Riddle 31

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Is þes middangeard missenlicum
wisum gewlitegad, wrættum gefrætwad.
Ic seah sellic þing singan on ræcede;
wiht wæs nower werum on gemonge,

5

sio hæfde wæstum wundorlicran.
Niþerweard wæs neb hyre,
fet ond folme fugele gelice;
no hwæþre fleogan mæg ne fela gongan,
hwæþre feþegeorn fremman onginneð,

10

gecoren cræftum, cyrreð geneahhe
oft ond gelome eorlum on gemonge,
siteð æt symble, sæles bideþ,
hwonne ær heo cræft hyre cyþan mote
werum on wonge. Ne heo þær wiht þigeð

15

þæs þe him æt blisse beornas habbað.
Deor domes georn, hio dumb wunað;
hwæþre hyre is on fote fæger hleoþor,
wynlicu woðgiefu. Wrætlic me þinceð,
hu seo wiht mæge wordum lacan

20

þurh fot neoþan, frætwed hyrstum.
Hafað hyre on halse, þonne hio hord warað,
bær, beagum deall, broþor sine,
mæg mid mægne. Micel is to hycgenne
wisum woðboran, hwæt sio wiht sie.