Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/17

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This is a version of Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/17 that has been annotated by the Wikisource community.

1188471Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book1963Paull Franklin Baum

17 (k-d 6)


 

Christ, the commander,     the true lord of victories,
ordained me for conflict.     I burn the living,
unnumbered mortals,     over all the earth.
I afflict them with pain,     yet never I touch them,
whenever my lord     bids me to battle.
Sometimes I gladden     the minds of many;
sometimes I comfort     those I make war on,
even from afar.     They feel it, nonetheless,
the hurt and the healing,     when now and again,
over deep tribulation,     I better their fortunes.

 










10

Mec gesette soð     sigora waldend
crist to compe     oft ic cwice bærne
unrimu cyn     eorþan getenge
næte mid niþe     swa ic him no hrine ·
þōn mec min frea     feohtan hateþ
hwilum ic monigra     mod arete
hwilum ic frefre     þa ic ær winne · ōn
feorran swiþe     hi þæs felað þeah
swylce þæs oþres     þonne ic eft hyra
ofer deop gedreag     drohtað betan

Above this in the manuscript stands the rune for Sun (sigel or Sol). The association of Christ and the sun is a commonplace.