Mythology & Folklore

Metrical Charm 12: Against a Wen (Old English)

by Anonymous (Old English) c. 7th–11th century

From The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records, ed. E. V. K. Dobbie, vol. VI (1942)

Mythology & Folklore

Wenne, wenne, wenchichenne,
her ne scealt þu timbrien, ne nenne tun habben,
ac þu scealt north eonene to þan nihgan berhge,
þer þu hauest, ermig, enne broþer.
He þe sceal legge leaf et heafde.
Under fot wolues, under ueþer earnes,
under earnes clea, a þu geweornie.
Clinge þu alswa col on heorþe,
scring þu alswa scerne awage,
and weorne alswa weter on anbre.
Swa litel þu gewurþe alswa linsetcorn,
and miccli lesse alswa anes handwurmes hupeban,
and alswa litel þu gewurþe þet þu nawiht gewurþe.

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Old English text as in ASPR; hand-keyed e-text via sacred-texts.com.

MLA

Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 12: Against a Wen (Old English).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/219/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 12: Against a Wen (Old English).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/219/.

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