Exeter Riddle 25
From Cunnan
Riddle 25 from the Exeter Book is one of a class primly known as obscene, as it seems to describe something crude, but really refers to something mundane.
Translation
I'm a wonderful thing, women I please,
to neighbours I'm useful, none do I hurt
who abide in my village, but for my slayer.
I grow to great stature, stand in my bed,
under me is hair. Until the time
Some comely lass, a carl's daughter
and haughty maid, holds onto me,
grips my redness, robs me of my head,
fixes me firmly. Feeling at once
what meeting me means in mutual space,
that woman with wound hair. Wet is her eye.
Original
Ic eom wunderlicu wiht, wifum on hyhte,
neahbuendum nyt; nęngum scežže
burgsittendra, nymže bonan anum.
Stažol min is steapheah, stonde ic on bedde,
neožan ruh nathwęr. Nežeš hwilum
ful cyrtenu ceorles dohtor,
modwlonc meowle, žęt heo on mec gripeš,
ręseš mec on reodne, reafaš min heafod,
fegeš mec on fęsten. Felež sona
mines gemotes, seo že mec nearwaš,
wif wundenlocc. Węt biš žęt eage.
Answer
Onion
