Composed and performed by Hanna Marti.

Old English text:
Biþ foldan dæl   fægre gegierwed
mid þy heardestan   ond mid þy scearpestan
ond mid þy grymmestan   gumena gestreona,
corfen, sworfen,   cyrred, þyrred,
bunden, wunden,   blæced, wæced,
frætwed, geatwed,   feorran læded
to durum dryhta.   Dream bið in innan
cwicra wihta,   clengeð, lengeð,
þara þe ær lifgende   longe hwile
wilna bruceð   ond no wið spriceð,
ond þonne æfter deaþe  deman onginneð,
meldan mislice.   Micel is to hycganne
wisfæstum menn,   hwæt seo wiht sy.

Translation:
Part of the earth grows lovely and grim
with the hardest and fiercest of bitter-sharp treasures.
cut, cleaned, turned, dried,
twisted, wound, bleached and bound,
adorned, arrayed and borne away to the doors of men.
Joy is within for living creatures.
It clings, and stays for a long while
lingering in that body, which before lived,
but didn’t speak.
But after death, it started talking and singing.
Wise listeners will know, what this creature is called!

Click here to read more about the riddle (and see possible solutions), on Megan Cavell’s ‘The Riddle Ages’ blog. And click here to see an alternative translation.