The Old Ways

Norse · Anglo-Saxon Poetry · 63 of 343

Riddle 22

Old English originals (Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records)

ætsomne cwom LX monna to wægstæþe wicgum ridan; hæfdon XI eoredmæcgas fridhengestas, IIII sceamas. Ne meahton magorincas ofer mere feolan, swa hi fundedon, ac wæs flod to deop, atol yþa geþræc, ofras hea, streamas stronge. Ongunnon stigan þa on wægn weras ond hyra wicg somod hlodan under hrunge; þa þa hors oðbær eh ond eorlas, æscum dealle, ofer wætres byht wægn to lande, swa hine oxa ne teah ne esna mægen ne fæthengest, ne on flode swom,

ne be grunde wod gestum under, ne lagu drefde, ne on lyfte fleag, ne under bæc cyrde; brohte hwæþre beornas ofer burnan ond hyra bloncan mid from stæðe heaum, þæt hy stopan up on oþerne, ellenrofe, weras of wæge, ond hyra wicg gesund.