Paull Franklin Baum Translation: Exeter Book of Riddles (Kerry, Key Rauer Booklet)

Riddle 1: Rake
I saw a thing

in the dwellings of men

that feeds the cattle;

has many teeth.

The beak is useful to it;

it goes downwards,

Ic wiht geseah

in wera burgum

seo t feoh fede

hafa fela toa

nebb bi hyre t nytte

to ham tyh

ravages faithfully;

pulls homewards;

hie holdlice

hunts along walls;

reaches for roots.

we geond weallas

Always it finds them,

those which are not fast;

lets them, the beautiful,

stand in quiet

when they are fast,

in their proper places,

brightly shining,

growing, blooming.

nierweard gonge

a heo a finde

a e fst ne bi

lte hio a wlitigan

stille stondan

wyrte sece
wyrtum fste

on staolwonge
blowan growan

beorhte blican

Riddle 2: Anchor
I war oft against wave
do battle with both,

and fight against wind,

when I reach to the ground,

covered by the waters.

The land is strange to me.

I am strong in the strife

If I fail at that,

if I stay at rest.

they are stronger than I

and forthwith they wrench me

They would carry away
I withstand them then

and put me to rout.

what I ought to defend.

if my tail endures

and the stones hold me fast.

Ask what my name is.

Oft ic sceal wi wge winnan

wi winde feohtan

somod wi scce

n ic secan gewite

eoran yum eaht

me bi se eel fremde

ic beom strong s gewinnes

gif me s tosle
mec slitende

hi beo swiran n ic

sona flyma

willa ofergan

t ic friian sceal

ic him forstonde

gif min steort ola

mec stine wi
fste gehabban

gif ic stille weore

stanas moton
frige hwt ic hatte

Riddle 3: Ox / Leather Object

I move on my feet,

I break up the ground,

the green meadows,

If life leaves me
the swarthy Welsh,

as long as I live.

I then bind fast

and sometimes better men.

Fotum ic fere

foldan slite

grene wongas

enden ic gst bere

gif me feorh losa

swearte wealas,

fste binde
hwilum sellan men

Sometimes I give drink

to a strong man

from out of my bosom.

Sometimes the stately dame

treads me underfoot.

Sometimes the Welsh girl,

dark-haired slave

brought from afar,

stupid and drunk,

on dark nights

lifts me and presses me,

warms me sometimes
her wanton hands
turning often

soaks me in water,
kindly by the fire,

thrust in my bosom;

sweeps through the dark.

Say what my name is

the land, and dead

who living ravage

am of service to men.

hwilum ic deorum

drincan selle

beorn of bosme

hwilum mec bryd triede

felawlonc fotum

hwilum feorran broht

wege y

wonfeax wale

dol druncmennen
wte in wtre
fgre to fyre

deorcum niht
wyrme hwilum

me on fme stica

hygegalan hond

hwyrfe geneahhe

swife me geond sweartne

Saga hwt ic hatte

e ic lifgende

lond reafige

fter deae

dryhtum eowige

Leather; first on the living ox, then made into thongs, wine bottles, and shoes, which are cleaned
by the Welsh slave. But sweeps in l. 13 is Chaucers word swive and probably carries a
salacious innuendo.
Riddle 4: Crows, Swallows, Gnats, Musical Notes, Bees
Over the hillsides

this air upholds

bright little creatures,

bold of song,

swarthy and dark-clad;

they fare in flocks

and loudly chirp.

They tread the headlands,

sometimes mens houses.

They name themselves.

eos lyft byre

lytle wihte

ofer beorghleoa

a sind blace swie

swearte salopade

sanges rope

heapum fera

hlude cirma

treda bearonssas
nia bearna

hwilum burgsalo

Nemna hy sylfe

Tupper calls this a little swallow-flight of song, and gives Swallows as the answer; Trautmann
(finally) and Mackie agree. Another guess is Gnats or Midges. The last words are ambiguous:
either, as above, they have an onomatopoeic name, or name them yourselves. The former
supports Mrs. von Erhardt-Siebolds argument for Jackdaw, in PMLA lxii (1947), 18. The
jackdaw belongs to the large family of corvidae and is relatively small (1314 inches); its song
caw is certainly descriptive, but the bird itself is hardly as small as the riddle implies. Wyatt
meets various guesses with a proper sense of humor. To Trautmanns objection that swallows do

not tread and gnats do not chirp loudly, he holds that tread is not to be taken too literally. And,
as applied to Gnats or Midges, I find it a perfectly delightful word for their up and down motion
in the summer air. Whether they are loud depends entirely on the distance from your ear. At his
own selected distance. Still, swallow fits the text better.
Riddle 5: Cuckoo
In those first days

my father and mother

Mec on issum dag

deadne ofgeafum

left me for dead:

there was no life yet,

fder modor

ne ws me feorh a gen

no life within me.

