Riddle 15

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Hals is min hwit         ond heafod fealo,
sidan swa some.         Swift ic eom on feþe,
beadowæpen bere.         Me on bæce standað
her swylce swe on hleorum.         Hlifiað tu

5

earan ofer eagum.         Ordum ic steppe
in grene græs.         Me bið gyrn witod,
gif mec onhæle         an onfindeð
wælgrim wiga,         þær ic wic buge,
bold mid bearnum,         ond ic bide þær

10

mid geoguðcnosle,         hwonne gæst cume
to durum minum,         him biþ deað witod.
Forþon ic sceal of eðle         eaforan mine
forhtmod fergan,         fleame nergan,
gif he me æfterweard         ealles weorþeð;

15

hine berað breost.         Ic his bidan ne dear,
reþes on geruman,         (nele þæt ræd teale),
ac ic sceal fromlice         feþemundum
þurh steapne beorg         stræte wyrcan.
Eaþe ic mæg freora         feorh genergan,

20

gif ic mægburge mot         mine gelædan
on degolne weg         þurh dune þyrel
swæse ond gesibbe;         ic me siþþan ne þearf
wælhwelpes wig         wiht onsittan.
Gif se niðsceaþa         nearwe stige

25

me on swaþe seceþ,         ne tosæleþ him
on þam gegnpaþe         guþgemotes,
siþþan ic þurh hylles         hrof geræce,
ond þurh hest hrino         hildepilum
laðgewinnum,         þam þe ic longe fleah.