Aldhelm Riddle 41: Puluillus
ALEXANDRAREIDER
Date: Tue 15 Mar 2022Nolo fidem frangas, licet irrita dicta putentur,
Credula sed nostris pande praecordia verbis!
Celsior ad superas possum turgescere nubes,
Si caput aufertur mihi toto corpore dempto;
At vero capitis si pressus mole gravabor,
Ima petens iugiter minorari parte videbor.
I do not want you to lose faith, although what I say may be deemed useless,
But open your trusting heart to my words!
I am able to swell up higher to the upper clouds,
If a head is taken from me with my whole body removed;
But if I am to be weighed down, compressed by the weight of a head,
I will always seem to be reaching toward the bottom, diminished in size.
Notes:
This edition is based on Rudolf Ehwald, ed. Aldhelmi Opera Omnia. Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi, 15. Berlin: Weidmann, 1919, pages 59-150. Available online here.
Tags: riddles latin Aldhelm