Mythology & Folklore

Metrical Charm 4: For a Sudden Stitch

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

Translated by Cosette Faust Newton & Stith Thompson (1918) · From Old English Poems, ed. Cosette Faust & Stith Thompson (1918)

Mythology & Folklore

Loud were they, lo loud, as over the lea they rode;
Resolute they were when they rode over the land.
Protect thyself that thy trouble become cured and healed.
Out, little stick, if it still is
I stood under the linden, under the light shield,
Where the mighty women their magic prepared,
And they sent their spears spinning and whistling.
But I will send them a spear in return,
Unerringly aim an arrow against them.
Out, little stick, if it still is within!
There sat a smith and a small knife forged
. . . . . . . sharply with a stroke of iron.
Out little stick if it still is within!
Six smiths sat and worked their war-spears.
Out, spear! be not in, spear!
If it still is there, the stick of iron,
The work of the witches, away it shall melt.
If thou wert shot in the skin, or sore wounded in the flesh,
If in the blood thou wert shot, or in the bone thou wert shot,
If in the joint thou wert shot, there will be no jeopardy to your life.
If some deity shot it, or some devil shot it,
Or if some witch has shot it, now I am willing to help thee.
This is a remedy for a deity's shot; this is a remedy for a devil's shot;
This is a remedy for a witch's shot. I am willing to help thee.
Flee there into the forests . . . . . . .
Be thou wholly healed. Thy help be from God.

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A charm against a sudden stabbing pain, which it blames on the spear-shot of witches, elves or gods. The spaces mid-line are the translators' marks of the caesura; dots mark gaps. ASPR Metrical Charm 4.

MLA

Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 4: For a Sudden Stitch.” Translated by Cosette Faust Newton and Stith Thompson. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/227/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Old English). “Metrical Charm 4: For a Sudden Stitch.” Translated by Cosette Faust Newton and Stith Thompson. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/227/.

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