https://cunnan.lochac.sca.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Exeter_Riddle_26Exeter Riddle 26 - Revision history2026-06-23T17:29:14ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.39.3https://cunnan.lochac.sca.org/index.php?title=Exeter_Riddle_26&diff=23388&oldid=prevConrad Leviston at 09:25, 19 August 20042004-08-19T09:25:40Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>This is the 26th [[riddle]] from [[The Exeter Book]].<br />
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==Translation==<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
An enemy came, claiming my life.<br />
My worldly strength he stripped, then wet me,<br />
Drowned me in water then drew me out,<br />
Set me in sunshine, where soon I lost<br />
The hair I had. A hard edged knife<br />
Cut me and ground me clean from all grime,<br />
Fingers folded me, a fine bird's clothing<br />
With swift drops made many traces<br />
Across my brown skin's breadth, imbibing the tree-dye,<br />
A valley stream strode across me<br />
And left a dark path. A pious man clothed me<br />
In boards, then hauled hide across me<br />
Bedecked with gold; I was glad to be bound by<br />
The smith's fine work of wire around me.<br />
Now the decorations and the dye of red<br />
In such wonderous forms give wider fame<br />
To the people's protector from the pains of hell.<br />
If the children of men choose to enjoy me<br />
They shall be safer and surer of victory,<br />
Mightier of heart, happier of mind,<br />
Wiser of spirit, wealthier in friends<br />
Who are dearer and faster, more faithful and better,<br />
Kinder and fairer, who foster glory<br />
With fondest love and fellowship,<br />
Kindness links them, its loving embrace<br />
Holding them soundly. Say what I am,<br />
That is needful to man. My name is famous,<br />
A giver of healing, and holy too.<br />
<br />
Translation by Conrad Leviston.<br />
</pre><br />
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==Original==<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
Mec feonda sum feore besny�ede, <br />
woruldstrenga binom, w�tte si��an, <br />
dyfde on w�tre, dyde eft �onan, <br />
sette on sunnan, ��r ic swi�e beleas <br />
herum �am �e ic h�fde. Heard mec si��an <br />
sna� seaxses ecg, sindrum begrunden; <br />
fingras feoldan, ond mec fugles wyn <br />
geond speddropum spyrede geneahhe, <br />
ofer brunne brerd, beamtelge swealg, <br />
streames d�le, stop eft on mec, <br />
si�ade sweartlast. Mec si��an wrah <br />
h�le� hleobordum, hyde be�enede, <br />
gierede mec mid golde; for�on me gliwedon <br />
wr�tlic weorc smi�a, wire bifongen. <br />
Nu �a gereno ond se reada telg <br />
ond �a wuldorgesteald wide m�re <br />
dryhtfolca helm, nales dol wite. <br />
Gif min bearn wera brucan willa�, <br />
hy beo� �y gesundran ond �y sigef�stran, <br />
heortum �y hw�tran ond �y hygebli�ran, <br />
fer�e �y frodran, habba� freonda �y ma, <br />
sw�sra ond gesibbra, so�ra ond godra, <br />
tilra ond getreowra, �a hyra tyr ond ead <br />
estum yca� ond hy arstafum <br />
lissum bilecga� ond hi lufan f�mum <br />
f�ste clyppa�. Frige hw�t ic hatte, <br />
ni�um to nytte. Nama min is m�re, <br />
h�le�um gifre ond halig sylf. <br />
</pre><br />
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==Answer==<br />
<br />
Although some give the conservative anwer ''[[book]]'', the answer is almost certainly ''[[The Bible]]''. Note that the translation above was made on the assumption of the latter answer.</div>Conrad Leviston