{"id":5682,"date":"2020-01-17T12:09:36","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T17:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/?page_id=5682"},"modified":"2021-03-29T23:00:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T03:00:33","slug":"exeter-book-riddle-8","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/translations\/exeter-book-riddle-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Exeter Book Riddle 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having recently translated Riddle<\/em> 8 from the Exeter Book (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501) in my recent blog on esotericism in a sequence of Old English riddles (\u201cEncoded References in Exeter Book Bird-Riddles<\/a>\u201c), I have decided to add my translation and recitation of this poetic enigma for our ongoing\u00a0medieval poetry translation and recitation project.<\/a>\u00a0I accept the Old English solution\u00a0nightegale<\/em> \u201cnightingale\u201d as the poem\u2019s solution based on parallel descriptions of the nightingale as multi-voiced (1-2) and bold of song (3-4) found in Aldhelm\u2019s\u00a0Enigma<\/em>\u00a0 22, which is solved acalantida<\/em> (Latin for “nightingale”). However, I recognize the possibility of other song-bird solutions.<\/p>\n

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Exeter Book Riddle 8, Exeter Cathedral Library MS3051, f.103r. Image reproduced with permission of the University of Exeter Digital Humanities and the Dean & Chapter, Exeter Cathedral.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Old English\u00a0Riddle<\/em> 8<\/strong>\u00a0(solution:\u00a0nihtegale<\/em>):<\/p>\n

Ic \u00feurh mu\u00fe sprece\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 mongum reordum,
\nwrencum singe,\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 wrixle geneahhe
\nheafodwo\u00fee,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 hlude cirme,
\nhealde mine wisan,\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 hleo\u00fere ne mi\u00fee,
\neald \u00e6fensceop,\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 eorlum bringe
\nblisse in burgum,\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00feonne ic bugendre
\nstefne styrme;\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 stille on wicum
\nsitta\u00f0 nigende.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Saga hw\u00e6t ic hatte,
\n\u00fee swa scirenige\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 sceawendwisan
\nhlude onhyrge, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0h\u00e6le\u00feum bodige
\nwilcumena fela\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 wo\u00fee minre.<\/p>\n

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Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cExeter Book Nightingale-Riddle:\u201d A Modern English Translation by Richard Fahey:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThrough my mouth, I speak with many voices, I sing in variations. Frequently, I mix head-sounds. I cry out aloud, I keep my counsel. I do not conceal my voice. The old evening-poet brings bliss to men in cities, when I storm the citizens with my voice. They sit still, listening in their homes. Say what I am called, who so clearly proclaims loudly a feasting song, announces to heroes, many welcome things with my voice.\u201d<\/p>\n