Page:Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book (1963).djvu/85

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    1. s78 ##

78 (K-D 61)

Often a goodly damsel,    a lady, locked me
close in a chest.    Sometimes with her hands
she took me out    and gave me to her lord,
a fine chieftain,    as he commanded her.
Then he thrust his head    well inside me,
up from below,    into the narrow part.
If the strength prevailed    of him who received me,
adorned as I was,    something or other rough
was due to fill me.    Guess what I mean.

The answer is an ornamented Shirt, which the man pulls over his head. Up to a point this is innocent enough; but a twist at the end, emphasized by the unusual formula, “Guess what I mean,” conveys the double entendre.

    1. s79 ##

79 (K-D 62)

I am hard and sharp,    strong in entering,
bold in coming out,    good and true to my lord.
I go in underneath    and myself open up
the proper way.    The warrior is in haste
who pushes me from behind    a hero with his dress.
Sometimes he draws me out,    hot from the hole.
Sometimes I go back    in the narrow place—
I know not where.    A southern man
drives me hard.    Say what my name is.

The answer is Gimlet or Poker. “Southern” is a literal translation, meaning perhaps a skilled workman as opposed to the cruder man from northern districts; or one who works from below.

    1. s80 ##

80 (K-D 37)

I saw the thing;    its belly was at the back
hugely puffed out.    A servant attended it,
a man of might.    And much had it suffered