Against a Wen facts for kids

"Against a Wen" is an Old English poem. It is also a type of old medical text. People used it as a special "charm" or "spell" to get rid of a skin problem called a wen. A wen was an old word for a cyst or a bump on the skin.

This charm is found in an old book in the British Library in London. The poem talks directly to the wen, asking it to leave the body. It also describes how the wen should get smaller and smaller until it disappears.

What is a Charm?

In Anglo-Saxon times, people believed that certain words or actions could help with sickness. These were called "charms." The "Against a Wen" charm is like a spoken spell. It was meant to help someone get rid of a disease.

This charm is part of a group of "Anglo-Saxon Metrical Charms." These charms often had a few things in common:

• They had a clear title that explained what they were for.
• They gave instructions on what to do.
• They included a special chant or poem to say.

Many charms, including this one, treated sickness as if it were caused by an evil spirit. The charm would try to make the spirit leave. The "Against a Wen" charm uses a gentle, coaxing tone. It tries to convince the wen to go away, rather than threatening it. People believed the sick person's body was a "host" for this spirit. The charm was a ritual to make the spirit leave.

Christianity and Old Charms

When Christianity became popular in England, it changed many old customs. Some old beliefs, like those about pagan gods, were replaced with Christian ideas. For example, charms might start to mention "Christ" or saints instead of older gods.

Some Christian leaders thought charms were wrong. They saw them as "demonic" or "heathen magic." A writer named Aelfric, who lived a long time ago, wrote about this. He warned people not to use magic. But he also said that some healing practices were okay if they were done with God's blessing.

He explained that eating a healing herb was fine. But tying herbs to yourself as a charm was not allowed, unless you put them directly on a sore. Aelfric taught that people should trust in God for healing, not just in herbs. He said that herbs should be blessed with God's words, not with magic spells.

Many Anglo-Saxon charms, like "Against a Wen," included religious words. Some even ended with "Amen." This shows how old traditions mixed with new Christian beliefs.

The Charm Text

Here is the original Old English charm and its modern English translation:

Against a wen