I waxed into life with my alien fellows.
My friend and protector nourished me then
till I grew and grew able to go forth by myself.
Because of this now her own dear children,
sons and daughters, were fewer, alas.
Cuckoo certainly. The pleasure is not so much in guessing—we are not asked to guess—as in following the double meanings.
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.
Swan.
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.
Various answers have been proposed (see pp. xv ff. above), but the most plausible (though it is hard to resist Nightingale for
