexts.
🏰 Folklore and Archaeology
Wat’s Dyke: A defensive earthwork along the England-Wales border may be named after Wade (as “Wat”), linking him to local Welsh poetry and monuments like the Maen Achwyfan cross.
Local Legends: Tales from North Yorkshire describe Wade and his wife Bell throwing hammers across moors, and Wade’s son hurling stones in frustration—blending myth with landscape features.
🧙 Influence and Legacy
Tolkien Connection: J.R.R. Tolkien based his character Eärendil on Wade, with the ship Vingilot echoing Guingelot2.
Cultural Meme: Scholars argue Wade was a kind of medieval “meme”—a recognizable heroic figure used to evoke themes of chivalry, romance, and moral lessons.
Changing he to she, leonard to lolita, makes no difference, that much I know.
After reading the summaries, I just knew Tolkien would play into it. These tales were probably very well known to him.
