Riddle Ages

Aldhelm Riddle 96: Elefans

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022

Original text:

Ferratas acies et denso milite turmas,

Bellandi miseros stimulat quos vana cupido,

Dum maculare student armis pia foedera regni

Salpix et sorbet ventosis flatibus auras

Raucaque clangenti resultant classica sistro,

Cernere non pavidus didici trux murmura Martis.

Quamquam me turpem nascendi fecerit auctor,

Editus ex alvo dum sumpsi munera vitae,

Ecce tamen morti successit gloria formae,

Letifer in fibras dum finis serpat apertas;

Bratea non auri fulvis pretiosa metallis,

Quamvis gemmarum constent ornata lucernis,

Vincere, non quibunt falerarum floribus umquam.

Me flecti genibus fessum natura negavit

Poplite seu curvo palpebris tradere somnos,

Quin potius vitam compellor degere stando.

Translation:

The iron-covered battle lines and throngs of crowded soldiers,

The wretches whom the vain desire for fighting spurs on,

When they strive to dishonour the holy treaties of the kingdom with weapons,

And the trumpet sucks in the airs with windy gusts

And the harsh instruments echo with sounding call:

Wild, I learned to regard the rumble of Mars unafraid.

Although the creator made me unsightly at birth,

When, tall out of the womb, I assumed the gifts of life,

Behold: the glory of my shape nevertheless succeeds upon my death,

When the death-bringing end creeps into my open insides;

Precious golden foils with amber metals,

Although they be decorated with the shine of gems, 

Are never able to surpass me at the zenith of ornamentations.

Nature refused me kneeling when tired

And entrusting sleep to my eyelids on curved knee;

Even more, I am compelled to pass my life standing.

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Elephant

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

Symphosius Riddle 96

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2022

There is no actual Riddle 96 attributed to Symphosius: there is a gap in the manuscripts, but this riddle has been inserted into four of the manuscripts, so it kind of counts!

Original text:

Nunc mihi iam credas, fieri quod posse negatur.

Octo tenes manibus, sed me monstrante magistro

Sublatis septem reliqui tibi sex remanebunt.

Translation:

Right now you should believe me that what is said to be impossible happens.

You hold eight in your hands, but with me showing you as teacher,

With seven taken away, six remaining will be left to you.

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Roman numerals formed with your hands? Words?

Notes:

This edition is based on Raymond T. Ohl, ed. The Enigmas of Symphosius. PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1928.

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Aldhelm Riddle 97: Nox

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022

Original text:

Florida me genuit nigrantem corpore tellus

Et nil fecundum stereli de viscere promo,

Quamvis Eumenidum narrantes carmine vates

Tartaream partu testentur gignere prolem.

Nulla mihi constat certi substantia partus,

Sed modo quadratum complector caerula mundum.

Est inimica mihi, quae cunctis constat amica,

Saecula dum lustrat, lampas Titania Phoebi;

Diri latrones me semper amare solebant,

Quos gremio tectos nitor defendere fusco.

Vergilium constat caram cecinisse sororem:

"Ingrediturque solo et caput inter nubila condit

Monstrum horrendum, ingens, cui quot sunt corpore plumae,

Tot vigiles oculi subter, mirabile dictu,

Tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, tot subrigit auris;

Nocte volat caeli medio terraeque per umbras."

Translation:

Blooming earth bore me, black, from her body

And I produce nothing fertile from my sterile insides,

Although the poets, telling of the Eumenides in verse,

Testify that I begot the Tartarean race in birth.

No substance of certain birth belongs to me,

But I presently embrace the four-part world with darkness.

The Titanian lantern of Phoebus, who exists as a friend to all

As it roams the world, is inimical to me;

Cruel thieves, whom I work to protect in my dark bosom,

Always tend to love me.

It is known that Vergil sang this of my dear sister:

"And she walks on land and conceals her head among the crowds,

A horrendous monster, huge, on whose body there are so many feathers,

So many vigilant eyes underneath, miraculous to say,

So many tongues, the same number of mouths sound, and so many ears perked up;

At night she flies through the shadows, in-between heaven and earth."