Then a kindly kinswoman

ealdor in innan

a mec ongon

faithfully covered me

with her own clothing,

held me and cherished,

even as gently

as her own children

until beneath her,

I waxed into life

kept me warmly,

as my destiny willed,
with my alien fellows.

welhold me

gewedum weccan

heold freoode
snearlice

hleosceorpe wrah

swa hire agen bearn

ot ic under sceate

swa min gesceapu wron

ungesibbum wear

eacen gste
fedde sian

My friend and protector

nourished me then

mec seo friemg

till I grew and grew able

to go forth by myself.

ot ic aweox

Because of this now

her own dear children,

sias asettan

sons and daughters,

were fewer, alas.

suna dohtra

widdor meahte
heo hfde swsra y ls
y heo swa dyde

Cuckoo certainly. The pleasure is not so much in guessingwe are not asked to guessas in
following the double meanings.

Riddle 6: Bull Calf

I was little

my sister fed me.

Often I tugged

at four dear brothers,

each one gave me

daily to drink,

through a hole freely.

until I was older

I throve happily

and left all that

to the swarthy herdsman.

I traveled farther

Ic ws lytel []
fo[]
[]te geaf
[]pe

e unc gemne []

[] sweostor mn
fedde mec []

to the Welsh marches,

traversed the moors,

swse broor

bound under a beam.

I had a ring on my neck,

dgtid me

suffered woes on my way,

was forced to perform

[]

oft ic feower teah

ara onsundran gehwylc

drincan sealde

urh yrel earle

Ic h on lust

my share of labors.

Often the goad hurt me

ot Ic ws yldra

sorely on my sides.

But I was silent,

sweart hyrde

never spoke out

if ever the pricks

to any man,
were painful to me.

t anforlet

siade widdor

mearc paas walas trd

bunden under beame
wean on laste
earfoa dl

moras pde

beag hfde on healse

weorc rowade
oft mec isern scd

sare on sidan

ic swigade

nfre meldade

monna ng

gif me ordstpe

egle wron

The young Ox, fed at its mothers dugs. It grew up and left the milking to herdsmen; later it was
forced to draw a plow.

Riddle 7: Swan

Silent is my garment

when I tread the earth

Hrgl min swiga

or dwell in the towns

or stir the waters.

oe a wic buge

n ic hrusan trede
oe wado drefe

Sometimes my trappings

lift me up over

hwilum mec ahebba

the habitations of heroes

and this high air,

hyrste mine

and the might of the welkin

bears me afar

ofer hlea byht

eos hea lyft

mec n wide

wolcna strengu

above mankind.

Then my adornments

ofer folc byre

resound in song

and sing aloud

swoga hlude

swinsia

torhte singa

n ic getenge ne beom

flode foldan

ferende gst :

with clear melody

on land or water,

when I do not rest

a moving spirit.

frtwe mine

Irrelevant 8 to Essay
Riddle 9: Quill Pen
I saw four things

in beautiful fashion

Ic seah wrtlice

wuhte feower

journeying together.

Dark were their tracks,

samed siian

the path very black.

Swift was its moving,

swau swie blacu

faster than birds

it flew through the air,

dove under the wave.

the fighting warrior
all of the four,

Labored unresting
who showed them the way,

over plated gold.

swearte wran lastas

swift ws on fore

fulgum framra

fleotgan lyfte

deaf under ye

dreag unstille

winnende wiga

se him wgas tcne

ofer fted gold

feower eall

Quill-pen. The four things are two fingers, thumb, and quill (or as in parallel riddles three fingers
and pen). Its (l. 3) shows that the four things were a unit. The quill qua pen does not move
faster than birds, but the expression is allowable hyperbole, or even an example of synthetic
imagery, with possibly a humorous glance at the deliberation of some scribes. Similarly, the
warrior is the guiding arm of the scribe. The plated gold has been explained as the gold mount
of the ink-horn.
Riddle 10: One-eyed Garlic Seller / Organ

A creature came

where many men

Wiht cwom gongan

sat at council

with wise hearts.

monige on mle

It had one eye

and its ears were two;

hfde an eage

it had two feet

and twelve hundred heads,

ii fet

a back and a belly

and two hands,

arms and shoulders,

and two sides.

one neck,

Say what Im called.

r weras ston
mode snottre

earan twa

xii hund heafda

hryc wombe

honda twa

earmas eaxle
sidan twa

anne sweoran

saga hwt ic hatte

A One-Eyed Garlic Seller; or so it would seem from a hint in Symphosius 94.

Riddle 11: Sword/ Hawk
Im a wonderful thing
beautifully dressed,

shaped for fighting,

dear to my master.

Gay colored is my byrnie;

bright wire that my wielder

who guides me gave me,

embraces the death-gem,

who sometimes to strife

directs my wanderings.

Then I bring home treasure

handiwork of smiths,
Often I slay

through the shining day,

gold to the dwellings.

living warriors

Ic eom wunderlicu wiht

frean min leof

fgre gegyrwed

byrne is min bleofag

se me widgalum
sylfum to sace

n ic sinc wege

urh hlutterne dg
cwelle compwpn

with jewels and silver

and honors me in the hall,

since seolfre

when they drink their mead;

sometimes holds me back

with going into battle.

or frees me when weary

I have often hurt another

at the hands of his friend.

