RIDDLE POSTS BY TAG: 'EUSEBIUS'

Eusebius Riddle 1: De Deo

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Fri 17 Dec 2021
Original text:

Incipiunt enigmata Eusebii:
 
Cum sim infra cunctos, sublimior omnibus adsto,
Nullus adestque locus in quo circumdatus essem.
Alta domus mea, cum sit sedes semper in imis.
Agmina devastans, avertor laesus ab uno.

Translation:

Here begin the riddles of Eusebius:

Although I am beneath everything, I stand higher than all,
And there exists no place in which I may be enclosed.
My house is high, though my seat is always in the depths.
I devastate multitudes and am turned away, hurt by one.

Click to show riddle solution?
On God


Tags: anglo saxon  riddles  solutions  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 3: De demone

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Incola sum patriae, cum sim miserabilis exul.
Vinco viros fortes, (1) sed rursum vincor ab imis,
Abiectoque. Potentes sunt mihi regna potestas.
Est locus in terris sed ludo in sedibus altis.

Translation:

I am a resident of a country, although I am a miserable exile.
I conquer strong men, but in return I am conquered by the lowest,
And though I am cast out, rulers, kingdoms, power are mine.
My place is on the earth but I play among the lofty seats.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the demon


Notes:

(1) Glossed in the manuscripts with the explanation: “that is, the kings and emperors of the world."



Tags: anglo saxon  riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 4: De homine

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Haec, mea materiae substantia, bina creata est:
Sed gravis una videtur, quae tamen ipsa peribit,
Cuius et ipse fugax defectum gessit helidrum.
Tenuior est alia, et quae semper sine fine carebit.

Translation:

This, my material essence, was created twofold:
Though one part seems heavy, it will yet perish,
And its failing the swift serpent brought about himself.
The other part is more delicate, and it will always be without end.

Click to show riddle solution?
On humankind


Tags: anglo saxon  riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 5: De caelo

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Quaerite vos ipsi causam quo vendor avaris. (1)
Si me quique tenet nunc, postea semper habebit;
Meque tenere tenax terrae sublime nequibit,
Cum me nullus habet nisi qui fuit imus in illa. (2)

Translation:

Ask yourselves the reason why I am sold by the greedy.
If anyone holds me now, he will have me forever after;
And whoever clings to the earth will not be able to keep me on high,
Though no one has me unless he was lowest in that place.

Click to show riddle solution?
On heaven


Notes:

(1) The manuscript, CUL Gg.5.35, reads in arvis (on earth).
(2) The manuscript, CUL Gg.5.35, titles this riddle De camelo (On the camel)!



Tags: anglo saxon  riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 6: De terra

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Quos alo—nascentes, crescentes—scindor ab illis,
Pascunturque bonis, etsi me calce subigunt;
Unde seducam nunc multos et supprimo natos,
Nam perdent quod amant, et nulli morte carebunt.

Translation:

I am torn apart by those whom—as they are born and grow—I feed,
And they are nourished on good things, even though they subjugate me under foot;
And so I now restrain many of my children and press them down,
For they will lose what they love, and none will escape death.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the earth


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 7: De littera

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Innumerae sumus, et simul omnes quaeque sonamus.
Una loqui nequit; nos tetrae ludimus albis,
Et licet alta loquemur, non sonus auribus instat.
Praeteritum loquimus, praesens, et multa futura.

Translation:

We are innumerable, and we all resound at the same time.
One cannot speak; black, we play on white,
And although we speak loudly, the sound does not reach the ears.
We speak of the past, the present, and many future things.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the letter


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 8: De vento et igne

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Dissimiles sumus, et mos non similis tenet ambos.
Unus contingi patitur, nec forte videri,
Sed prope aspicitur pulcher nec tangitur alter.
Subvolat unus per caelos; stat alter in imis.

Translation:

We are dissimilar, and unlike characters rule us both.
One allows itself to be touched, but not, as it happens, to be seen,
But the other, beautiful, is seen up close, but is not touched.
The one flies up through the heavens; the other stands in the depths.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the wind and fire


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 9: De Alpha

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Dux ego linguarum, resonans et prima per orbem,
Dicor et unum, quingentos, vel mille figuro,
Atque vocari primus per me coepit Adamus.
Do, domina linguae, pueris me vim resonare.

Translation:

I am said to be the prince of speech, echoing and first throughout the world,
And I represent the numbers one, five hundred, even one thousand,
And Adam was the first who began to be called with me. 
Mistress of language, I give children the power to voice me.