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Night

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

Symphosius Riddle 97: Umbra

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2022

Original text:

Insidias nullas vereor de fraude latenti;

Nam deus attribuit nobis haec munera formae,

Quod me nemo movet, nisi qui prius ipse movetur.

Translation:

I fear no traps from lurking fraud;

For God gave us these gifts of form,

That no one moves me unless he himself is moved first.

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Shadow

Notes:

This edition is based on Raymond T. Ohl, ed. The Enigmas of Symphosius. PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1928.

Tags: riddles solutions latin symphosius

Aldhelm Riddle 98: Elleborus

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022

Original text:

Ostriger en arvo vernabam frondibus hirtis

Conquilio similis: sic cocci murice rubro

Purpureus stillat sanguis de palmite guttis.

Exuvias vitae mandenti tollere nolo

Mitia nec penitus spoliabunt mente venena;

Sed tamen insanum vexat dementia cordis,

Dum rotat in giro vecors vertigine membra.

Translation:

Behold: purple, I bloom in the field with shaggy leaves.

I am similar to an oyster: thus with red dye of scarlet 

A purple blood drips in drops from my branch.

I do not wish to take prizes of life from the one chewing me,

Nor do my sweet poisons totally strip him of mind;

And yet madness of the heart afflicts the insane,

When he spins his limbs around, foolish with dizziness.

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Hellebore

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

Symphosius Riddle 98: Echo

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2022

Original text:

Virgo modesta nimis legem bene servo pudoris:

Ore procax non sum, nec sum temeraria linguae;

Ultra nolo loqui, sed do responsa loquenti.

Translation:

A modest maid, I follow the law of modesty excessively well:

I am not shameless in speech nor am I reckless in language;

I do not speak of my own accord, but I give responses to the speaker.

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Echo

Notes:

This edition is based on Raymond T. Ohl, ed. The Enigmas of Symphosius. PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1928.

Tags: riddles solutions latin symphosius

Aldhelm Riddle 99: Camellus

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022

Original text:

Consul eram quondam, Romanus miles equester

Arbiter imperio dum regni sceptra regebat;

Nunc onus horrendum reportant corpora gippi

Et premit immensum truculentae sarcina molis.

Terreo cornipedum nunc velox agmen equorum,

Qui trepidi fugiunt mox quadripedante meatu,

Dum trucis aspectant immensos corporis artus.

Translation:

Once I was consul, when the Roman equestrian soldier was

Judge, governed the scepters of power with his command.

Now my body bears the horrible burden of a hump

And an excess of cruel weight presses with its burden.

Now I terrify a swift company of horn-footed horses,

Who presently flee in trepidation from my four-footed course,

When they look upon the immense limbs of my wild body.

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Camel

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

Symphosius Riddle 99: Somnus

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2022

Original text:

Sponte mea veniens varias ostendo figuras.

Fingo metus vanos nullo discrimine veri.

Sed me nemo videt, nisi qui sua lumina claudit.

Translation:

Coming of my own free will, I reveal various figures.

I form baseless fears with no distinction of truth.

But no one sees me unless they close their eyes.

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Sleep

Notes:

This edition is based on Raymond T. Ohl, ed. The Enigmas of Symphosius. PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1928.

Tags: riddles solutions latin symphosius

Aldhelm Riddle 100: Creatura

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Thu 14 Apr 2022

Original text:

Conditor, aeternis fulcit qui saecla columnis,

Rector regnorum, frenans et fulmina lege,

Pendula dum patuli vertuntur culmina caeli,

Me varium fecit, primo dum conderet orbem.

5     Pervigil excubiis: numquam dormire iuvabit,

Sed tamen extemplo clauduntur lumina somno;

Nam Deus ut propria mundum dicione gubernat,

Sic ego complector sub caeli cardine cuncta.

Segnior est nullus, quoniam me larbula terret,

10     Setigero rursus constans audacior apro;

Nullus me superat cupiens vexilla triumphi

Ni Deus, aethrali summus qui regnat in arce.

Prorsus odorato ture flagrantior halans

Olfactum ambrosiae, necnon crescentia glebae

15     Lilia purpureis possum conexa rosetis

Vincere spirantis nardi dulcedine plena;

Nunc olida caeni squalentis sorde putresco.

