A RIDDLE.(A book.)
(A book.)
I’m a strange contradiction; I’m new, and I’m old,I’m often in tatters and oft decked with gold.Though I never could read, yet lettered I’m found;Though blind, I enlighten; though loose, I am bound;I’m always in black, and I’m always in white;I’m grave and I’m gay, I am heavy and light—In form, too, I differ—I’m thick and I’m thin,I’ve no flesh and no bones, yet I’m covered with skin;I’ve more points than the compass, more stops than the flute;I sing without voice, without speaking confute.I’m English, I’m German, I’m French, and I’m Dutch;Some love me too fondly, some slight me too much;I often die soon, though I sometimes live ages,And no monarch alive has so many pages.
I’m a strange contradiction; I’m new, and I’m old,I’m often in tatters and oft decked with gold.Though I never could read, yet lettered I’m found;Though blind, I enlighten; though loose, I am bound;I’m always in black, and I’m always in white;I’m grave and I’m gay, I am heavy and light—In form, too, I differ—I’m thick and I’m thin,I’ve no flesh and no bones, yet I’m covered with skin;I’ve more points than the compass, more stops than the flute;I sing without voice, without speaking confute.I’m English, I’m German, I’m French, and I’m Dutch;Some love me too fondly, some slight me too much;I often die soon, though I sometimes live ages,And no monarch alive has so many pages.
I’m a strange contradiction; I’m new, and I’m old,I’m often in tatters and oft decked with gold.Though I never could read, yet lettered I’m found;Though blind, I enlighten; though loose, I am bound;I’m always in black, and I’m always in white;I’m grave and I’m gay, I am heavy and light—In form, too, I differ—I’m thick and I’m thin,
I’m a strange contradiction; I’m new, and I’m old,
I’m often in tatters and oft decked with gold.
Though I never could read, yet lettered I’m found;
Though blind, I enlighten; though loose, I am bound;
I’m always in black, and I’m always in white;
I’m grave and I’m gay, I am heavy and light—
In form, too, I differ—I’m thick and I’m thin,
I’ve no flesh and no bones, yet I’m covered with skin;I’ve more points than the compass, more stops than the flute;I sing without voice, without speaking confute.I’m English, I’m German, I’m French, and I’m Dutch;Some love me too fondly, some slight me too much;I often die soon, though I sometimes live ages,And no monarch alive has so many pages.
I’ve no flesh and no bones, yet I’m covered with skin;
I’ve more points than the compass, more stops than the flute;
I sing without voice, without speaking confute.
I’m English, I’m German, I’m French, and I’m Dutch;
Some love me too fondly, some slight me too much;
I often die soon, though I sometimes live ages,
And no monarch alive has so many pages.
—Hannah More.