Ever mindful of melody, undiminished in voice.
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
The song of the scop, and sing unto men
Words full of welcome with my wonderful voice.
The next by Charles W. Kennedy, from The Earliest English Poetry;
I carol my song in many a cadence,
With modulation and change of note.
Clearly I call, keeping the melody,
An old evening-singer unceasing in song,
To earls in their houses I bring great bliss;
When I chant my carols in varying strains,
Men sit in their dwellings silent and still.
Say what I’m called who mimic so clearly
The songs of a jester, and sing to the world
Many a melody welcome to men.
(Professor Kennedy accepts the solution of Jean Young (R.E.S., July, 1942), Song-thrush (Turdus Philomelos Clarkei).
Now an alternative rendering to that on p. 22 below:
Through my mouth I speak with many voices.
I sing with cunning, alternate often
high head-tones and loud deep shouts.
I keep on the key but with restraint.
Of old a nighttime singer I bring
joy to the gentles who dwell in towns.
When I raise my voice with many modulations
they listen reverently. What am I called
who cry out so clearly with bright imitation
