Arts & Sciences

Riddle 19

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

Translated by Benjamin Thorpe (1842) · From Exeter Book Riddles (selection)

Arts & Sciences

I saw a SROH of spirit proud,
bright of head,
swift, o'er the fertile plain,
vigorously running.
He had behind him
a NOM bold in war,
a nail'd RAD-AGEW
he bore far away,
strong of course, in the chariot,
a proud COFOAH :
the course was the brighter,
* * *
the journey of such.
Say what I am call'd.

✦ ✦ ✦

Thorpe's Riddle XX (first series, pp. 380–441, in his Codex Exoniensis, 1842), where the capitals stand for the runes, which he notes are to be read backwards (SROH = hors, horse); ASPR Riddle 19.

MLA

Anonymous (Old English). “Riddle 19.” Translated by Benjamin Thorpe. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/266/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Old English). “Riddle 19.” Translated by Benjamin Thorpe. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-old-english/266/.

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