Aldhelm Riddle 74: Fundibalum
ALEXANDRAREIDER
Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022Glauca seges lini vernans ex aequore campi
Et tergus mihi tradebant primordia fati.
Bina mihi constant torto retinacula filo,
Ex quibus immensum trucidabam mole tirannum,
Cum cuperent olim gentis saevire falanges.
Plus amo cum tereti bellum decernere saxo
Quam duris pugnans ferrata cuspide contis.
Tres digiti totum versant super ardua corpus;
Erro caput circa tenues et tendor in auras.
The brilliant crop of flax blooming from the field’s plain
And animal hide gave me the origins of my fate.
I have a double band of twined cord,
With a rock from these I slew a great tyrant
When at that time phalanxes of Gentiles wished to attack.
I would rather determine a battle with a polished stone
Than fight with hard spears with iron points.
Three fingers drive my whole body into the heights;
I circle around the head and am stretched into thin air.
Notes:
This edition is based on Rudolf Ehwald, ed. Aldhelmi Opera Omnia. Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi, 15. Berlin: Weidmann, 1919, pages 59-150. Available online here.
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