I am far and wide hated,

accursed among weapons.

that a son will avenge me
if ever an enemy

I must never hope

on the life of my slayer

assails me in battle;

nor will my kin be increased,

hondweorc smia
oft ic gstberend

A king adorns me

my merits before men,

e me waldend geaf

wisa hwilum

gold ofer geardas

publicly proclaims

swylce beorht seo ma

wr ymb one wlgim

with weapons of war.

nor withholds my praise,

on gewin sceapen

cyning mec gyrwe

mec on sele weora

ne wyrne wordlofes
mine for mengo

wisan mne

r hy meodu drinca

healde mec on heaore

hwilum lte eft

radwerigne

on germ sceacan

orlegfromne

oft ic orum scod

frecne t his freonde

wpnum awyrged
t me bearn wrce

the breed whence I sprang gif me gromra hwylc

fah eom ic wide

ic me wenan ne earf
on bonan feore
gue genge

unless bereft of my lord

turn from the owner

who first rewarded me.

Henceforth I am fated
to do battle for him

I might change to a new,

if I follow a (new) lord

as I did for the other,

for my princes pleasure,

the wealth of children
for he who held me
denies me that bliss.
single, alone,

that I must forego

and know no woman;

of yore in thrall
I must therefore enjoy

the wealth of heroes.

Often foolish in my finery

diminish her desire;

her tongue abuses me;

she hits me with her hands,

intones a curse.

I enrage a woman,
reviles me with words,

I like not this contest.

ne weore sio mgburg

eaforan minum

e ic fter woc

nyme ic hlafordleas

hweorfan mote

from healdende

e me hringas geaf

me bi for witod
gue fremme

gemicledu

gif ic frean hyre

swa ic gien dyde

min eodne on onc

t ic olian sceal

bearngestreona

ic wi bryde ne mot

hmed habban

ac me s hyhtplegan

geno wyrne
bende legde

se mec gearo n
foron ic brucan sceal

on hagostealde

hlea gestreona

oft ic wirum dol

wife abelge

wonie hyre willan

floce hyre folmum
ungod gle
compes

heo me wom sprece

firena mec wordum

ic ne gyme s

.....

The solution is certainly, at first, a Sword, as is doubtless intentionally obvious. Then about
midway the sword seems to be personified and obscurities set in. The piece is thus one half a
transparent riddle and then a kind of heroic lay in the best tradition, in which the sword speaks as
a follower who has somehow killed a friend of his master (or so I understand it) and is banished.
He cannot marry, but he involves himself with a scolding woman. There is some disorder in the
manuscript, the gatherings indicating the loss of a whole folio, which contained the conclusion of
this riddle and perhaps other riddles. Compare 41 (k-d 60).

I am a lonely thing,
switten by sword,
weary of blades.
fierce combat.

wounded with iron,

Ic eom anhaga

iserne wund

sated with battle-work,

bille gebennad

beadoweorca sd

Often I see battle,

I foresee no comfort,

no help will come for me

until among men

from the heat of battle,

I perish utterly;

but the hammered swords

hard-edged and sharp,
in towns among men.

will beat me and bite me,

the handiwork of smiths,

Abide I must always

ecgum werig

oft ic wig seo

frecne feohtan

frofre ne wene

mec geoc cyme

gugewinnes

r ic mid ldum

eal for wurde

ac mec hnossia

homera lafe

heardecg heoroscearp
bita in burg

ic abidan sceal

the meeting of foes.

Never could I find

laran gemotes

among the leeches,

where people foregather,

onfolc stede

any who with herbs

would heal my wounds;

ara e mid wyrtum

but the sores from the swords

with mortal blows

are always greater

day and night.

weorc smia

nfre lce cynn

findan meahte
wunde gehlde,

ac me ecga dolg

eacen weora

urh deaslege

dagum nihtum

Riddle 12: Shield

Beneath this the manuscript has the rune for S (scyld or scutum) which gives the answer: Shield.

Riddle 13: Mead

both near and far;

Ic eom weor werum

wide funden

and inhabited hills,

brungen of bearwum

of burghleo

of denum of dunum

dges mec wgun

I am honored among men

brought from the groves

from vales and from downs.

on wings through the air
to the shelter of roofs.

By day I was borne

and happily wafted

Then they bathed me in butts.

Now I bind and I scourge

the young to the ground

and I overthrow
and the elders sometimes,

and this he soon finds

who takes me on

and attacks me with violence;

unless he flees from his folly.

he falls on his back

Robbed of his strength,

fere on lifte

feredon mid liste

under hrofes hleo

hle mec sian

baedan in bydene
swingere

sona weorpere

efne to eoran

hwilum ealdne ceorl

sona onfinde

se e mec feh ongean

wi mgenisan

minre genste,
hrusan secan

though strong in speech,

he is deprived of his powers,

t he hrycge sceal

and control of his mind,

of his feet and his hands.

gif he unrdes

Ask what my name is

who bind men to the ground,

the foolish after fighting,

in broad daylight.

nu ic eom bindere

r ne geswice

strengo bistolen

strong on sprce

mgene binumen
fota ne folma

nah his modes geweald

frige hwt ic hatte :

e on eoran swa

esnas binde

dole fter dyntum

be dges leohte

Meadthe blossoming trees, bees, honey, stored to ferment, and then.

