Sacred Texts  Legends and Sagas  WordGumbo: Old English Dictionaries [External Site]
Index  Previous  Next 

Riddle 33

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Wiht cwom æfter wege      wrætlicu liþan,
cymlic from ceole      cleopode to londe,
hlinsade hlude;      hleahtor wæs gryrelic,
egesful on earde,      ecge wæron scearpe.
5
Wæs hio hetegrim,      hilde to sæne,
biter beadoweorca;      bordweallas grof,
heardhiþende.      Heterune bond,
sægde searocræftig      ymb hyre sylfre gesceaft:
"Is min modor      mægða cynnes
10
þæs deorestan,      þæt is dohtor min
eacen up liden,      swa þæt is ældum cuþ,
firum on folce,      þæt seo on foldan sceal
on ealra londa gehwam      lissum stondan."