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Riddle 44

fol. 112v

Something stiff hangs by a man's thigh, under his cloak. The double meaning is the point — the Exeter Book enjoys making you blush for guessing wrong.

1 rætlic hongað bi weres þeo,
2 frean under sceate. Foran is þyrel.
3 Bið stiþ ond heard, stede hafað godne;
4 þonne se esne his agen hrægl
5 ofer cneo hefeð, wile þæt cuþe hol
6 mid his hangellan heafde gretan
7 þæt he efenlang ær oft gefylde.
Hwæt eom ic? — what am I?

A key. The innocent answer, once you have thought of the other one.