Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/30

30 (k-d 77)

The sea fed me;     the water-helm was over me, and waves covered me,     close to the ground. I was footless.     Often toward the water I opened my mouth.     Now people will eat my meat.     They want not my skin. When they rip my hide     with the point of a knife . . . . .     . . . . Then they eat me uncooked.     . . .

Se me fedde     sundhelm þeahte ⁊ mec yþa wrugon     eorþan getenge feþelease     oft ic flode ongean muð ontynde     nu wile monna sum min flæsc fretan     felles ne recceð siþþan he me of sidan     seaxes orde hyd arypeð     […]ec hr[…]þe siþþan iteð unsodene     ea[…]d.

Oyster.