The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Book of RiddlesThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: The Book of RiddlesAuthor: AnonymousRelease date: June 30, 2011 [eBook #36571]Most recently updated: January 7, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Larry B. Harrison, the Archives and SpecialCollections, University Libraries, Ball State University,the Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire,Durham, New Hampshire and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF RIDDLES ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: The Book of RiddlesAuthor: AnonymousRelease date: June 30, 2011 [eBook #36571]Most recently updated: January 7, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Larry B. Harrison, the Archives and SpecialCollections, University Libraries, Ball State University,the Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire,Durham, New Hampshire and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Title: The Book of Riddles
Author: Anonymous
Author: Anonymous
Release date: June 30, 2011 [eBook #36571]Most recently updated: January 7, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Larry B. Harrison, the Archives and SpecialCollections, University Libraries, Ball State University,the Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire,Durham, New Hampshire and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF RIDDLES ***
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Clock
'Tis true I have both face and hands,And move before your eyes,Yet when I go, my body stands,And when I stand, I lie.A Clock.
'Tis true I have both face and hands,And move before your eyes,Yet when I go, my body stands,And when I stand, I lie.A Clock.
A Clock.
Mole
My clothing's fine as velvet rare,Though under earth my dwellings are;And when above it I appear,My enemies put me oft in fear.The gard'ner does at me repine,I spoil his works as he does mine.The Mole.
My clothing's fine as velvet rare,Though under earth my dwellings are;And when above it I appear,My enemies put me oft in fear.The gard'ner does at me repine,I spoil his works as he does mine.The Mole.
The Mole.
Watch
My form is beauteous to the ravish'd sight,My habit gay, my color gold or white;When ladies take the air, I without pride,A faithful partner am close by their side.I near their persons constantly remain,A favorite slave, bound with a golden chain;And though I can both speak and go alone,Yet are my motions to myself unknown.A Watch.
My form is beauteous to the ravish'd sight,My habit gay, my color gold or white;When ladies take the air, I without pride,A faithful partner am close by their side.I near their persons constantly remain,A favorite slave, bound with a golden chain;And though I can both speak and go alone,Yet are my motions to myself unknown.A Watch.
A Watch.
Rose
Emblem of youth and innocenceWith walls enclosed for my defence,And with no care opprest,I boldly spread my charms around,'Till some rude lover breaks the mound,And takes me to his breast.Here soon I sicken and decay:My beauty lost, I'm turned away,And thrown into the street;Where I despised, neglected lie,See no Samaritans pass by,But numerous insults meet.A Rose.
Emblem of youth and innocenceWith walls enclosed for my defence,And with no care opprest,I boldly spread my charms around,'Till some rude lover breaks the mound,And takes me to his breast.Here soon I sicken and decay:My beauty lost, I'm turned away,And thrown into the street;Where I despised, neglected lie,See no Samaritans pass by,But numerous insults meet.A Rose.
A Rose.
Scales
Two twins we are, and, let it not surprise,Alike in every feature, shape, and size:We're square, or round, of brass or iron made,Sometimes of wood, yet useful found in trade;But, to conclude, for all our daily pains,We by the neck are often hung in chains.A Pair of Scales.
Two twins we are, and, let it not surprise,Alike in every feature, shape, and size:We're square, or round, of brass or iron made,Sometimes of wood, yet useful found in trade;But, to conclude, for all our daily pains,We by the neck are often hung in chains.A Pair of Scales.
A Pair of Scales.
A man with a scythe
I was before the world began,And shall forever last;Ere father Adam was a man,Or out of Eden cast.Your youthful moments I attend,And mitigate your grief;The industrious peasant I befriend,To pris'ners give relief.Make much of me if you are wise,And use me while you may,For you will lose me in a trice.As I for no man stay.Time.
I was before the world began,And shall forever last;Ere father Adam was a man,Or out of Eden cast.Your youthful moments I attend,And mitigate your grief;The industrious peasant I befriend,To pris'ners give relief.Make much of me if you are wise,And use me while you may,For you will lose me in a trice.As I for no man stay.Time.
Time.
The ancients represented time by the figure of a man, with broad wings, spread out, as denoting its flight, or that time is ever on the wing. In one hand he held an hour-glass, to show that as the sand, so our time is constantly running; and in the other, a scythe, to let us know that time, like the scythe, levels all. He is represented with only one lock of hair before, the remainder of his head being bald, to show that we must take him by the forelock, when it presents, lest when it be past, we find our disappointment, and as the back part of the head is bare, so our time is no more.
