Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/84

84 (k-d 63)

Often shall I prove     to be a thing of value to the joys of the hall     when I am brought forth, happy with gold,     where men are drinking. Often in the bower     the faithful servant kisses my mouth     where we two are together …

10

Oft ic secgan     seledreame sceal · fægre onþeon     þōn ic eom forð boren glæd mid golde     þær guman drincað hwilum mec on cofan     cysseð muþe tillic esne     þær wit tu beoþ fæðme on folm[…]grum þyð wyrceð his willa[…]ð l[…] […] fulre     þōn ic forð cyme […] ne mæg ic þy miþan     […] […]an on leohte […] swylce eac bið sona     […] […]r[…]te getacnad     hwæt me to[…] […]leas rinc     þa unc geryde wæs

There were eleven more lines, now fragmentary. The answer is probably Beaker, with suggestive undertones. Tupper quotes a modern riddle in which Gill is used punningly for liquid measure and a girl’s name.