A "problem" with "Nam languens" and "Veni, delectissime" is that they're so short. I say "problem" because it's strictly a problem of perception and staging. Bardic performances are supposed to go 3-5 minutes. Long pieces show more skill than short pieces (not really but that's the perception).
Now, there's nothing stopping me from going off and tackling the Battle of Maldon or Brunaburgh as a lengthy performance. (Possibly too lengthy...) But I've put a good bit of work into these shorter, lyric pieces, so I thought - how about combining them into a longer poetic cycle?
Start with "Veni, delectissime" - two people in love.
Then, any combination of "Wulf and Eadwacer," "The Wife's Lament," and "Nam languens." "Deor" could fit as well (it has been suggested as a partner to "Wulf and Eadwacer," with Deor and Wulf being the same man) but the first three all have female speakers. "Deor" would be a sudden shift of point of view... although it could work...
End with "The Husband's Message."
Thematically, it would go:
Sensual love and joy (Veni)
Forcible separation, longing and danger (Wulf)
Meditation on bad times; looking forward to better times (Deor)
More longing, hoping for reunion (Nam languens)
Reunion (Husband's Message)
"Wife's Lament" is a bit of an odd duck with many possible interpretations; the more I think about it, the more I think I'd rather leave it out, at least for now.
The most obvious flaw in this cunning plan is that mixing the Latin and Old English verses into a "cycle" is really dodgy. Of course, I'm not in the least actually proposing that these poems belonged together originally. It's just a nice "program" for presentation.
"Veni" and "Wulf" are performance-ready. I hope to have "Nam languens" done in a reasonable amount of time. The biggest project would be learning/adapting "The Husband's Message," but I've meant to learn it for years now. It's a touchingly sweet poem.