Omnia, quaeque polo sunt subter et axe reguntur,

Dum pater arcitenens concessit, jure guberno;

20     Grossas et graciles rerum comprenso figuras.

Altior, en, caelo rimor secreta Tonantis

Et tamen inferior terris tetra Tartara cerno;

Nam senior mundo praecessi tempora prisca,

Ecce, tamen matris horno generabar ab alvo

25     Pulchrior auratis, dum fulget fibula, bullis,

Horridior ramnis et spretis vilior algis.

Latior, en, patulis terrarum finibus exto

Et tamen in media concludor parte pugilli,

Frigidior brumis necnon candente pruina,

30     Cum sim Vulcani flammis torrentibus ardens,

Dulcior in palato quam lenti nectaris haustus

Dirior et rursus quam glauca absinthia campi.

Mando dapes mordax lurconum more Ciclopum,

Cum possim iugiter sine victu vivere felix.

35     Plus pernix aquilis, Zephiri velocior alis,

Necnon accipitre properantior, et tamen horrens

Lumbricus et limax et tarda testudo palustris

Atque, fimi soboles sordentis, cantarus ater

Me dicto citius vincunt certamine cursus.

40     Sum gravior plumbo: scopulorum pondera vergo;

Sum levior pluma, cedit cui tippula limphae;

Nam silici, densas quae fudit viscere flammas,

Durior aut ferro, tostis sed mollior extis.

Cincinnos capitis nam gesto cacumine nullos,

45     Ornent qui frontem pompis et tempora setis,

Cum mihi caesaries volitent de vertice crispae,

Plus calamistratis se comunt quae calamistro.

Pinguior, en, multo scrofarum axungia glesco,

Glandiferis iterum referunt dum corpora fagis

50     Atque saginata laetantur carne subulci;

Sed me dira famis macie torquebit egenam,

Pallida dum iugiter dapibus spoliabor opimis.

Limpida sum, fateor, Titanis clarior orbe,

Candidior nivibus, dum ningit vellera nimbus,

55     Carceris et multo tenebris obscurior atris

Atque latebrosis, ambit quas Tartarus, umbris.

Ut globus astrorum plasmor teres atque rotunda

Sperula seu pilae necnon et forma cristalli;

Et versa vice protendor ceu Serica pensa

60     In gracilem porrecta panum seu stamina pepli.

Senis, ecce, plagis, latus qua panditur orbis,

Ulterior multo tendor, mirabile fatu;

Infra me suprave nihil per saecula constat

Ni rerum genitor mundum sermone coercens.

65     Grandior in glaucis ballena fluctibus atra

Et minor exiguo, sulcat qui corpora, verme

Aut modico, Phoebi radiis qui vibrat, atomo;

Centenis pedibus gradior per gramina ruris

Et penitus numquam per terram pergo pedester.

70     Sic mea prudentes superat sapientia sofos,

Nec tamen in biblis docuit me littera dives

Aut umquam quivi, quid constet sillaba, nosse.

Siccior aestivo torrentis caumate solis,

Rore madens iterum plus uda flumine fontis;

75     Salsior et multo tumidi quam marmora ponti

Et gelidis terrae limphis insulsior erro,

Multiplici specie cunctorum compta colorum,

Ex quibus ornatur praesentis machina mundi,

Lurida cum toto nunc sim fraudata colore.

80     Auscultate mei credentes famina verbi,

Pandere quae poterit gnarus vix ore magister

Et tamen infitians non retur frivola lector!

Sciscitor inflatos, fungar quo nomine, sofos. 

EXPLICIUNT ENIGMATA.

Translation:

The creator, who supports the worlds on eternal columns, 

The ruler of kingdoms, controlling lightning with law, 

While the pendant peaks of wide heaven are rotated,

Made me, various, when he first founded the world.

5     Ever vigilant at the watch: it will never please me to sleep,

But rather my eyes are suddenly closed in dream;

For as God rules the world with his own pronouncement, 

So do I comprise all things under the pole of heaven.

Nothing is more sluggish, for a ghost terrifies me,

10     And in addition, I stand bolder than the bristly boar;

Nothing desiring the banner of triumph overcomes me

Except God, who reigns on high in his heavenly stronghold.

