Old English Riddle Songs | Week 2

An Old English riddle from the tenth century, set to new music. Composed by Hanna Marti; performed by Hanna Marti
Get the CD Riddle Songs now:
www.delphianre...
Old English text:
Biþ foldan dæl fægre gegierwed
mid þy heardestan ond mid þy scearpestan
ond mid þy grymmestan gumena gestreona,
corfen, sworfen, cyrred, þyrred,
bunden, wunden, blæced, wæced,
frætwed, geatwed, feorran læded
to durum dryhta. Dream bið in innan
cwicra wihta, clengeð, lengeð,
þara þe ær lifgende longe hwile
wilna bruceð ond no wið spriceð,
ond þonne æfter deaþe deman onginneð,
meldan mislice. Micel is to hycganne
wisfæstum menn, hwæt seo wiht sy.
Translation:
Part of the earth grows lovely and grim
with the hardest and fiercest of bitter-sharp treasures.
cut, cleaned, turned, dried,
twisted, wound, bleached and bound,
adorned, arrayed and borne away to the doors of men.
Joy is within for living creatures.
It clings, and stays for a long while
lingering in that body, which before lived,
but didn't speak.
But after death, it started talking and singing.
Wise listeners will know, what this creature is called!
Several solutions for the riddle have been proposed. Stef and Hanna like:
HARP

[@SevenStanesMBT]

You are really bringing these tales alive. Awesome :)

[@chengdogu6352]

I've looked you up online after listening to the Boethius album through a few times today. On the day Russia has invaded Ukraine, thank you for bringing some light into the world.

[@neilsanders1097]

Superb, Hanna!

[@oldenglishandlyre]

Excellent !! Thank you

[@bosmaior114]

Thank you for this!

[@urubutingaz5898]

Finnaly guessed it! yay

[@jamesgroome3072]

I know what it is now but couldn't get it. I still have a riddle answer covered up w/ a tiny piece of sticky note inside the Riddle Songs sleeve for a rainy day. But not this rainy day. lol.