a prince’s daughter, noble though she be.
I have on my breast what grew in the grove.
Sometimes I ride on a proud steed
at the army’s head. Hard is my tongue.
Often I bring a reward for his words
to the singer after his song. Good is my note,
and myself am dark-colored. Say what my name is.
Various answers have been proposed, but doubtless Horn is right. The antler is made into a horn: it is filled with mead; its harsh note is heard in battle; it is given to a scop as reward for his singing. The first line of this riddle stands alone, K-D79,
I am an atheling’s possession and delight
This may be a variant reading or the first line of a different riddle, of which the remainder is lost. For “note” (l. 10) the original has wise, either ‘melody’ or ‘manner, way.’
- s55 ##
55 (K-D 88)
Of the opening lines only a few words remain, and probably the end is lost.
