Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/34

34 (k-d 58)

I know a thing     with a single foot doing deeds of might.     It travels not nor rides much,     nor can it fly through the clear air;     nor does ship carry it, a boat with nailed planks.     It is nevertheless useful to its master     at many times. It has a heavy tail     and a small head and a long tongue.     It has no tooth; part is of iron.     It goes through a hollow. It swallows no water,     it eats nothing, it desires no fodder.     Often notwithstanding it bears water aloft.     It boasts not of life or of gifts from its chief.     It obeys nonetheless its master’s word.     In its name there are three real runes.     Rād is the first.

10

Ic wat anfete     ellen dreogan wiht on wonge     wide ne fereð ne fela rideð     ne fleogan mæg þurh scirne dæg     ne hie scip fereð naca nægledbord     nyt bið hwæþre hyre dryht ne     monegum tidum hafað hefigne steort     heafod lytel tungan lange     toð nænigne Isernes dæl     eorðgræf pæþeð wætan ne swelgeþ     ne wiht Iteþ foþres ne gitsað     fereð oft swa þeah lagoflod on lyfte     life ne gielpeð hlafordes gifum     hyreð swa þeana þeodne sinum     þry sind In naman ryhte runstafas     þara is rād furum.

Rād is the name of the rune for R and also means ‘riding’ (note also “rides” in l. 3); in short, a Riding-well, or well with bucket and sweep.