Old English Riddle Songs | Week 5

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Exeter Book Riddle(s?) 68 and 69 (or 66) [Confused about all the numbers? CLICK HERE], I saw the creature going on its way… / Ic þa wiht geseah on weg feran…

An Old English riddle from the tenth century, set to new music by Stef Conner and Hanna Marti.

Old English text:

Ic þa wiht geseah on weg feran.
heo wæs wrætlice, wundrum gegierwed.
Wundor wearð on wege; wæter wearð to bane.

Translation:

I saw the creature going on its way.
It was splendidly, wonderfully arrayed.
The wonder was on the wave; water became bone.

SOLUTION: Most likely WATER (turning to ice).

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.