Click to show riddle solution?
On Alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 10: De sole

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Omnis, quaque via pergit, venit ut requiescat.
Non mea sic via; non mihi sedes subditur ulla.
Sed iuge restat iter et semper non finitur in annis.
Non populi et reges cursum prohibere valebunt.

Translation:

Everyone, no matter the road they take, comes so that they may rest. 
My road is not thus; no seat is supplied for me.
Rather, the journey perpetually remains and is forever unfinished over the years. 
Neither nations nor kings will have the strength to prevent my course.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the sun


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 11: De luna

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Non labor est penitus pergenti in lumine Phoebi,
Sed mihi difficilis longas discurrere noctes.
Umbriferis varias in noctibus intro figuras.
Post ego deficiens, tunc offert lumina frater.

Translation:

It is no labor to continue completely in the light of Phoebus,
But it is difficult for me to traverse the long nights.
I assume various shapes in shadowy darkness.
After I leave, then my brother provides light.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the moon


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 12: De bove

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Nunc aro, nunc operor: consumor in omnibus annis.
Multae sunt cereres, semper desunt mihi panes,
Et segetes colui nec potus ebrius hausi.
Tota urbs (1) pallebat signum quo verba sonabam.

Translation:

Now I plough, now I work: I am worn out every year. 
There are many harvests, and I always want for bread,
And I cultivated the fields and did not, intoxicated, drink the draughts.
The whole city grew fearful at the sign by which I spoke my words.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the ox


Notes:

(1) This city is glossed in both manuscripts as “Rome.”
 



Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 13: De vacca

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Sunt pecudes multae mihi quas nutrire solebam,
Meque premente fame non lacteque carneve vescor
Cumque cibis aliis et pascor aquis alienis.
Ex me multi vivunt ex me et flumina currunt.

Translation:

I have many herds which I used to feed,
And when hunger presses me, I do not eat either milk or meat
Because I graze on other foods and another’s waters.
From me many live and from me streams flow.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the cow


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 14: De X littera

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Post alias reliquas augustus (1) me creat auctor.
Utor in alterius, nam non specialis imago
Concessa est mihi, cum pro denis sola videbor,
Unaque sum forma sed vim retinebo duarum.

Translation:

The venerable creator makes me after the others.
I am used in the place of something different, for no special idea
Is given to me, though I am seen on my own for ten,
And I am single in form but retain the power of two.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the letter “X”


Notes:

(1) There is scholarly debate over whether this may be the name of or an epithet for a Roman emperor. 



Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 15: De igne et aqua

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Proelia nos gerimus cum iungimur ambo rebelles,
Sed tamen ut multis bene prosint bella peracta.
Non facie ad faciem conflictu belligeramur;
Murus inest medius ne statim corruat unus.

Translation:

Opposed, we enter battle when we are both joined,
Yet in such a way that the finished battles benefit many.
We do not fight face-to-face;
A wall is in the middle lest one fall down immediately.

Click to show riddle solution?
On fire and water


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 16: De flasca

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Me terrent proprii, quos vobis refero, mores.
Vinum, laetificans homines, non laeta bibebam,
Osque reducit de ventre quae suscipit ore.
Claudendi oris vel reserandi est vis mihi numquam.

Translation:

My own ways, which I announce to you, frighten me.
While I delight men, I tend not to be joyful drinking wine,
And my mouth leads out from my stomach what the stomach receives by mouth.
The power to close or open my mouth is never mine.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the flask


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 17: De cruce

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Per me mors adquiritur et bona vita tenetur.
Me multi fugiunt, multique frequenter adorant,
Sumque timenda malis, non sum tamen horrida iustis,
Dampnavique virum: sic multos carcere solvi.

Translation:

Through me death is won and the good life reached.
Many flee me, and many frequently adore me,
And I am to be feared by the wicked, yet I am not frightful to the just,
And I condemned a man: thus I freed many from bondage.

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On the cross


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 18: De iniquitate et iustitia

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Tempore quo factae fuimus, pugnare solemus.
Querimus armatos post nosque venire rogamus,
Seque sequentibus una solet sub melle venenum
Largiri; altera dat sub tristi tegmine vinum.

Translation:

From the time we were made, we have been accustomed to fight.
We seek armed men and ask that they come after us,
And one makes a practice of bestowing poison under honey
Unto her followers; the other gives wine under bitter covering.

