Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/5

5 (K-D 84)

A thing there is     strangely begotten,
furious and fierce;     runs a violent course
rages grimly,     moves over the ground,
is mother of many     marvelous creatures.
Moving beautifully,     it is ever striving;
low-lying is its close grip.     None to another
can fairly with wise words     describe its features
or say how manifold     is the multitude of its kin.
Its ancient origin     the Father watched over,
beginning and end,     and his only Son also,10
glorious child of God     . . . . .
. . . . .     . . . . .
Mighty in strength     the mother is;
supported marvelously,     laden with food,
adorned with treasures,     precious to heroes;
her might is multiplied,     strength made manifest,
her face is honored     with happy usefulness;
a fair bright jewel     for the proud to wear;
cleanly and bountiful;     mighty in craft.
It is dear to the prosperous,     to the poor soothing,20
goodly, excellent;     boldest and strongest,
greediest and eagerest—     treads over the ground—
of all that is grown up     underneath the sky
and that the sons of men     ever saw with their eyes.
So that glory weaves     the might of mortals,
although wise of mind     . . . . .
a man more knowing of heart,     a crowd of wonders.
Than earth it is harder,     than heroes older,
than gifts readier,     than gems dearer;
beautifies the world;     increases in fruits;30
blots out crime …
often casts from without     a single covering
wondrously beautiful,     over all mankind,
so that throughout the world     men are astonished.

There were 56 lines in all, of which these are recoverable—some metrically dubious and obscure in meaning. The probable solution is Water in its various forms and uses—if one has the patience to identify them.