[Sca-cooks] Seeking bread recipe

[Laura C. Minnick]

At 08:48 AM 8/19/2004, you wrote:

>>>Hence the euphemism, "If Mr. Baker's dough doesn't rise..." (At least it 
>>>_might_ be a legitimate euphemism, although my source is the 
>>>Cabbage-Headed Man from Kids In The Hall sketches, so one never knows...)
>>>Adamantius
>
>Not to mention the Middle English riddle along these lines.  Lainie, have 
>you got it (the riddle) somewhere?  I can't remember how it goes.

Actually it's Old English (Anglo-Saxon). I think the one you want is Exeter #45

Ic on wincle gefrægn      weaxan nathwæt,
þindan ond þunian,      þecene hebban;
on þæt banlease      bryd grapode,
hygewlonc hondum,      hrægle þeahte
5
þrindende þing      þeodnes dohtor.

in modern English-

I'm told a certain something grows
in its pouch, swells and stands up,
lifts its covering. A proud bride grasped
that boneless wonder, the daughter of a king
covered that swollen thing with clothing.

The answer of course is bread dough.

There's also #25-

Ic eom wunderlicu wiht,      wifum on hyhte,
neahbuendum nyt;      nængum sceþþe
burgsittendra,      nymþe bonan anum.
Staþol min is steapheah,      stonde ic on bedde,
5
neoþan ruh nathwær.      Neþeð hwilum
ful cyrtenu      ceorles dohtor,
modwlonc meowle,      þæt heo on mec gripeð,
ræseð mec on reodne,      reafað min heafod,
fegeð mec on fæsten.      Feleþ sona
10
mines gemotes,      seo þe mec nearwað,
wif wundenlocc.      Wæt bið þæt eage.

modern English-

I'm a strange creature, for I satisfy women,
a service to the neighbors! No on suffers
at my hands except for my slayer.
I grow tall, erect in a bed,
I'm hairy underneath. From time to time
a good-looking girl, the doughty daughter
of some churl dares to hold me,
grips my russet skin, robs me of my head
and puts me in the pantry. At once that girl
with plaited hair who has confined me
remembers our meeting. Her eye moistens.

And that answer is an onion!

(Not bad considering my books are still down south and I had to search online!)

'Lainie
___________________________________________________________________________
The penalty good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be 
governed by men worse than themselves. -- Plato