Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/22

22 (k-d 8)

I speak through my mouth     with many voices. Skilfully I sing     with many modulations, loud and strong, with various tunes. I sing as I must,     unhampered, unhindered. I am the nighttime     songster of old. I bring joy to the men     who dwell in the towns. When I sing out     with my flexible tones they sit at home silent.     Tell me my name who brightly imitate     professional singers and loudly foretell     many welcome tidings.

10

Ic þurh muþ sprece     mongum reordum wrencum singe     wrixle geneahhe heafodwoþe     hlude cirme healde mine wisan     hleoþre ne miþe eald æfensceop     eorlum bringe blisse in burgum     þōn ic bugendre stefne styrme     stille on wicum siteð nigende     saga hwæt ic hatte þa swa scirenige     sceawendwisan hlude onhyrge     hæleþum bodige wilcumena fela     woþe minre

Various answers have been proposed (see pp. xv ff. above), but the most plausible (though it is hard to resist Nightingale for l. 5) is Jay or Jackdaw. Some of the apparent inconsistencies may be intended to confuse the listeners.