Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/43

Book&mdash;Bible. First the preparation of the parchment, then the writing and decoration are described; then the manifold values of what is written. &ldquo;It were otherwise folly,&rdquo; l. 16 (literally: not at all stupid punishment, penance), has puzzled the scholars. Proposed renderings are &ldquo;not the pains of hell&rdquo; and &ldquo;let no fool find fault.&rdquo;