Exeter Book Riddle 83 (or 79), My lineage is ancient / frod wæs min fromcynn…
An Old English riddle from the tenth century, set to new music by Hanna Marti.
Old English text:
Frod wæs min from cynn biden in burgum
siþþan bæles weardwera life bewunden
fyre gefælsad nu me fāh warað
eorþan broþor se me ærest wearþ
gumena to gyrne Ic ful gearwe gemon
hwa min fromcynn fruman agette
eall of earde ic him yfle ne mot
ac ic on hæft nyd hwilum ārære
wide geond wongas hæbbe ic wunda fela
middangeardes mægen unlytel ·
Ac ic miþan sceal monna gehwylcū
degolfulne dōm dyran cræftes
siðfæt minne saga hwæt ic hatte.
Translation:
My lineage is ancient, I lived in towns
since the fire-guardian wrought with flame
my clean beginning in the world of men.
Now earth’s brother, an enemy, guards me,
who was first for me a bringer of sorrow.
I remember who in the beginning
drove my lineage, destroyed all the world.
I may do him no harm
but I raise up captivity from time to time,
the wide world over.
I have many glories, no little strength
in all the land,
but I must conceal from every man
the secret power of precious skill
and the path I follow.
Tell what my name is!
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.