Against a Wen
"Against a Wen" is an Old English metrical charm and medical text found in the Royal MS. 4A.XIV, British Museum. It appears to describe a remedy for ridding oneself of a wen, which is an Old English term for a cyst or skin blemish. As cysts are commonly mobile masses on the skin, the charm is written to the wen itself, asking it to leave. The charm prescribes methods for curing the blemish, and describes it as it gradually shrinks until it disappears.
Text
Against a Ƿen
Ƿenne, ƿenne, ƿenchichenne,
her ne scealt þu timbrien, ne nenne tun habben,
ac þu scealt norþ eonene to þan nihgan berhge,
þer þu hauest, ermig, enne broþer.
He þe sceal legge leaf et heafde.
Under fot ƿolues, under ueþer earnes,
under earnes clea, a þu geƿeornie.
Clinge þu alsƿa col on heorþe,
scring þu alsƿa scerne aƿage,
and ƿeorne alsƿa ƿeter on anbre.
Sƿa litel þu geƿurþe alsƿa linsetcorn,
and miccli lesse alsƿa anes handƿurmes hupeban,
and alsƿa litel þu geƿurþe þet þu naƿiht geƿurþe.
References
- Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie, The Anglo-Saxon Minor Poems, vol. VI of The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Record, Columbia University Press, New York, 1942. ISBN 0231087705/0-231-08770-5
External links
- 'Old English Text' (Original Old English Text of 'Against a Ƿen').