Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/13

13 (K-D 55)

I saw in the hall    where heroes drank
a thing of four kinds    borne on the wall.
splendid forest tree,    and twisted gold,
skilfully wound treasure,    and part of it silver;
and the sign of the cross   of Him who raised us
step by step    up to heaven
before he stormed    the castle of Hell’s people.
I can readily report    on the excellence of the wood:
there was maple and oak    and tough yew
and the dark holly.    They are all together10
a help to good men.    One name they have:
Wolf-head Tree,    that often afforded
a weapon for its lord,    a treasure in the hall,
a gold-hilted sword.    Now show me the answer
of this my song,    whoever may presume
to say in words    how the wood is called.

This one is difficult, but the author liked it and called it a song (gied), a poem. The solutions hesitate between Scabbard and Cross; probably both are intended. A sword out of its scabbard may resemble a cross and the Holy Rood was often described as made of four kinds of wood. A wolf-head is an outlaw; the tree therefore a gallows. Altogether, a composite image—scabbard, sword, cross, Holy Rood, gallows on which our Lord was crucified. For additional complication the verb translated “afforded” might also mean “warded off.”