We are fortunate in being able to use not a translation of Wurth, but the word itself; I am not aware of its continuing to exist in any other German dialect. ----- The Anglosaxon equivalent is _Wyrd_, an expression of the very commonest and most frequent occurrence. It should however be borne in mind that there are two separate uses of this word, one a more abstract one, in which it is capable of being used in the plural, and which may generally be rendered _eventus_[735], another more personal, similar to the Oldsaxon _Wurth_, and in which it never occurs but in the singular[736]. In the following most remarkable passage the heathen and Christian thoughts are strangely mingled, Wierd being placed in actual apposition with God, swá he hyra má wólde nefne him witig God, Wyrd forstóde, ⁊ ðæs mannes mód[737]. “As he would more of them had not wise God, Wierd forstood him, and the man’s courage.” How very heathen the whole would be, were we only to conceive the word _God_ an interpolation, which is highly probable; nefne him witig—Wyrd forstóde[738]! The following examples will show the use of Wyrd:—“hine Wyrd fornam,”—him _Wierd_ ravished away[739]: just as in other passages we have guð fornam[740], Wíg ealle fornam[741], swylt fornam[742], deað fornam[743]. “Wyrd ungemete neáh[744],”— _Wierd_ was immeasurably near him; as in the Oldsaxon passages above cited, and as Deað ungemete neáh[745]. “Ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swá unc Wyrd geteóð, métod manna gehwǽs[746],”—it shall befal us as _Wierd_ decideth, the lord of every man. “Swá him Wyrd ne gescráf[747],”—_Wierd_ did not appoint. “Ealle Wyrd forsweóp[748],”—_Wierd_ has swept away. “Ús seó wyrd scýðeð, heard and hetegrim[749],”—us doth _Wierd_ pursue, hard and grim in hate. ----- Footnote 735: Ne wæs wyrd ðágen ðæt he má móste manna cynnes þicgean ofer ða niht. (Beów. l. 1462.) wyrd ne cúðon. (Ibid. l. 2467.) Footnote 736: One exception to be hereafter noticed seems more apparent than real. If however it be taken in its fullest and ordinary grammatical sense, it will show that all three or more sisters were in contemplation, and that the name of the eldest had become a general expression for them all. Footnote 737: Beów. l. 2104. Footnote 738: Ibid. l. 2411. Footnote 739: Ibid. l. 2240. Footnote 740: Ibid. l. 2154. Footnote 741: Ibid. l. 2872. Footnote 742: Ibid. l. 4234, 4468. Footnote 743: Ibid. l. 4836. Footnote 744: Ibid. l. 5453. Footnote 745: Ibid. l. 5048. Footnote 746: