Friday Poetry Blogging

[coraa]

This week, something a little different -- an Anglo-Saxon elf charm. (Elf charms were designed to keep the fair folk away, as they were considered quite a bit more harm than good.)

Loud were they, lo loud,      when they rode over the mound,
they were fierce      when they rode over the land.
Shield yourself now      that you may escape this evil.
Out, little spear,      if herein you be!
Stood under linden,      under a light shield,
where the mighty women      readied their power,
and they screaming      spears sent.
I back to them      again will send another,
a flying dart      against them in return.
Out, little spear,      if herein it be!
Sat a smith,      forged he a knife,
little iron      strong wound.
Out, little spear,      if herein it be!
Six smiths sat,      war-spears they made.
Out, spear,      not in, spear!
If herin be      a bit of iron,
hag's work,      it shall melt.
If you were in the skin shot,      or were in flesh shot,
or were in the blood shot,      or were in bone shot,
or were in limb shot,      may your life never be torn apart.
If it were ’sir shot,      or it were elves' shot,
or it were hag's shot,      now I will help you.
This your remedy for ’sir shot,      this your remedy for Elves' shot;
This your remedy for hag's shot; I will help you.
It fled there into the mountains. . . . no rest had it.
Whole be you now!      Lord help you!

-- Anglo-Saxon England, circa 1050, trans. and ed. Karen Louise Jolly