Mythology & Folklore
Metrical Charm 10: For Loss of Cattle (Old English)
From The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records, ed. E. V. K. Dobbie, vol. VI (1942)
ðis man sceal cweðan ðonne his ceapa hwilcne man for-
stolenne. Cwyð ær he ænyg oþer word cweðe:
Bethlem hattæ seo burh ðe Crist on geboren wes,
seo is gemærsod ofer ealne middangeard;
swa ðeos dæd wyrþe for monnum mære,
per crucem Christi! And gebide þe ðonne þriwa east and
cweð þriwa: Crux Christi ab oriente reducat. And III
west and cweð: Crux Christi ab occidente reducat. And
III suð and cweð: Crux Christi a meridie reducant. And
III norð and cweð: Crux Christi abscondita sunt et inuenta
est. Iudeas Crist ahengon, gedidon him dæda þa wyrstan;
hælon þæt hi forhelan ne mihton. Swa næfre ðeos dæd
forholen ne wyrðe per crucem Christi.
Codex Note
Old English text as in ASPR; hand-keyed e-text via sacred-texts.com.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 10: For Loss of Cattle (Old English).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/217/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 10: For Loss of Cattle (Old English).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/217/.
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