Riddle 14: Mail-Coat

Me the wet ground,

exceeding cold,

first brought forth

from within itself.

Neither am I wrought

of woolen fleece

nor of hairs, with skill;

I know it in my mind.

I have no winding wefts

nor any warp in me;

Mec se wta wong

of his innae

wundrum freorig

rist cende

ne wat ic mec beworhtne

hrum urh heahcrft

wulle flysum
hygeoncum min

wundene me ne beo wefle

ne ic wearp hafu

nor with strong rods

does the thread resound for me,

nor the whirring shuttle

move across me,

nor the weavers rods

anywhere smite me.

Worms do not weave me

which fairly adorn
Yet nevertheless

with fatal wiles

the fine yellow web.

the wide world over

one will call me a joyful

Say now truly,

garment for heroes.

you cunning sage,

learned in language,

what this garment may be.

ne urh reata gercu

ne t me hrutende

rd me ne hlimme

hrisil scrie

ne mec ohwonan

sceal amas cnyssan

wyrmas mec ne wfan

a e geolo godwebb

wyrda crftum

geatwum frtwa

wile mec mon hwre seeah

wide ofer eoran

hatan for hle

hyhtlic gewde

saga socwidum

searooncum gleaw

wordum wisfst

hwt is ge wdu sy

In short, a Coat of Mailwoven, but not of wool or of silk. Weaving is suggested, yet with a
series of exclusions to show that the thing is not what you would at first suppose.

Riddle 15: Bible/ Gospel Book

An enemy came

and took away my life

Mec feonda sum

feore besnyede

and my strength also

in the word; then wetted me,

woruldstrenga bin

dipped me in water;

then took me thence;

dyfde on wtre

dyde eft onan

sette on sunnan

r ic swie beleas

placed me in the sun,

where I lost all my hair.

The knifes edge cut me

fingers folded me.
with swift drops

its impurities ground away;

And the birds delight

made frequent traces

over the brown surface;

swallowed the tree-dye

with a measure of liquid;

traveling across me,

left a dark track.

A good man covered me

wtte sian

herum am e ic hfde
sna seaxses ecge

sindrum begrunden
mec fugles wyn

fingras feoldan

geond sped dropum

spyrede geneahhe

ofer brunne brerd

streames dle

heard mec sian

beamtelge swealg

stop eft on mec

with protecting boards,

which stretched skin over me;

siade sweartlast

mec sian wrah

adorned me with gold.

Then the work of smiths

hle hleobordum

hye beenede

decorated me with strands

Now may the ornaments

of woven wire.
and the red dye

and the precious possessions

everywhere honor

gierede mec mid golde

wrtlic weorc smia
nu a gereno

foron me gliwedon
wire bifongen

ond se reada telg

the Guardian of peoples.

If the sons of men

It were otherwise folly.

wish to enjoy me,

they will be the safer

and surer of victory

and the stronger of heart

and the happier of mind

and the wiser of spirit.

dearer and closer,

They will have more friends,

truer and better,

nobler and more devoted,

their honor and wealth,

who will increase

with love and favors

and kindnesses surround them,

with loving embraces.
I am a help to mortals.

and clasp them close

Ask me my name.
My name is a glory

and salvation to heroes,

and myself am holy.

a wuldorgesteald
dryhtfolca helm

wide mre

nales dol wite

gif min bearn wera

brucan willa

hy beo y gesundran
heortum y hwtran
fere y frodran;

y sigefstran
y hygebilran

habba freonda y ma

swsra gesibbra
tilra getreowra

sora godra
a hyra tyr ead

hy r stafum

estum yca,

lissum bilecga

hi lufan fmum

fste clyppa

frige hwt ic hatt

nium to nytte;

nama min is mre

halig sylf

hleum gifre

BookBible. First the preparation of the parchment, then the writing and decoration are
described; then the manifold values of what is written. It were otherwise folly, l. 16 (literally:
not at all stupid punishment, penance), has puzzled the scholars. Proposed renderings are not
the pains of hell and let no fool find fault.

Riddle 16: Bookworm/ Book-moth

A moth ate words.

To me it seemed

Moe word frt

a remarkable fate,

when I learned of the marvel,

wrtlicu wyrd

that the worm had swallowed

the speech of a man,

me t uhte
a ic t wundor gefrgn

t se wyrm forswealg

a thief in the night,

a renowned saying

eof In ystro

and its place itself.

Though he swallowed the word

s strangan staol

the thieving stranger

was no whit the wiser.

wera gied sumes

rymfstne cwide

wihte y gleawra

stlgiest ne ws

e he am word swealg

Book-moth. Developed from Symphosius 16, Tinea or Bookworm: A letter was my food, yet I
know not what the letter is. In books I lived, yet I am no more studious on that account. I
devoured the Muses, yet so far I have made no progress (Wyatts translation).
Riddle 17: Soul and Body

I know a noble guest,

whom grim hunger
nor hot thirst,

dear to princes,
cannot harm,

hungor scean

always tend him,

yldo ne adle

along on the journey;

esne ena

safe and certain

they will find at home

on am sifate

and countless kin;

but sorrow if the servant

nor will brother fear brother

when unharmed they leave quickly

ne se hata urst

se e a gan sceal
hy gesunde t ham

finda witode him

obeys his lord badly,

his master on their journey;

am se grimma ne mg

gif him arlice

he who must go
food and joy

elum deorne

giest In geardum

nor age nor illness.

