I0th-century Anglo-Saxon poetry
the 26th riddle from The Exeter Book
Exeter Cathedral, MS 3501 (The Exeter Book), fol. 84b
An enemy came, claiming my life.
My worldly strength he stripped, then wet me,
Drowned me in water then drew me out,
Set me in sunshine, where soon I lost
The hair I had. A hard edged knife
Cut me and ground me clean from all grime,
Fingers folded me, a fine bird's clothing
With swift drops made many traces
Across my brown skin's breadth, imbibing the tree-dye,
A valley stream strode across me
And left a dark path. A pious man clothed me
In boards, then hauled hide across me
Bedecked with gold; I was glad to be bound by
The smith's fine work of wire around me.
Now the decorations and the dye of red
In such wonderous forms give wider fame
To the people's protector from the pains of hell.
If the children of men choose to enjoy me
They shall be safer and surer of victory,
Mightier of heart, happier of mind,
Wiser of spirit, wealthier in friends
Who are dearer and faster, more faithful and better,
Kinder and fairer, who foster glory
With fondest love and fellowship,
Kindness links them, its loving embrace
Holding them soundly. Say what I am,
That is needful to man. My name is famous,
A giver of healing, and holy too.
Mec feonda sum feore besnyþede,
woruldstrenga binom, wætte siþþan,
dyfde on wætre, dyde eft þonan,
sette on sunnan, þær ic swiþe beleas
herum þam þe ic hæfde. Heard mec siþþan
snað seaxses ecg, sindrum begrunden;
fingras feoldan, ond mec fugles wyn
geond speddropum spyrede geneahhe,
ofer brunne brerd, beamtelge swealg,
streames dæle, stop eft on mec,
siþade sweartlast. Mec siþþan wrah
hæleð hleobordum, hyde beþenede,
gierede mec mid golde; forþon me gliwedon
wrætlic weorc smiþa, wire bifongen.
Nu þa gereno ond se reada telg
ond þa wuldorgesteald wide mære
dryhtfolca helm, nales dol wite.
Gif min bearn wera brucan willað,
hy beoð þy gesundran ond þy sigefæstran,
heortum þy hwætran ond þy hygebliþran,
ferþe þy frodran, habbaþ freonda þy ma,
swæsra ond gesibbra, soþra ond godra,
tilra ond getreowra, þa hyra tyr ond ead
estum ycað ond hy arstafum
lissum bilecgað ond hi lufan fæþmum
fæste clyppað. Frige hwæt ic hatte,
niþum to nytte. Nama min is mære,
hæleþum gifre ond halig sylf.