The Old Ways

Norse · Anglo-Saxon Poetry · 340 of 343

Metrical Charm 9: For Loss of Cattle

Old English originals (Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records)

Ne forstolen ne forholen nanuht, þæs ðe ic age, þe ma ðe mihte Herod urne drihten. Ic geþohte sancte Eadelenan and ic geþohte Crist on rode ahangen; swa ic þence þis feoh to findanne, næs to oðfeorrganne, and to witanne, næs to oðwyrceanne, and to lufianne, næs to oðlædanne. Garmund, godes ðegen, find þæt feoh and fere þæt feoh and hafa þæt feoh and heald þæt feoh and fere ham þæt feoh. þæt he næfre næbbe landes, þæt he hit oðlæde, ne foldan, þæt hit oðferie, ne husa, þæt he hit oðhealde. Gif hyt hwa gedo, ne gedige hit him næfre! Binnan þrym nihtum cunne ic his mihta,

his mægen and his mihta and his mundcræftas. Eall he weornige, swa syre wudu weornie, swa breðel seo swa þystel, se ðe ðis feoh oðfergean þence oððe ðis orf oðehtian ðence. Amen.