I am certainly more fragrant than perfumed incense, exhaling

The smell of ambrosia, and I am also able to surpass

15     The lilies, growing in the earth joined with red roses, 

By means of the full sweetness of the scent-giving nard;

And now I decay with the rank filth of squalid dirt.

Everything which is under the sky and are directed by its orbit

As the heavenly father permits I rule by right;

20     I include the thick and thin forms of things. 

Behold, higher than the sky, I can investigate the Thunderer’s secrets

And yet lower than the earth I can see gloomy Tartarus;

For, being older than the world, I preceded ancient time,

See, and yet I will be born from my mother’s womb this year;

25     I am more beautiful than golden bosses when a brooch gleams,

I am more horrible than bramble and more vile than contemptible seaweed.

Behold, I am more extensive than the wide ends of the earth

And yet I am confined in a handful,

And colder than winter and shining hoar-frost,

30     Though I burn in Vulcan’s blazing flames, 

I am sweeter on the palate than a taste of sticky nectar,

And on the other hand more dreadful than grey wormwood in the field.

Biting, I chew my meals in the manner of gluttonous Cyclops,

Though I can likewise live happily without food.

35     I am swifter than eagles, faster than Zephyr’s wings,

And also more hastening than a hawk, and yet the horrible

Earthworm and snail and slow tortoise of the swap

And the black beetle, offspring of foul dung, 

Defeat me in race’s contest more quickly than the saying.

40     I am heavier than lead: I verge on the weight of rocks;

I am lighter than a feather, to which a water-bug cedes;

For I am harder than flintstone, which pours dense flames from its insides,

Or iron, but softer than cooked insides.

For I bear no curls on the crown of my head

45     To adorn my forehead with pomp and my temples with hair, 

Although curled tresses rush from my head

More curled than hair curled by a curling iron.

Behold, I swell much fatter than the grease of sows,

When they repeatedly give their bodies acorn-bearing beech

50     And swineherds are made happy by the fattened flesh; 

But cruel famine tortures me, needy, with emaciation,

When, pale, I am forever deprived of rich feasts.

I am clear, I admit, brighter than Titan’s orb, 

Whiter than the snows when a cloud drops fleece like snow,

55     And much darker than the black shadows of the prison

And the secret shades which Tartarus encircles.

I am fashioned smooth and round like the orb of the stars

Or the sphere of a ball as well as the shape of a crystal;

And on the other hand I am held out like suspended silk cloth,

60     Stretched into thin thread or a vestment’s fibers.

See, I extend much father, miraculous to say, 

Than the six territories by which the wide world is measured;

Nothing throughout the world is below or above me 

Except the creator of things, controlling the world with his word.

65     I am bigger than the black whale in grey waves

And smaller than the little worm that furrows through corpses

And the humble mote that flickers in the sun’s rays. 

I advance on a hundred feet through grassy country

And absolutely never go on earth on foot.

70     Thus my wisdom surpasses that of wise men,

And yet the precious letter in books did not teach me,

Nor was I ever able to know what a syllable was.

I am drier than the summer heat of a flaming sun,

Dripping with dew, on the other hand I am wetter than a fountain’s stream;

75     I am much saltier than the waters of the swelling sea

And I move about fresher than the earths’ icy waters,

Decorated with the manifold appearance all the colours 

With which the present system of the world is adorned,

I am now wan, defrauded of all colour.

80     Pay attention, you who believe the words I say,

A wise teacher will barely be able to disclose them orally

And yet the skeptical reader should not deem them trifles!

I ask puffed-up wise men what name I enjoy.

HERE END THE RIDDLES.

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Creation

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

Symphosius Riddle 100: Monumentum

ALEXANDRAREIDER

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2022

Original text:

Nomen habens hominis post ultima fata relinquor.

Nomen inane manet, sed dulcis vita profugit.

Vita tamen superest morti post tempora vitae.

Translation:

I am left holding the name of a person after the last fate.

The useless name remains, but sweet life has fled.

Yet life survives death after a lifetime.

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Tombstone

Notes:

This edition is based on Raymond T. Ohl, ed. The Enigmas of Symphosius. PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1928.

Tags: riddles solutions latin symphosius