These lines were first given to Ælfwine in drafts of “The Lost Road”, and are based on an arrangement of part of “The Seafarer”. They were later used with slight modification in “The Notion Papers Club”. Translated from Anglo-Saxon.

The desire of my spirit urges me to journey forth
over the flowing sea, that far hence across the
hills of water and the whale’s country I may seek
the land of strangers. No mind have I for harp,
nor gift of ring, nor delight in women, nor joy in
the world, nor concern with aught else save the
rolling of the waves.

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