Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/54

54 (k-d 80)

I am atheling’s     shoulder-companion, a warrior’s comrade,     dear to my master, a fellow of kings.     His fair-haired lady sometimes will lay     her hand upon me, 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.

10

Ic eom æþelinges     eaxlgestealla fyrdrinces gefara     frean minum leof cyninges geselda     cwen mec hwilum hwitloccedu     hond on legeð eorles dohtor     þeah hio æþelu sy hæbbe me on bosme     þæt on bearwe geweox hwilum ic on wloncū     wicge ride herges on ende     heard is min tunge oft ic woþboran     wordleana sū agyfe æfter giedde     Gōod is min wise ⁊ ic sylfa salo     saga hwæt ic hatte

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-d 79,

I am an atheling’s     possession and delight

Ic eom æþelinges     æht ⁊ willa

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.’