Anglo-Saxon Aloud

A daily reading of the entire Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records,which includes all poems written in Old English. By Michael D. C. Drout, Prentice Associate Professor of English at Wheaton College, Norton, MA.

Archive for the 'Charms' Category

Against a Wen [all]

Posted by mdrout on 22nd February 2008

A charm to remove a wart or sore.

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A Journey Charm [all]

Posted by mdrout on 22nd February 2008

A charm to keep someone safe on a journey. It seems to have affinities with “Lorica” (breastplate) poems.

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For Loss of Cattle (2) [all]

Posted by mdrout on 21st February 2008

A second version of the Loss of Cattle Charm, this one from MS CCCC 41.

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For Theft of Cattle [all]

Posted by mdrout on 21st February 2008

A charm to help recover cattle that have been stolen (rather than lost).

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For a Swarm of Bees [all]

Posted by mdrout on 21st February 2008

A charm that is probably intended to get a swarm of bees to stay at a hive or a migrating swarm to settle where desired.

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For the Water-Elf Disease [all]

Posted by mdrout on 21st February 2008

A recipe and charm to cure “wæterælfadl.” Many herbs are involved.

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For Delayed Birth [all]

Posted by mdrout on 21st February 2008

Possibly a collection of charms to help pregnant and breastfeeding women.

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For Loss of Cattle [all]

Posted by mdrout on 20th February 2008

Only three lines of this charm are metrical.  The charm is to be said as soon as one realizes that the cattle are lost.

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For a Sudden Stitch [all]

Posted by mdrout on 20th February 2008

A charm to combat “færstic.”  Most notable for the repetition of “Out, little spear!”

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Against a Dwarf [all]

Posted by mdrout on 20th February 2008

A charm to use if afflicted by a dwarf.  There are some instructions in prose followed by the metrical charm.

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