If kindly the servant

Ic wat indryhtne

the bosom of their kin,

cnosles unrim

care gif se esne

his hlaforde

hyre yfle

frean on fore

ne wile forht wesan

mother and sister.

Let whoever will

broor orum

with fitting words

name the guest or the servant

n hy from bearme

I speak of here.

wiste blisse

anre magan

him t bam scee

ellorfuse

moddor sweostor
cye cyneqordum
ea se esne

begen hweorfa
mon se e wille
hu se cuma hatte

e ic her ymb sprice

Soul and Body. The guest is the soul; the servant, and brother, the body; they will both be
harmed when they leave the earth. The mother and sister are the earth: mother since the body is
dust, and sister since body and soul have the same father, God. This is a rather ambitious one, but
metrically inferior. More often than is usually the case the word-order is determined by the
alliteration. In l. 12 the guest is called comer, apparently for the alliteration; in the last lines the
alliteration falls on the weak words or, of. The first three lines read literally: I know a lordly
dear to nobles guest in dwellings whom grim cannot hunger harm.

Riddle 18: Creation

I am greater

than all this world is,

less than the handworm,

brighter than the moon,

Ic eom mare

n es mindan geard

lsse n hond wyrm

leohtre onne mona

swifter than the sun.

All seas and waters

swiftre n sunne ss me sind ealle

are in my embraces,

and the bosom of earth

flodas on fmum

and the green fields.

I reach to the ground,

grene wongas

I descend below hell,

the land of glory.

I extend far over

the home of angels.

the whole wide world
all by myself.

I rise above the heavens,

I fill the earth,
and the ocean currents,

Say what my name is.

grundum ic hrine

helle underhnige
wuldres eel
ofer engla eard

heofonas oferstige

wide rce
eoran gefylle

ealdne middangeard

merestreamas

side mid me sylfum

saga hwt ic hatte

This is plainly a condensed version of the preceding riddle, Creation.

The Dream of the Rood

as foldan bearm

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Hwt! Ic swefna cyst

hwt me gemtte
syan reordberend
uhte me t ic gesawe
on lyft ldan,
beama beorhtost.
begoten mid golde.
fgere t foldan sceatum,
uppe on am eaxlegespanne.
fgere urh forgesceaft.
ac hine r beheoldon

secgan wylle,
to midre nihte,
reste wunedon!
syllicre treow
leohte bewunden,
Eall t beacen ws
Gimmas stodon
swylce r fife wron
Beheoldon r engel dryhtnes ealle,
Ne ws r huru fracodes gealga,
halige gastas,

men ofer moldan,

Syllic ws se sigebeam,
forwunded mid wommum.
wdum geweorode,
gegyred mid golde;
bewrigene weorlice
Hwre ic urh t gold
earmra rgewin,
swtan on a swiran healfe.
forht ic ws for re fgran gesyhe.
wendan wdum ond bleom;
beswyled mid swates gange,
Hwre ic r licgende
beheold hreowcearig
ot ic gehyrde
Ongan a word sprecan
"t ws geara iu,
t ic ws aheawen
astyred of stefne minum.

ond eall eos mre gesceaft.

ond ic synnum fah,
Geseah ic wuldres treow,
wynnum scinan,
gimmas hfdon
wealdendes treow.
ongytan meahte
t hit rest ongan
Eall ic ws mid sorgum gedrefed,
Geseah ic t fuse beacen
hwilum hit ws mid wtan bestemed,
hwilum mid since gegyrwed.
lange hwile
hlendes treow,
t hit hleorode.
wudu selesta:
(ic t gyta geman),
holtes on ende,
Genaman me r strange feondas,

geworhton him r to wfersyne,

Bron me r beornas on eaxlum,

heton me heora wergas hebban.

ot hie me on beorg asetton,

gefstnodon me r feondas genoge.

efstan elne mycle
r ic a ne dorste
bugan oe berstan,
eoran sceatas.
feondas gefyllan,
Ongyrede hine a geong hle,
strang ond stimod.
modig on manigra gesyhe,

Geseah ic a frean mancynnes

t he me wolde on gestigan.
ofer dryhtnes word
a ic bifian geseah
Ealle ic mihte
hwre ic fste stod.
(t ws god lmihtig),
Gestah he on gealgan heanne,
a he wolde mancyn lysan.

