Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/85

85 (k-d 67)

I have heard     of a splendid thing, of the Lord of peoples,     a word of incantation … Several defective lines and then the conclusion:                               I have become a teacher of peoples,     live an eternal life in many lands,     while men inhabit the bosom of earth.     I have often seen it adorned with gold     where men were drinking, with treasures and silver.     Say if you can, if you are wise enough,     what this thing is.

10

Ic on þinge gefrægn     þeodcyninges wrætlice wiht     wordgaldra […] […] snytt[…] hio symle deð fira gehw[…] […] wisdome     wundor me þæt […] […]     nænne muð hafað fet ne […] […]     welan oft sacað cwiþeð cy[…] wearð leoda lareow     forþon nu longe m[…]g […] ealdre     ece lifgan missenlice     þenden menn bugað eorþan sceatas     Ic þæt oft geseah golde gegierwed     þær guman druncon since ⁊ seolfre     secge se þe cunne wisfæstra hwylc     hwæt seo wiht sy