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#34466 07/02/01 05:57 PM
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I thought I'd start a new thread with this stuff, because it's a little bit different from the more jocular dialogue on the "Riddles" thread, and I have a lot of neat material here...so I can put up a bunch every couple of days and then follow-up with the answers for whoever'd like to play along. And this also leaves more room for discussion or any other similar items others might have.

Here, now, from a book in my 19th Century schoolhouse published in 1829, "The Boy's Own Book' --
out of a chapter therein entitled "The Riddler" which features charades, conundrums, enigmas,
rebusses, anagrams, and logogriphs
are the following selections (I'll come back and edit in the
answers in white in a day or so, 'cause I think you'll want a real shot at solving these...good luck!):

Enigma 1.

"Twas whispered in heaven, 'twas muttered in hell,
And echo caught faintly the sound as it fell;
On the confines of earth 'twas permitted to rest,
And the depths of the ocean its presence confess'd;
Twill be found in the sphere, when 'tis riven asunder;
'Tis seen in the lightening, and heard in the thunder;
'Twas alloted to man from his earliest breath,
It assists at his birth, and attends him in death;
Presides o'er his happiness, honor, and health,
Is the prop of his house, and the end of his wealth;
In the heap of the miser 'tis hoarded with care,
But is sure to be lost in his prodigal heir;
It begins every hope, every wish it must bound;
It prays with the hermit, with monarchs is crown'd;
Without it the soldier and seaman may roam,
But wo to the wretch that expels it from home;
In the whispers of conscience 'tis sure to be found,
Nor e'en in the whirlwind of passion is drown'd;
'Twill soften the heart, though deaf to the ear,
'Twill make it acutely and constantly hear;
But, in short, let it rest; like a beautiful flower,
(O! breathe on it softly,) it dies in an hour.

--Lord Byron (referred to in the chapter's introduction as "the late Lord Byron." Gads!)
Answer: The letter H.

And I thought this next might be fun for a certain well-known presence of the Board!

Conundrum: Why is the statute book like the Grecian army before Troy? Helen?
Answer: It has many laws (Menelaus) in it.

And here's a classic Wordsmith conundrum: (actually there's a few of these that look like direct-to-Anu
for AWADmail consideration material, but I have to get at least one out first, I can't wait!)

Conundrum: What word of ten letters can be spelled with five?
Answer: Expediency (X P D N C).

Enigma:

A word of three syllables seek till you find,
That has in it the twenty-four letters combin'd.
Answer: Alphabet.
(edit: "four" becomes "three"--I took the liberty to change this, book copy didn't correlate--have to screen more carefully in future, sorry)
Have fun! There's plenty more where these came from...


#34467 07/02/01 06:09 PM
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Enigma 1

Hey, I got this one.


#34468 07/02/01 06:17 PM
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Enigma 1

Hey, I got this one.

Hullo, so did I.


#34469 07/02/01 11:42 PM
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So far Faldage is 2 for 2!


#34470 07/03/01 01:43 PM
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Have mercy!



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The solutions for the original "Riddlers" are edited-in in white on the original post! Another batch to follow shortly. All comments and questions welcome.


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I don't get the Alphabet one. What about the other two letters?

I still think my answer of Telephone is better =)




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...the Alphabet one. What about the other two letters?

Remember, caradea, this is 1829...you have to think in the context of the times historically and linguistically.
I won't edit to modernize because I think there's knowledge to be gleaned from the original intent. The number of letters in the alphabet has fluctuated throughout the history of the English language...though I didn't think there was a difference as recently as 1829. But evidently the letters U and J were not yet added when this riddle couplet was composed. And I was thinking of posting tsuwmn myself to ask him if he knows why on earth they would say the word alphabet had four syllables!? Did alphabet ever have, or was it ever pronounced with four syllables? Was it, perhaps, originally alphabeta? (of course, a confusing aberration like that had to be changed to "three" syllables...I probably wouldn't have chosen to post it if I caught it straight out) But I think it's neat that we can toy with these period puzzlers and have their perusal trigger some sound linguistic and historical discourse as well!

P.S. I just checked the dictionary and found this: alphabet....ME alphabete. So there we are! I'll be damned!


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Oh, that damned Lord Byron. I'm thinking the answer is love, salvation, hope, or something uplifting like that. If he wasn't "the late Lord Byron" already I'd be tempted...

[random associative thought]
From The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
SLARTIBARTFAST: What is your name, Earthman?
ARTHUR: Arthur Dent.
SLARTIBARTFAST: Well, come with me, Arthur Dent, or you shall be late.
ARTHUR: Late for what?
SLARTIBARTFAST: Late, as in the late Arthur Dent. It's a threat, you see. I've heard they can be very useful.
[/random associative thought]



#34475 07/30/01 02:20 PM
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Chose this thread cos it's short and mentioned HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy!
BBC2 11.20 pm Monday nights - repeat of TV version of HHGTTG starts tonight, July 30th.
Those who can, enjoy!
Rod






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