45

50
51

55

60

65

70

75

80

Bifode ic a me se beorn ymbclypte.

feallan to foldan sceatum,
Rod ws ic arred.
heofona hlaford,
urhdrifan hi me mid deorcan nglum.
opene inwidhlemmas.
Bysmeredon hie unc butu tgdere.
begoten of s guman sidan,
Feala ic on am beorge
wrara wyrda.
earle enian.
bewrigen mid wolcnum
scirne sciman,
wann under wolcnum.
cwidon cyninges fyll.
Hwere r fuse
to am elinge.
Sare ic ws mid sorgum gedrefed,
eamod elne mycle.
ahofon hine of am hefian wite.
standan steame bedrifenne;
Aledon hie r limwerigne,
beheoldon hie r heofenes dryhten,
mee fter am miclan gewinne.
beornas on banan gesyhe;
gesetton hie ron sigora wealdend.
earme on a fentide,
mee fram am mran eodne.
Hwere we r greotende
stodon on staole,
hilderinca.
fger feorgbold.
ealle to eoran.
Bedealf us man on deopan seae.
freondas gefrunon,
ond gyredon me
Nu u miht gehyran,
t ic bealuwara weorc
sarra sorga.
t me weoria
menn ofer moldan,
gebidda him to yssum beacne.
rowode hwile.

Ne dorste ic hwre bugan to eoran,

ac ic sceolde fste standan.
Ahof ic ricne cyning,
hyldan me ne dorste.
On me syndon a dolg gesiene,
Ne dorste ic hira nnigum scean.
Eall ic ws mid blode bestemed,
sian he hfde his gast onsended.
Gebiden hbbe
Geseah ic weruda god
ystro hfdon
wealdendes hrw,
sceadu foreode,
Weop eal gesceaft,
Crist ws on rode.
feorran cwoman
Ic t eall beheold.
hnag ic hwre am secgum to handa,
Genamon hie r lmihtigne god,
Forleton me a hilderincas
eall ic ws mid strlum forwundod.
gestodon him t his lices heafdum,
ond he hine r hwile reste,
Ongunnon him a moldern wyrcan
curfon hie t of beorhtan stane,
Ongunnon him a sorhleo galan
a hie woldon eft siian,
Reste he r mte weorode.
gode hwile
syan stefn up gewat
Hrw colode,
a us man fyllan ongan
t ws egeslic wyrd!
Hwre me r dryhtnes egnas,
***incomplete
golde ond seolfre.
hle min se leofa,
gebiden hbbe,
Is nu sl cumen
wide ond side
ond eall eos mre gesceaft,
On me bearn godes
Foran ic rymfst nu

85

90

95

100

101

105

110

115

120

125

hlifige under heofenum,

ghwylcne anra,
Iu ic ws geworden
leodum laost,
rihtne gerymde,
Hwt, me a geweorode
ofer holmwudu,
Swylce swa he his modor eac,
lmihtig god
geweorode
Nu ic e hate,
t u as gesyhe
onwreoh wordum
se e lmihtig god
for mancynnes
ond Adomes

ond ic hlan mg
ara e him bi egesa to me.
wita heardost,
ran ic him lifes weg
reordberendum.
wuldres ealdor
heofonrices weard!
Marian sylfe,
for ealle menn
ofer eall wifa cynn.
hle min se leofa,
secge mannum,
t hit is wuldres beam,
on rowode
manegum synnum
Ealdgewyrhtum;

Dea he r byrigde,
mid his miclan mihte
He a on heofenas astag.
on ysne middangeard
on domdge
lmihtig god,
t he onne wile deman,
anra gehwylcum
on yssum lnum
Ne mg r nig
for am worde
Frine he for re mnige
se e for dryhtnes naman
biteres onbyrigan,
Ac hie onne forhtia,
hwt hie to Criste
Ne earf r onne nig
e him r in breostum bere
ac urh a rode sceal
of eorwege
seo e mid wealdende
Gebd ic me a to an beame
elne mycle,
mte werede.
afysed on forwege,
langunghwila.
t ic one sigebeam

hwere eft dryhten aras

mannum to helpe.
Hider eft funda
mancynn secan
dryhten sylfa,
ond his englas mid,
se ah domes geweald,
swa he him rur her
life geearna.
unforht wesan
e se wealdend cwy.
hwr se man sie,
deaes wolde
swa he r on am beame dyde.
ond fea enca
cwean onginnen.
anforht wesan
beacna selest,
rice gesecan
ghwylc sawl,
wunian ence."
blie mode,
r ic ana ws
Ws modsefa
feala ealra gebad
Is me nu lifes hyht
secan mote

130

135

140

145

150

155

ana oftor
well weorian.
mycel on mode,
geriht to re rode.
freonda on foldan,
gewiton of worulde dreamum,
lifia nu on heofenum
wunia on wuldre,
daga gehwylce
e ic her on eoran
on ysson lnan
ond me onne gebringe
dream on heofonum,
geseted to symle,
ond me onne asette
wunian on wuldre,
dreames brucan.
se e her on eoran
on am gealgtreowe
He us onlysde
heofonlicne ham.
mid bledum ond mid blisse
Se sunu ws sigorfst
mihtig ond spedig,
gasta weorode,
anwealda lmihtig,
ond eallum am halgum
wunedon on wuldre,
lmihtig god,

onne ealle men,

Me is willa to am
ond min mundbyrd is
Nah ic ricra feala
ac hie for heonon
sohton him wuldres cyning,
mid heahfdere,
ond ic wene me
hwnne me dryhtnes rod,
r sceawode,
life gefetige
r is blis mycel,
r is dryhtnes folc
r is singal blis,
r ic syan mot
well mid am halgum
Si me dryhten freond,
r rowode
for guman synnum.
ond us lif forgeaf,
Hiht ws geniwad
am e r bryne olodan.
on am sifate,
a he mid manigeo com,
on godes rice,
englum to blisse
am e on heofonum r
a heora wealdend cwom,
r his eel ws.

