Back I came before I was. Everyone plunders me, keeps me confined, and shears my head, bites my bare body, breaks my sprouts. No man I bite unless he bites me; many there are who do bite me.
onion
I war oft against wave and fight against wind,
do battle with both, when I reach to the ground, covered by the waters. The land is strange to me. I am strong in the strife if I stay at rest. If I fail at that, they are stronger than I and forthwith they wrench me and put me to rout. They would carry away what I ought to defend. I withstand them then if my tail endures and the stones hold me fast. Ask what my name is
anchor
I am a lonely thing, wounded with iron,
switten by sword, sated with battle-work, weary of blades. Often I see battle, fierce combat. I foresee no comfort, no help will come for me from the heat of battle, until among men I perish utterly; but the hammered swords will beat me and bite me, hard-edged and sharp, the handiwork of smiths, in towns among men. Abide I must always the meeting of foes. Never could I find among the leeches, where people foregather, any who with herbs would heal my wounds; but the sores from the swords are always greater with mortal blows day and night. shield