Riddle 84

There is a creature
wonderously brought forth,
rugged and cruel ;
has a strong course,
fiercely roars,
and along the ground goes,
is mother of many
greater creatures ;
speedily going,
it ever urges forward ;
low it is and hard of grasp ;
no one to other may
its aspect and nature
by words make known,
how various is
the power of those kinds.
The long-pass'd creation
the Father all guards,
beginning and end,
as also the only Son,
great Child of the Creator.
through
* * *
and the highest

* * ere was
beauteous and winsome
* * *
The mother is
in power great,
wonderously sustain'd,
with provisions laden,
with treasures adorn'd,
to men dear ;
her power is augmented,
her might manifested,
her aspect is honour'd
by glorious duties ;
a winsome gem of glory,
to the proud oppressive ;
pure she is and bountiful,
great in skill ;
she to the rich is dear,
to the poor benevolent,
joyous, excellent,
most strenuous, and most strong,
most rapacious, and most greedy,
she treads the bed of earth,
from what time she under heaven
was led forth,
and the children of men
with eyes beheld.
So that glorious woman,
world-children's daughter,
although in soul sagacious,
* * *
with human understanding wise
in many wonders,
than rock is harder,
than men wiser,
in gifts is,
than gems, dearer,
the world beautifies,
with fruits teems,
crimes extinguishes,
* * *
oft casts out
from a house,
wonderously adorn'd,
among people ;
at that gaze
men over earth,
that may great

with stones heap'd,
with storms * *