The Dream of the Rood Translation:

Listen! The choicest of visions I wish to tell,
which came as a dream in middle-night,
after voice-bearers lay at rest.
It seemed that I saw a most wondrous tree
born aloft, wound round by light,5
brightest of beams. All was that beacon
sprinkled with gold. Gems stood
fair at earths corners; there likewise five
shone on the shoulder-span [ 1 ]. All there beheld the Angel of God [ 2 ],
fair through predestiny [ 3 ]. Indeed, that was no wicked ones gallows,10
but holy souls beheld it there,
men over earth, and all this great creation.
Wondrous that victory-beam and I stained with sins,
with wounds of disgrace. I saw glorys tree
honored with trappings, shining with joys,15
decked with gold; gems had
wrapped that forest tree worthily round.
Yet through that gold I clearly perceived
old strife of wretches [ 4 ], when first it began
to bleed on its right side. With sorrows most troubled,20
I feared that fair sight. I saw that doom-beacon [ 5 ]
turn trappings and hews: sometimes with water wet,
drenched with bloods going; sometimes with jewels decked.
But lying there long while, I,
troubled, beheld the Healers tree,25
until I heard its fair voice.

Then best wood spoke these words:

It was long since I yet remember it
that I was hewn at holts end,
moved from my stem. Strong fiends seized me there,30
worked me for spectacle; cursd ones lifted me [ 6 ].
On shoulders men bore me there, then fixed me on hill;
fiends enough fastened me. Then saw I mankinds Lord
come with great courage when he would mount on me.
Then dared I not against the Lords word35
bend or break, when I saw earths
fields shake. All fiends
I could have felled, but I stood fast.
The young hero stripped himself he, God Almighty
strong and stout-minded. He mounted high gallows,40
bold before many, when he would loose mankind.
I shook when that Man clasped me. I dared, still, not bow to earth,
fall to earths fields, but had to stand fast.
Rood was I reared. I lifted a mighty King,
Lord of the heavens, dared not to bend.45
With dark nails they drove me through: on me those sores are seen,
open malice-wounds. I dared not scathe anyone.
They mocked us both, we two together [ 7 ]. All wet with blood I was,
poured out from that Mans side, after ghost he gave up.
Much have I born on that hill50
of fierce fate. I saw the God of hosts
harshly stretched out. Darknesses had
wound round with clouds the corpse of the Wielder,
bright radiance; a shadow went forth,
dark under heaven. All creation wept,55
Kings fall lamented. Christ was on rood.
But there eager ones came from afar
to that noble one. I beheld all that.
Sore was I with sorrows distressed, yet I bent to mens hands,
with great zeal willing. They took there Almighty God,60
lifted him from that grim torment. Those warriors abandoned me
standing all blood-drenched, all wounded with arrows.
They laid there the limb-weary one, stood at his bodys head;
beheld they there heavens Lord, and he himself rested there,
worn from that great strife. Then they worked him an earth-house,65
men in the slayers sight carved it from bright stone,
set in it the Wielder of Victories. Then they sang him a sorrow-song,
sad in the eventide, when they would go again
with grief from that great Lord. He rested there, with small company.
But we there lamenting a good while70
stood in our places after the warriors cry
went up. Corpse grew cold,

fair life-dwelling. Then someone felled us

all to the earth. That was a dreadful fate!
Deep in a pit one delved us. Yet there Lords thanes,75
friends, learned of me,. . . . . . . . . . .
adorned me with silver and gold.
Now you may know, loved man of mine,
what I, work of baleful ones, have endured
of sore sorrows. Now has the time come80
when they will honor me far and wide,
men over earth, and all this great creation,
will pray for themselves to this beacon. On me Gods son
suffered awhile. Therefore I, glorious now,
rise under heaven, and I may heal85
any of those who will reverence me.
Once I became hardest of torments,
most loathly to men, before I for them,
voice-bearers, lifes right way opened.
Indeed, Glorys Prince, Heavens Protector,90
honored me, then, over holm-wood [ 8 ].
Thus he his mother, Mary herself,
Almighty God, for all men,
also has honored over all woman-kind.
Now I command you, loved man of mine,95
that you this seeing [ 9 ] tell unto men;
discover with words that it is glorys beam
which Almighty God suffered upon
for all mankinds manifold sins
and for the ancient ill-deeds of Adam.100
Death he tasted there, yet God rose again
by his great might, a help unto men.
He then rose to heaven. Again sets out hither
into this Middle-Earth, seeking mankind
on Doomsday, the Lord himself,105
Almighty God, and with him his angels,
when he will deem he holds power of doom
everyone here as he will have earned
for himself earlier in this brief life.
Nor may there be any unafraid110
for the words that the Wielder speaks.
He asks before multitudes where that one is
who for Gods name would gladly taste
bitter death, as before he on beam did.
And they then are afraid, and few think115
what they can to Christs question answer [ 10 ].
Nor need there then any be most afraid [ 11 ]
who ere in his breast bears finest of beacons;

