POSTS FROM THE EXETER BOOK RIDDLES
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64 65 66 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78

Exeter Riddle 64

Ic seah · ᚹ · ond · ᛁ ·     ofer wong faran,
beran · ᛒ · ᛖ ·     Bæm wæs on siþþe
hæbbendes hyht     · ᚻ · ond · ᚪ ·
swylce þryþa dæl     · ᚦ · ond · ᛖ ·
5     Gefeah · ᚠ · ond …

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Solution: man on horseback; falconry; ship; scribe; writing
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 64
Exeter Riddle 65

Cwico wæs ic, ne cwæð ic wiht,      cwele ic efne seþeah.
Ær ic wæs, eft ic cwom.     Æghwa mec reafað,
hafað mec on headre,     ond min heafod scireþ,
biteð mec on bær lic,       briceð mine wisan.
Monnan ic ne bite,       nympþe he me bite;
sindan þara monige     þe mec …

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Solution: Onion, Leek, Chives
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 65
Exeter Riddle 66

Ic eom mare      þonne þes middangeard
læsse þonne hondwyrm,      leohtre þonne mona,
swiftre þonne sunne.      Sæs me sind ealle
flodas on fæðmum      ond þes foldan bearm,
grene wongas.      Grundum ic hrine,
helle underhnige,      heofonas oferstige,
wuldres eþel,      wide ræce
ofer …

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Solution: Creation, God
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 66
Exeter Riddle 67

Ic on þinge gefrægn      þeodcyninges
wrætlice wiht,      wordgaldra [. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .] snytt[. . . . .] hio symle deð
fira gehw[. . . . . . . . . . . . . …

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Solution: Bible, Religious Book
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 67
Exeter Riddles 68 and 69

Ic þa wiht geseah      on weg feran;
heo wæs wrætlice      wundrum gegierwed.
[Riddle 69] Wundor wearð on wege;      wæter wearð to bane.

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Solution: Ice, Iceberg, Icicle, Frozen Pond
Commentary for Exeter Riddles 68 and 69
Exeter Riddle 70

Wiht is wrætlic      þam þe hyre wisan ne conn.
Singeð þurh sidan.      Is se sweora woh,
orþoncum geworht;      hafaþ eaxle tua
scearp on gescyldrum.      His gesceapo dreogeð (1)
5     þe swa wrætlice      be wege stonde
heah ond hleortorht     …

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Solution: (Church) Bell, Shawm/Shepherd’s Pipe, (Double) Flute, Harp, Lyre, Organistrum, Shuttle; Lines 5-6 as a separate riddle: Lighthouse, Candle
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 70
Exeter Riddle 71

Ic eom rices æht,     reade bewæfed,
stið ond steapwong.     Staþol wæs iu þa
wyrta wlitetorhtra;     nu eom wraþra laf,
fyres ond feole,     fæste genearwad,
wire geweorþad.     Wepeð hwilum
for minum gripe     se þe gold wigeð,
þonne ic yþan sceal     …fe,
hringum gehyrsted.     Me …i…
…go…                     dryhtne min…
…wlite bete.

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Solution: Cupping-glass, Iron Helmet, Iron Shield, Bronze Shield, Sword or Dagger, Sword-hilt, Iron Ore, Retainer
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 71
Exeter Riddle 72

Ic wæs lytel …
fo …
… te geaf …
…pe         þe unc gemæne …
5   … sweostor min,
fedde mec …      oft ic feower teah
swæse broþor,         þara onsundran gehwylc
dægtidum me         drincan sealde
þurh þyrel …

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Solution: Ox, Heifer, Cow
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 72
Exeter Riddle 73

Ic on wonge aweox,     wunode þær mec feddon
hruse ond heofonwolcn,     oþþæt me onhwyrfdon
gearum frodne,     þa me grome wurdon,
of þære gecynde     þe ic ær cwic beheold,
5     onwendan mine wisan,     wegedon mec of earde,
gedydon þæt ic sceolde     wiþ gesceape minum
on …

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Solution: Spear, Bow, Cross
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 73
Exeter Riddle 74

Ic wæs fæmne geong,      feaxhar cwene,
ond ænlic rinc      on ane tid;
fleah mid fuglum      ond on flode swom,
deaf under yþe      dead mid fiscum,
ond on foldan stop,      hæfde ferþ cwicu.

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Solution: Cuttlefish, Boat and oak, Quill pen, Ship’s figurehead, Siren, Water
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 74
Exeter Riddles 75 and 76

Ic swiftne geseah     on swaþe feran
.ᛞ ᚾ ᛚ ᚻ.
[Riddle 76] Ic ane geseah idese sittan.

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Solution: Hound, Piss, Hound and Hind, Christ
Commentary for Exeter Riddles 75 and 76
Exeter Riddle 77

Sæ mec fedde,         sundhelm þeahte,
ond mec yþa wrugon         eorþan getenge
feþelease.         Oft ic flode ongean
muð ontynde.         Nu wile monna sum
min flæsc fretan,         felles ne recceð,
siþþan he …

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Solution: Oyster
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 77
Exeter Riddle 78

Oft ic flodas…
…s         cynn… minum
ond…
…yde me to mos…
…swa ic him…
…ne æt ham gesæt
…flote cwealde
þurh orþonc…         yþum bewrigene.

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Solution: Crab, Oyster, Fish, Lamprey