Ruddoc Hana

From Tolkien Gateway

Ruddoc Hana is an Old English song by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a translation of the English nursery rhyme Who Killed Cock Robin?. It is published as the 10th song in Songs for the Philologists in 1936.

The song[edit | edit source]

Ruddoc Hana

Hi grornodon, gnornodon,
sworelton þa sare;
ne æfter wine deadum næs
næfre wop mara.

'Hwa felde Ruddoc?' (bis)
'lc,' cwæð se spearewa,
'mid bogan and arewan,
wiþ felda buttoc.'

'Hwa geseah þæt morþ?'
'lc,' cwæþ seo peo,
'ongann hit geseon,
fleogende forþ.'

'Hwa nom his blod?'
'lc,' cwæþ se fisc,
'on minre disc,
Þa is þider wod.'

'Hwa wyrcþ his hrægl?'
'lc,' cwæþ se fina,
'mid nædle and line
wyrce hit swa segl.'

'Hwa bringeþ tapor?'
'lc, linetwige,
bere hine on swige,
gif ic neom slapor.'


'Hwa biþ cantere?'
'lc,' cwæþ se stær,
'beo ræpsa wær;
þider ic fere.'

'Hwa wearþeþ preost?'
'lc,' cwæþ se hroc,
'lc bringe mine boc;
Sar is min breost.'

'Hwa singeþ 'dirige'?'
'Wit,' cwæþ se þrostle;
'huru wit ostle
singað unmyrge.'

'Hwa gnornaþ hine?'
'lc,' cwæþ seo dufe,
'lc mid þam ufe,
þurh modes myne.'

'Hwa bereþ þruh?'
'lc,' cwæþ se glida,
'þurh syferne sido,
þeah hio beo ruh.'

'Hwa cnylleð bellan?'
'lc,' cwæð þæt hriðer,
'oðerum swiðor,
hlude sceal scellan!'