Ic seah ræpingas in ræced fergan
under hrof sales hearde twegen,
þa wæron genumne,(1) nearwum bendum
gefeterade fæste togædre;
5 þara oþrum wæs an getenge
wonfah Wale, seo weold hyra
bega siþe bendum fæstra.
Solution: Buckets, Broom, Flail, Yoked oxen
Ic seah on bearwe beam hlifian,
tanum torhtne. Þæt treo wæs on wynne,
wudu weaxende. Wæter hine ond eorþe
feddan fægre, oþþæt he frod dagum
5 on oþrum wearð aglachade
deope gedolgod, dumb in bendum,
wriþen ofer wunda, wonnum hyrstum
foran gefrætwed. Nu he fæcnum weg
þurh his heafdes mægen …
Solution: Battering Ram is the most common solution, but Cross and Gallows have also been suggested
Hyse cwom gangan, þær he hie wisse
stondan in wincsele, stop feorran to,
hror hægstealdmon, hof his agen
hrægl hondum up, hrand under gyrdels
5 hyre stondendre stiþes nathwæt,
worhte his willan; wagedan buta.
Þegn onnette, wæs þragum nyt
tillic esne, teorode hwæþre
æt stunda …
Solution: Butter churn, Baker’s boy and oven
Ic seah in healle, þær hæleð druncon,
on flet beran feower cynna,
wrætlic wudutreow ond wunden gold,
sinc searobunden, ond seolfres dæl
5 ond rode tacn, þæs us to roderum up
hlædre rærde, ær he helwara
burg abræce. …
Solution: Shield, Scabbard, Harp, Cross, Gallows, Sword rack, Sword box, Hengen (see commentary for more on this last one!)
Ic wæs þær inne þær ic ane geseah
winnende wiht wido bennegean,
holt hweorfende; heaþoglemma feng,
deopra dolga. Daroþas wæron
5 weo þære wihte, ond se wudu searwum
fæste gebunden. Hyre fota wæs
biidfæst oþer, oþer bisgo dreag,
leolc on lyfte, …
Solution: Loom, Lathe
Ðeos lyft byreð lytle wihte
ofer beorghleoþa. Þa sind blace swiþe,
swearte salopade. Sanges rope
heapum ferað, hlude cirmað,
tredað bearonæssas, hwilum burgsalo
niþþa bearna. Nemnað hy sylfe.
Solution: Swifts, Swallows, Crows, Jackdaws, Starlings, House martins, Letters, Musical notes, Gnats, Stormclouds, Hailstones, Raindrops, Bees, Midges, Damned souls, or Demons
Ic wat anfete ellen dreogan
wiht on wonge. Wide ne fereð,
ne fela rideð, ne fleogan mæg
þurh scirne dæg, ne hie scip fereð,
5 naca nægledbord; nyt bið hwæþre
hyre mondryhtne monegum tidum.
Hafað hefigne steort, …
Solution: Well-sweep
Ic seah in healle hring gyldenne
men sceawian, modum gleawe,
ferþþum frode. Friþospede bæd
god nergende gæste sinum
5 se þe wende wriþan; word æfter cwæð
hring on hyrede, hælend nemde
tillfremmendra. Him torhte in …
Solution: Chalice
Ic wæs be sonde, sæwealle neah,
æt merefaroþe,* minum gewunade
frumstaþole fæst; fea ænig wæs
monna cynnes, þæt minne þær
5 on anæde eard beheolde,
ac mec uhtna gehwam yð sio brune
lagufæðme beleolc. Lyt ic wende
þæt …
Solution: Reed (pen), Rune staff
Oft mec fæste bileac freolicu meowle,
ides on earce, hwilum up ateah
folmum sinum ond frean sealde,
holdum þeodne, swa hio haten wæs.
5 Siðþan me on hreþre heafod sticade,
nioþan upweardne, on nearo fegde.
Gif þæs ondfengan …
Solution: Shirt/Kirtle/Tunic, Garment, Helmet
Ic eom heard ond scearp, [i]ngonges strong,
forðsiþes from, frean unforcuð,
wade under wambe ond me weg sylfa
ryhtne geryme. Rinc bið on ofeste,
5 se mec on þyð æftanweardne,
hæleð mid hrægle; hwilum ut tyhð
of hole hatne, hwilum eft fareð
on …
Solution: Poker, Boring tool, Phallus
Oft ic secga seledreame sceal
fægre onþeon, þonne ic eom forð boren
glæd mid golde, þær guman drincað.
Hwilum mec on cofan cysseð muþe
5 tillic esne, þær wit tu beoþ,
fæðme on folm[. . . . .]grum þyð,
wyrceð …
Solution: Glass beaker, Flask, Flute
COMMENTARY FOR TATWINE'S RIDDLE 1
EXETER RIDDLE 55 IN SPANISH / EN ESPAÑOL
EXETER RIDDLE 6 IN SPANISH / EN ESPAÑOL
SYMPHOSIUS RIDDLE 100: MONUMENTUM
2022 (251)
2021 (185)
2020 (76)
2019 (9)
2018 (19)
2017 (33)
2016 (14)
2015 (32)
2014 (31)
2013 (33)
BONIFACE'S RIDDLES (22)
EUSEBIUS'S RIDDLES (60)
SYMPHOSIUS'S RIDDLES (101)
TATWINE'S RIDDLES (42)
THE BERN RIDDLES (128)
THE EXETER BOOK RIDDLES (184)
THE LORSCH RIDDLES (24)
THE RIDDLES IN BOSNIAN, CROATIAN, MONTENEGRIN AND SERBIAN (4)
THE RIDDLES IN INDONESIAN (2)
THE RIDDLES IN SPANISH (17)