POSTS FROM THE EXETER BOOK RIDDLES
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79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91

Commentary for Exeter Riddle 78
Exeter Riddles 79 and 80

Ic eom æþelinges         æht ond willa.
Ic eom æþelinges         eaxlgestealla,
fyrdrinces gefara,         frean minum leof,
cyninges geselda.         Cwen mec hwilum
hwitloccedu         hond on legeð,
eorles dohtor,         …

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Solution: Horn, Falcon, Hawk, Spear, Sword, Scabbard
Commentary for Exeter Riddles 79 and 80
Exeter Riddle 81

Ic eom byledbreost,      belcedsweora,
heafod hæbbe      ond heane steort,
eagan ond earan      ond ænne foot,
hrycg ond heardnebb,      hneccan steapne
ond sidan twa,      sag[ol]* on middum,
eard ofer ældum.      Aglac dreoge,
þær mec wegeð      se þe wudu hrereð,
ond mec stondende      streamas beatað,
hægl se hearda,      ond hrim þeceð,
[.]orst …

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Solution: Weathercock, Ship, Visored helmet
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 81
Exeter Riddle 82

Wiht is [………………….
……] gongende,     greate swilgeð,
[…………………….
……] fell ne flæsc,     fotum gong[..
………………………..]eð,
sceal mæla gehwam [……………………….]

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Solution: Crab, harrow
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 82
Exeter Riddle 83

Frod wæs min fromcynn     […]
biden in burgum,     siþþan bæles weard
[…] wera     lige (1) bewunden,
fyre gefælsad.     Nu me fah warað
eorþan broþor,     se me ærest wearð
gumena to gyrne.     Ic ful gearwe gemon
hwa min fromcynn     fruman agette
eall of eard; …

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Solution: Ore; metal; gold; coins; revenant; spirit
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 83
Exeter Riddle 84

An wiht is on eorþan      wundrum acenned,
hreoh ond reþe,      hafað ryne strongne,
grimme grymetað      ond be grunde fareð.
Modor is monigra      mærra wihta.
5     Fæger ferende      fundað æfre;
neol is nearograp.      Nænig oþrum mæg
wlite ond wisan      wordum gecyþan,
hu mislic biþ      mægen þara cynna,
fyrn forðgesceaft;      fæder …

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Solution: Water
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 84
Exeter Riddle 85

Nis min sele swige,         ne ic sylfa hlud
ymb * * *(1) unc dryhten scop
siþ ætsomne.         Ic eom swiftre þonne he,
þragum strengra,         he þreohtigra.
Hwilum ic me reste;         he sceal yrnan forð. …

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Solution: Fish and River, Body and Soul
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 85
Exeter Riddle 86

Wiht cwom gongan         þær weras sæton
monige on mæðle,         mode snottre;
hæfde an eage         ond earan twa,
ond II fet,         XII hund heafda,
hrycg ond wombe         ond honda twa,
earmas …

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Solution: One-eyed Seller of Garlic (yes, really…)
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 86
Exeter Riddle 87

Ic seah wundorlice wiht;      wombe hæfde micle,
þryþum geþrunge.     Þegn folgade,
mægenstrong ond mundrof;      micel me þuhte
godlic gumrinc;      grap on sona,
heofones toþe      * * *
bleowe on eage;      hio borcade,
wancode willum.      Hio wolde seþeah
niol……

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Solution: Bellows
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 87
Exeter Riddle 88
Ic weox þær ic s[……………………
……..]ond sumor mi[…………….
……………]me wæs min ti[…..
……………………
5 …]d ic on staðol[………………..
……….]um geong, swa[……….
……………..]seþeana
oft geond [………………..]fgeaf,
ac ic uplong stod, þær ic [………]
10 ond min broþor; begen wæron hearde.
Eard wæs þy weorðra þe wit on stodan,
hyrstum þy hyrra. …
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Solution: Antler, Inkhorn, Horn, Body and Soul
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 88
Exeter Riddle 89
[………………………………] se wiht,
wombe hæfde [……………….
………..]tne,             leþre wæs beg[…….
………………………]on hindan.
Grette wea[…………………..
………………...]             listum worhte,
hwilum eft [……………………
………..…] þygan,             him þoncade,
siþþan u[………………………
….] swæsendum         …
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Solution: Too fragmentary to guess, though Bellows and Leather Bottle have been tentatively suggested
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 89
Exeter Riddle 90
Mirum videtur mihi –           lupus ab agno tenetur;
obcu[..]it agnus * * *(1)           et capit viscera lupi.
Dum starem et mirarem,           vidi gloriam magnam:
duo lupi stantes           et tertium tribulantes …
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Solution: Lamb of God, Web and Loom, Candelabra
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 90
Exeter Riddle 91
Min heafod is           homere geþuren,
searopila wund,           sworfen feole.
Oft ic begine           þæt me ongean sticað,
þonne ic hnitan sceal,           hringum gyrded,
5    hearde wið heardum,       …
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Solution: Key, Keyhole
Commentary for Exeter Riddle 91