Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/57

57 (k-d 16)

I war oft against wave     and fight against wind, do battle with both,     when I reach to the ground, covered by the waters.     The land is strange to me. I am strong in the strife     if I stay at rest. If I fail at that,     they are stronger than I and forthwith they wrench me     and put me to rout. They would carry away     what I ought to defend. I withstand them then     if my tail endures and the stones hold me fast.     Ask what my name is.

10

Oft ic sceal wiþ wæge winnan     ⁊ wiþ winde feohtan somod wið þā sæcce     þōn ic secan gewite eorþan yþum þeaht     me biþ se eþel fremde ic beom strong þæs gewinnes     gif ic stille weorþe gif me þæs tosæleð     hi beoð swiþran þōn ic ⁊ mec slitende     sona flymað willað oþfergan     þæt ic friþian sceal ic him ꝥ forstonde     gif min steort þolað ⁊ mec stiþne wiþ     stanas moton fæste gehabban     frige hwæt ic hatte

Anchor.