Quote: Unknown

waeron hleahtorsmithum handa belocene
[the hands of the laughter-smiths were clasped shut]

This is originally Old English, from a fairly depressing poem in the Junius Manuscript called “Exodus” (section XLII, line 43).

I just find it striking. The fine thing about languages like OE is that you get words like “hleahtorsmithum,” which does literally mean “laughtersmiths” or “laughter-makers.”