THE RIDDLES OF ALDHELM

ENIGMATA ALDHELMI

[PRÆFATIO]

Arbiter, æthereo iugiter qui regmine sceptrA Lucifluumque simul cæli regale tribunaL Disponis moderans æternis legibus illuD, (Horrida nam multans torsisti membra VehemotH, 5 Ex alta quondam rueret dum luridus arcE), Limpida dictanti metrorum carmina præsuL Munera nunc largire, rudis quo pandere reruM Versibus enigmata queam clandistina fatV: Sic, Deus, indignis tua gratis dona rependiS. 10 Castalidas nimphas non clamo cantibus istuC Examen neque spargebat mihi nectar in orE; Cynthi sic numquam perlustro cacumina, sed nec In Parnasso procubui nec somnia vidI. Nam mihi versificum poterit Deus addere carmeN 15 Inspirans stolidæ pia gratis munera mentI; Tangit si mentem, mox laudem corda rependunT. Metrica nam Moysen declarant carmina vateM Iamdudum cecinisse prisci vexilla tropel Late per populos illustria, qua nitidus SOL 20 Lustrat ab oceani iam tollens gurgite cephaL Et psalmista canens metrorum cantica vocE

THE RIDDLES OF ALDHELM

PROLOGUE

O Ruler, who with thine ethereal sway
Perpetually controll'st the royal throne
Of light, and heavenly sceptre, stablishing
Eternal statutes (yea, Behemoth once

5 Thou punishedst, plaguing his hideous frame
Until he plunged all ghastly from on high),
Patron of him who songs in flowing verse
Composes, now bestow thy gifts on me,
That I with my rude lines may bare in speech
10 The secret riddles of created things—

To the unworthy thus thou giv'st thy gifts.
I summon no Castalian nymphs in song
To aid my task, nor have the honey-bees
Strewn nectar on my lips; I never stray

15 Upon the peaks of Cynthus, nor have lain

On old Parnassus' slope, nor dreamed strange dreams.
For God can fill me with the power of song,
Breathing into my dull mind holy gifts.

Of poesy; if he but touch a mind,

20 At once the swelling heart pours out his praise.
Thus lyric measures tell how, long ago,
The prophet Moses sang that bannered host,
Of old victorious, whose fair fame has sped
To every land the bright sun looks upon,
25 Raising his head from out the thundering sea.
And thus the psalmist, lifting up his voice

Natum divino promit generamine numeN In cælis prius exortum, quam Lucifer orbI Splendida formatis fudisset lumina sæcliS. 25 Verum si fuerint bene hæc enigmata versV Explosis penitus nævis et rusticitatE Ritu dactilico recte decursa nec erroR Seduxit vana specie molimina mentis, Incipiam potiora, sui Deus arida servI, 30 Belligero quondam qui vires tradidit IoB, Viscera perpetui si roris repleat haustV. Siccis nam laticum duxisti cautibus amnes Olim, cum cuneus transgresso marmore rubro Desertum penetrat, cecinit quod carmine DaviL 35 Arce poli, genitor, servas qui sæcula cunctA, Solvere iam scelerum noxas dignare nefandaS.

INCIPIUNT ENIGMATA EX DIVERSIS RERUM
CREATURIS COMPOSITA.

I. TERRA

Altrix cunctorum, quos mundus gestat, in orbe
Nuncupor (et merito, quia numquam pignora tantum
Improba sic lacerant maternas dente papillas)
Prole vireas æstate, tabescens tempore brumæ.

II. VENTUS

Cernere me nulli possunt nec prendere palmis,
Argutum vocis crepitum cito pando per orbem.
Viribus horrisonis valeo confringere quercus;
Nam superos ego pulso polos et rura peragro.

In measured hymns, reveals the wondrous birth
Of Godhead, born in heaven of God himself,
Begotten ere the Morning Star led forth
30 Those shining orbs that burst upon the world.
But if I versify these riddles well,

Free from all blemish or provincial phrase,
Writing them in correct dactylic verse,
And then if error with its empty show
35 Lead not astray this effort of my mind,
I will begin a worthier task, if God,
Who once did strengthen valiant-minded Job,
Do but refresh his servant's thirsty heart
With a continual dew. For thou didst lead

40 Cool streams of water from parched, craggy rocks Long ages past, when Israel's band had crossed The Red Sea, and attained the wilderness,

.C

As David sang the wonder in his psalm.
O Father, who dost hold the universe

45 Firm in the heavens, deign thou to destroy
The harm and ugly consequence of sin.

HERE BEGIN CERTAIN RIDDLES, COMPOSED ABOUT
VARIOUS CREATED THINGS

I. EARTH

Men call me nurse of all that this world bears, (And rightly am I named, for never child, However evil, bites its mother's breast, And tears it so). In summer I am green 5 With offspring, but in winter sick and pale.

None can espy me, none lay hands on me;
My rushing voice shrills swift through all the earth.
I shatter oaks with harsh and hideous might,
Yea, beat upon the skies, and sweep the fields.