Guess This!

In view of the fact that I've been wading through Middle English poetry of late, I thought I'd throw in a riddle this week. There are over 80 Anglo-Saxon Riddles left to us, most of them found in the Exeter Book (Manuscript). The language and use of metaphor are both quite fine - Enjoy!


Biþ foldan dæl fægre gegierwed
Part of the earth grows lovely and grim

mid þy heardestan ond mid þy scearpestan
With the hardest and fiercest of bitter-sharp

ond mid þy grymmestan gumena gestreona--
Treasures--felled, cut, carved,

corfen, sworfen, cyrred, þyrred,
Bleached, scrubbed, softened, shaped,

bunden, wunden, blæced, wæced,
5 Twisted, rubbed, dried, adorned,
5
frætwed, geatwed, feorran læded
Bound, and borne off to the doorways of men--

to durum dryhta. Dream bið in innan
This creature brings in hall-joy, sweet

cwicra wihta, clengeð, lengeð,
Music clings to its curves, live song

þara þe ær lifgende longe hwile
Lingers in a body where before bloom-wood

wilna bruceð ond no wið spriceð,
10 Said nothing. After death it sings
10
ond þonne æfter deaþe deman onginneð,
A clarion joy. Wise listeners

meldan mislice. Micel is to hycganne
Will know what this creature is called.

wisfæstum menn, hwæt seo wiht sy.

Do you know what it is? If you're really stumped, click Here.