but through that rood shall each soul

from the earth-way enter the kingdom,120
who with the Wielder thinks yet to dwell.
I prayed then to that beam with blithe mind,
great zeal, where I alone was
with small company [ 12 ]. My heart was
impelled on the forth-way, waited for in each125
longing-while. For me now lifes hope:
that I may seek that victory-beam
alone more often than all men,
honor it well. My desire for that
is much in mind, and my hope of protection130
reverts to the rood. I have not now many
strong friends on this earth; they forth hence
have departed from worlds joys, have sought themselves glorys King;
they live now in heaven with the High-Father,
dwell still in glory, and I for myself expect135
each of my days the time when the Lords rood,
which I here on earth formerly saw,
from this loaned life will fetch me away
and bring me then where is much bliss,
joy in the heavens, where the Lords folk140
is seated at feast, where is bliss everlasting;
and set me then where I after may
dwell in glory, well with those saints
delights to enjoy. May he be friend to me
who here on earth earlier died145
on that gallows-tree for mankinds sins.
He loosed us and life gave,
a heavenly home. Hope was renewed
with glory and gladness to those who there burning endured.
That Son was victory-fast [ 13 ] in that great venture,150
with might and good-speed [ 14 ], when he with many,
vast host of souls, came to Gods kingdom,
One-Wielder Almighty: bliss to the angels
and all the saints those who in heaven
dwelt long in glory when their Wielder came,155
Almighty God, where his homeland was.
Translation copyright 1982, Jonathan A. Glenn. All rights reserved.

Annotations
[ 1 ] shoulder-span. OE eaxlegespanne. Of this hapax legomenon, Swanton writes: It would be
tempting to identify this with the axle-tree or centre-piece of the cross, although axle in this
sense of wheel-centre is not otherwise recorded before the thirteenth century. It might
simply refer to the beam of the gallows along which Christs arms were stretched, although the
crux gemmata normally has jewels along all four arms. [Return to text]
[ 2 ] All God. Most editors assume that engel angel is the subject of the sentence, but I
follow Swanton in treating ealle all as subject and engel as object. Swanton considers this to
cause difficulties about identifying the engel, but the OE word can carry the sense messenger,
which obviously suggests that the Cross itself is the engel dryhtnes angel/messenger of God.
[Return to text]
[ 3 ] fair . . . predestiny. OE fgere urh forgesceaft, an ambiguous phrase, forgesceaft being
used elsewhere to mean both creation and future destiny. See Swanton for a discussion of the
possibilities. My translation indicates that I take it to mean what is preordained. Thus the Rood
is part of an eternal plan, like the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
[Return to text]
[ 4 ] old strife of wretches. OE earmra rgewin, lit. of wretches ere-strife. The phrase, in this
context, appears to refer to the whole battle between Christ and Satan, Good and Evil; more
immediately, of course, it refers to Christs Passion, viewed as battle. [Return to text]
[ 5 ] doom-beacon. OE fuse beacen. Considering that the word fus is commonly associated
with death, Swanton notes: Clearly, within the poets vision we must recognize not simply the
church year hastening to its sacrificial end, but a concrete symbol of death and the doom to
come. This beacen is at once an emblem of death (Christs) and of doom (that of the dreamer and
world). At Judgement Day it is this symbol that will be seen again in the heavens. [Return to
text]
[ 6 ] cursd . . . me. As Swanton observes, the syntax could conceivably support the rendering
made me lift cursd ones. [Return to text]

[ 7 ] both . . . together. OE unc butu tgdere we two both together. Unc is dual in number,
underscoring the close relationship the near identification of Cross and Christ in the poem.
[Return to text]
[ 8 ] holm-wood. OE holmwudu, a hapax legomenon and obscure. Swanton notes three possible
ways to find meaning in the term: (1) interpret it as sea-wood (either ship or more
understandably lignum vitae tree of life, which grows by the waters of Paradise); (2) emend to
holtwudu forest wood; or (3) take holm in the OS sense hill, providing a powerful oblique
reference to the gallows of Golgotha. [Return to text]
[ 9 ] seeing. OE gesyh thing seen, vision (> NE sight), clearly referring to the dreamers vision
of the Cross. B. Hupp, Web of Words, entitles this poem Gesyh rodes. [Return to text]
[ 10 ] Christs answer. More literally: what they may begin to say to Christ. [Return to
text]
[ 11 ] most afraid. OE unforht, usually emended to anforht fearful; Swanton retains the MS
reading un- as an intensive: very afraid. [Return to text]
[ 12 ] small company. See line 69. This is one of the numerous echoes set up to link Christ,
Cross, and Dreamer. [Return to text]
[ 13 ] victory-fast. I.e., secure in or sure of victory. [Return to text]
[ 14 ] with . . . good-speed. OE mihtig ond spedig mighty and successful (the latter being the
original meaning of speedy). [Return to text]