The ancients represented time by the figure of a man, with broad wings, spread out, as denoting its flight, or that time is ever on the wing. In one hand he held an hour-glass, to show that as the sand, so our time is constantly running; and in the other, a scythe, to let us know that time, like the scythe, levels all. He is represented with only one lock of hair before, the remainder of his head being bald, to show that we must take him by the forelock, when it presents, lest when it be past, we find our disappointment, and as the back part of the head is bare, so our time is no more.
It foams without anger,It flies without wings,It cuts without edge,And without tongue it sings.A Bottle of Ale.
It foams without anger,It flies without wings,It cuts without edge,And without tongue it sings.A Bottle of Ale.
A Bottle of Ale.
Key
What force and strength cannot get throughI with a gentle touch can do;And many in the streets would stand,Were I not, as friend, at hand.A Key.
What force and strength cannot get throughI with a gentle touch can do;And many in the streets would stand,Were I not, as friend, at hand.A Key.
A Key.
What is that which has been to-morrow, and will be yesterday?
What is that which has been to-morrow, and will be yesterday?
To-day.
Barrel
My habitation's in a wood,And I'm at any one's command;I often do more hurt than good,If I once get the upper hand:I never fear the champion's frown,Stout things I oftentimes have done;Brave soldiers I have oft laid down,I never fear their sword and gun.A Barrel of Beer.
My habitation's in a wood,And I'm at any one's command;I often do more hurt than good,If I once get the upper hand:I never fear the champion's frown,Stout things I oftentimes have done;Brave soldiers I have oft laid down,I never fear their sword and gun.A Barrel of Beer.
A Barrel of Beer.
Bellows
My nose is long, my back is broad and round,And in cold weather of great use I'm found;No load I carry, yet I puff and blow,As much as heavy loaded porters do.A Pair of Bellows.
My nose is long, my back is broad and round,And in cold weather of great use I'm found;No load I carry, yet I puff and blow,As much as heavy loaded porters do.A Pair of Bellows.
A Pair of Bellows.
Top
I never offend thee,Yet thou dost me whip,Which doth not amend me,Though I dance and skip;When I'm upright thou dost like me best,And severely dost whip me when I want to rest.A Top.
I never offend thee,Yet thou dost me whip,Which doth not amend me,Though I dance and skip;When I'm upright thou dost like me best,And severely dost whip me when I want to rest.A Top.
A Top.
Squirrel
I'm a busy active creature,Fashioned with a sportive nature,I nimbly skip from tree to tree,Under a well-wrought canopy;And for cleanliness and air,Am a pattern to the fair;I, to arms and blood a stranger,Apprehensive of no danger,Like the ant, for winter store,Searching, treasures to explore,All on a sudden hear the foe,The cause and object of my woeBy whom I'm soon a prisoner madeChain'd, and in a dungeon laid:Bid Chloe then, and Myra tell,What's my name and where I dwell.The Squirrel.
I'm a busy active creature,Fashioned with a sportive nature,I nimbly skip from tree to tree,Under a well-wrought canopy;And for cleanliness and air,Am a pattern to the fair;I, to arms and blood a stranger,Apprehensive of no danger,Like the ant, for winter store,Searching, treasures to explore,All on a sudden hear the foe,The cause and object of my woeBy whom I'm soon a prisoner madeChain'd, and in a dungeon laid:Bid Chloe then, and Myra tell,What's my name and where I dwell.The Squirrel.
The Squirrel.
Drum
My body is light, my head is white,With a cord I am laced around,I am beaten with sticks, yet not for bad tricks,But to animate my sound.The unthinking youth, who heed not the truthWhich would save them from every alarm,To fight, kill, and die, and cause much miseryTo those who have done them no harm.A Drum.
My body is light, my head is white,With a cord I am laced around,I am beaten with sticks, yet not for bad tricks,But to animate my sound.The unthinking youth, who heed not the truthWhich would save them from every alarm,To fight, kill, and die, and cause much miseryTo those who have done them no harm.A Drum.
A Drum.
Hour-glass
Two bodies have I,Though both joined in oneThe stiller I stand,The faster I run.Hour-glass.
Two bodies have I,Though both joined in oneThe stiller I stand,The faster I run.Hour-glass.
Hour-glass.
Transcriber's NotePunctuation errors have been corrected.Added missing answer for a riddle namely "A Rose."