- s53 ##
53 (K-D 14)
I was an armed fighter. Now a young home-dweller
covers me proudly with twisted wires,
with gold and silver. Sometimes men kiss me.
Sometimes with my song I summon to battle
happy comrades. Sometimes a steed carries me
over the marches. Sometimes a sea-horse
bears me over waves with my bright trappings.
Sometimes a maiden fills my ring-adorned bosom.
Sometimes I must lie hard and headless
stripped on the tables. Sometimes I hang,
with ornaments proud, on the wall where men drink.
Sometimes a good weapon, the warriors bear me,
riding on horseback, with treasure laden,
I must breathe in the breath of a man’s breast.
Sometimes with my music I summon proud warriors
to drink their wine. Sometimes with my voice
I rescue the booty, put foe to flight.
Ask me my name.
Horn, described under various aspects marked by the “Sometimes” repeated ten times in nineteen lines: on the head of a steer, as war-horn (also on ships), as drinking horn, as hunting horn, as warning against thieves. “Ring-adorned,” l. 8, ‘adorned with a necklace.’
- s54 ##
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,
