Wið færstice facts for kids
Wið færstice is an old medical text written in Old English. It's found in a collection called Lacnunga, which is kept at the British Library. The name Wið færstice means 'against a sudden or sharp pain'.
Long ago, people believed that sudden pains, like a sharp stitch, could be caused by witches, elves, or other spirits. This old charm was meant to help cure such pains. While some experts think it might have been for rheumatism, it could have been for other kinds of sudden pain too.
The text tells you how to make a special cream or "salve." But the most interesting part is the unique charm that comes after the instructions for the salve. This charm explains that the pain, or færstice, was caused by flying objects sent by 'mighty women' (ða mihtigan wif). The healer then promises to fight against these women. The charm also mentions elves, who people thought could cause a problem called elfshot. It even uses an Old English word for the old Germanic gods, known as the Æsir in Norse stories. This is the only time this word appears outside of names in Old English!
Just like many other old Anglo-Saxon charms, people probably used special movements or actions while saying the words. For "Wið færstice," you were supposed to boil certain plants: feverfew, red nettle (grown in grain), and plantain. All of this was then boiled in a bowl of butter. A knife was dipped into this mix and then rubbed on the painful area. Even though these plants were used in old remedies, their use here might have been more about their symbolic meaning than their actual healing power. Many Anglo-Saxon charms mixed ideas from both old pagan beliefs and early Christian traditions, and the plants likely had a religious meaning.
What the Charm Says
The first part of "Wið færstice" is like an exciting introduction. One expert, Howell D. Chickering Junior, said it's like a "dramatic performance" with words. It's not a long story, but it sounds powerful.
Here's a part of the text, translated into modern English:
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They were loud, yes, loud, when they rode over the (burial) mound; |
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This part of the charm talks about loud, fierce beings riding over the land. It tells the person to protect themselves. It then calls out to the "little spear" (meaning the pain) to leave the body. It mentions "mighty women" sending spears and the healer sending an arrow back. It also talks about craftsmen making knives and spears, and how any iron causing pain should melt away. Finally, it addresses different types of "shots" or pains – whether from the skin, flesh, blood, or limb – and says the person's life should not be harmed. It specifically mentions pains from ēse (gods), ælfe (elves), or hægtessan (witches or spirits), promising help for each. The charm ends by telling the pain to fly away to a mountain and wishing the person health, with help from the Lord. Then, you take the knife and put it in the special liquid.
When Was It Written?
It's been tricky for experts to figure out exactly when "Wið færstice" was written. After looking at all the clues, a specialist in old writings named Alaric Hall thinks it was probably created around the late 900s.
