iddle 34

Ic wiht geseah    on wege feran,

 

A strange creature ran on a rippling road,

 

seo wæs wrætlice     wundrum gegierwed:

 

Its cut was wild, its body bowed,

 

hæfde feowere    fet under wombe

 

Four feet under belly, eight on its back,

 

ond ehtuwe

 

Two wings, twelve eyes, six heads, one track.

 

monn h w M wiif m x l kf wf hors qxxs ufon on hrycge;

5

It cruised the waves decked out like a bird,

5

hæfde tu fiþru     ond twelf eagan

 

But was more--the shape of a horse, man,

 

ond siex heafdu.    Saga hwæt hio wære.

 

Dog, bird, and the face of a woman--

 

For flodwegas;    ne wæs þæt na fugul ana,

 

Weird riddle-craft riding the drift of words--

 

ac þær wæs æghwylces    anra gelicnes

10

Now sing the solution to what you've heard.

 

horses ond monnes,    hundes ond fugles,

     

ond eac wifes wlite.    þu wast, gif þu const,

     

to gesecganne,    þæt we soð witan--

     

hu þære wihte    wise gonge.

     
       

solution