Click to show riddle solution?
On iniquity and justice


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 19: De V littera

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Quinta vocor princeps vocum; est mihi trina potestas.
Nam nunc sola sonans loquor; aut nunc consono verbis;
Nunc medium pactum retinens nil dicor haberi.
Me malus Arrius expellit de iure fidei.

Translation:

The fifth, I am called the first of speech; my power is threefold. 
For now, sounding alone, I speak; or now, I harmonise with words;
Now, keeping to the middle way, I am said to be nothing.
Wicked Arius expelled me from the law of faith. (1)

Click to show riddle solution?
On the letter “V”


Notes:

(1) “Fifth” here in the first line could refer either to the fact that “V” is the Roman numeral for five or that the letter “u” (interchangeable with “v” in early Latin) is the fifth vowel. The three “powers” of “v” are as vowel (meaning “u”), consonant, and its “nothing” role following “q” in “qu-.”



Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 20: De domo

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Nunc tego quosque viros a quis et ante tegebar,
Ac durum frigus, miserans, hiememque repello.
Tempore luciferi solis, movebo calorem.
Stans tamen haec faciam; succumbens utraque numquam.
 

Translation:

Now I cover those men by whom I was once covered,
And I, pitying, drive back the harsh cold and winter.
In the time of the bright sun, I dislodge the heat.
To be clear: standing, I will do this; collapsing, I will never do either.
 

Click to show riddle solution?
On the house


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 21: De terra et mare

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Pacificari non volumus sic nec viduari.
Continuum bellum geritur non stantibus armis.
Cum pax perficitur, subter vel pugna quiescit,
Unumque ex alio semper decerpitur insons.

Translation:

We do not want thus to be pacified nor to be separated.
Continuous war is not waged with battling weapons.
When peace is achieved, or when battle ceases below,
One of us, innocent, is always plucked from the other.

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On the land and sea


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 22: De sermone

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Pervolo tam cito, discurrens per aethera missus.
Qui me mittit habet; aditurus sicubi mittor.
Ensibus igne secures sic penetrabo reclusa.
Non videor volitans, oculorum aspectibus adstans.

Translation:

I fly very quickly, sent running through the air.
Whoever sends me has me; I will go wherever I am sent.
Safe from swords and fire, I will thus penetrate shut-up places.
Flying I am not seen, although I stand near eyes’ glances.

Click to show riddle solution?
On speech


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 23: De equore

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Motor, curro, fero velox, nec desero sedem.
Tenue vagumque manens, tam gravia pondera porto.
Nix neque me tegit, aut grando permit, aut gelu vincit,
De super aut multis sternor, sed pluribus intus.

Translation:

I am moved; I run; swift, I go, but I do not leave my home. 
I remain thin and unfixed, but I carry heavy loads.
Snow does not cover me, nor does hail does afflict me, nor does frost conquer me,
Nor am I calmed by many from above, but by more from within.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the sea


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 24: De morte et vita

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Binae nos sumus: una sed est flens, mesta tenebris;
Altera perseverat, tam lucida laetaque semper.
Cum me plus homines instant conquerere tristem,
Illa laetifica pereunt quae lumine ridet.

Translation:

We are two: but one is grieving, sorrowful in the shadows;
The other persists, very bright and forever joyful.
Although men devote themselves more to seeking me, the melancholy one,
They love to death that cheerful one who laughs in the light.

Click to show riddle solution?
On death and life


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 25: De corde

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Unus inest homo qui tantum in me clausa videbit,
Quique suis me non oculis conspexerat umquam.
Non sum magna domus, cum pervenit accola magnus.
Nulla est ianua, cum tamen omnis me simul implent. (1)

Translation:

There is one man (2) alone who will see such closed-off parts in me,
And who never observed me with his eyes.
I am not a great house, although a great inhabitant approaches.
There is no door, yet all fill me at the same time.

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On the heart


Notes:

(1) In the manuscript, CUL Gg.5.35, the riddle is titled De animo (On the soul). 
(2) The “one man” is Jesus.
 



Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius 

Eusebius Riddle 26: De die bissextili

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Mon 27 Dec 2021
Original text:

Cum proprii generis viginti quattuor horis,
Unusquisque creatur. Non ego solus adesse
Possum, sed neque perficiar nec forte creabor,
Semper decursis nisi in ordine quattuor annis.

Translation:

With the twenty-four hours of my kind,
Everyone is created. I cannot exist 
Alone, but I will neither be caused nor created by chance,
Only in order, always with the lapse of four years.

Click to show riddle solution?
On the bissextile day


Tags: riddles  latin  Eusebius