Norse · Anglo-Saxon Poetry · 55 of 343
Riddle 14
Old English originals (Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records)
Ic wæs wæpenwiga. Nu mec wlonc þeceð geong hagostealdmon golde ond sylfore, woum wirbogum. Hwilum weras cyssað, hwilum ic to hilde hleoþre bonne wilgehleþan, hwilum wycg byreþ mec ofer mearce, hwilum merehengest fereð ofer flodas frætwum beorhtne, hwilum mægða sum minne gefylleð bosm beaghroden; hwilum ic bordum sceal, heard, heafodleas, behlyþed licgan, hwilum hongige hyrstum frætwed, wlitig on wage, þær weras drincað, freolic fyrdsceorp. Hwilum folcwigan on wicge wegað, þonne ic winde sceal
sincfag swelgan of sumes bosme; hwilum ic gereordum rincas laðige wlonce to wine; hwilum wraþum sceal stefne minre forstolen hreddan, flyman feondsceaþan. Frige hwæt ic hatte.