Anglo-Saxon Riddles of the Exeter Book/Annotated/21

21 (k-d 7)

Silent is my garment     when I tread the earth or dwell in the towns     or stir the waters. Sometimes my trappings     lift me up over the habitations of heroes     and this high air, and the might of the welkin     bears me afar above mankind.     Then my adornments resound in song     and sing aloud with clear melody     —when I do not rest on land or water,     a moving spirit.

Hrægl min swigað     þōn ic hrusan trede oþþe þa wic buge     oþþe wado drefe hwilum mec ahebbað     ofer hæleþa byht hyrste mine     ⁊ þeos hea lyft ⁊ mec þōn wide     wolcna strengu ofer folc byreð     frætwe mine swogað hlude     ⁊ swinsiað torhte singað     þōn ic getenge ne beom · flode ⁊ foldan     ferende gæst · :⁊

Swan.