Part 6 (1/2)
With my mouth I am master of many a language; Cunningly I carol; I discourse full oft In melodious lays; loud do I call, Ever mindful of melody, undiminished in voice.
5 An old evening-scop, to earls I bring Solace in cities; when, skillful in music, My voice I raise, restful at home They sit in silence. Say what is my name, That call so clearly and cleverly imitate 10 The song of the scop, and sing unto men Words full welcome with my wonderful voice.
XIV. A Horn
I was once an armed warrior. Now the worthy youth Gorgeously gears me with gold and silver, Curiously twisted. At times men kiss me.
Sometimes I sound and summon to battle 5 The stalwart company. A steed now carries me Across the border. The courser of the sea Now bears me o'er the billows, bright in my trappings.
Now a comely maiden covered with jewels Fills my bosom with beer. On the board now I lie 10 Lidless and lonely and lacking my trappings.
Now fair in my fretwork at the feast I hang In my place on the wall while warriors drink.
Now brightened for battle, on the back of a steed A war-chief shall bear me. Then the wind I shall breathe, 15 Shall swell with sound from someone's bosom.
At times with my voice I invite the heroes, The warriors to wine; or I watch for my master, And sound an alarm and save his goods, Put the robber to flight. Now find out my name.
8. Cosijn's reading has been adopted for the first half line.
XV. A Badger
My throat is like snow, and my sides and my head Are a swarthy brown; I am swift in flight.
Battle-weapons I bear; on my back stand hairs, And also on my cheeks. O'er my eyes on high 5 Two ears tower; with my toes I step On the green gra.s.s. Grief comes upon me If the slaughter-grim hunter shall see me in hiding, Shall find me alone where I fas.h.i.+on my dwelling, Bold with my brood. I abide in this place 10 With my strong young children till a stranger shall come And bring dread to my door. Death then is certain.
Hence, trembling I carry my terrified children Far from their home and flee unto safety.
If he crowds me close as he comes behind, 15 I bare my breast. In my burrow I dare not Meet my furious foe (it were foolish to do so), But, wildly rus.h.i.+ng, I work a road Through the high hill with my hands and feet.
I fail not in defending my family's lives; 20 If I lead the little ones below to safety, Through a secret hole inside the hill, My beloved brood, no longer need I Fear the offense of the fierce-battling dogs.
25 Whenever the hostile one hunts on my trail, Follows me close, he will fail not of conflict, Of a warm encounter, when he comes on my war-path, If I reach, in my rage, through the roof of my hill And deal my deadly darts of battle 30 On the foe I have feared and fled from long.
29. The ”deadly darts of battle” have caused ”porcupine” to be proposed as a solution to this riddle, though when all the details are considered ”badger” seems on the whole the more reasonable.
XXIII. A Bow
My name is spelled _AGOB_ with the order reversed.
I am marvelously fas.h.i.+oned and made for fighting.
When I am bent and my bosom sends forth Its poisoned stings, I straightway prepare 5 My deadly darts to deal afar.
As soon as my master, who made me for torment, Loosens my limbs, my length is increased Till I vomit the venom with violent motions, The swift-killing poison I swallowed before.
10 Not any man shall make his escape, Not one that I spoke of shall speed from the fight, If there falls on him first what flies from my belly.
He pays with his strength for the poisonous drink, For the fatal cup which forfeits his life.
15 Except when fettered fast, I am useless.
Unbound I shall fail. Now find out my name.
XXVI. A Bible
A stern destroyer struck out my life, Deprived me of power; he put me to soak, Dipped me in water, dried me again, And set me in the sun, where I straightway lost 5 The hairs that I had. Then the hard edge Of the keen knife cut me and cleansed me of soil; Then fingers folded me. The fleet quill of the bird With speedy drops spread tracks often Over the brown surface, swallowed the tree-dye, 10 A deal of the stream, stepped again on me, Traveled a black track. With protecting boards Then a crafty one covered me, enclosed me with hide, Made me gorgeous with gold. Hence I am glad and rejoice At the smith's fair work with its wondrous adornments.