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OP
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I'm re-reading Jane Austen's Emma, and there's a word puzzle in it I can't solve. It shows up in Chapter IX of Vol. I:
My first doth affliction denote,
Which my second is destin'd to feel;
And my whole is the best antidote
That affliction to soften and heal -
It shows up when Emma and Harriet are collecting what they call "charades" for a book Harriet is compiling. Mr Elton offers it as an addition to their book, but they have it already - and the solution is never given. In the next page or two, Mr Elton comes up with a further "charade" of his own creation:
My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
Another view of man, my second brings,
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!
But, ah! united, what reverse we have!
Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown;
Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.
The answer to the second charade is "courtship" (given in the book - I'm sure I would be asking for help with it as well, otherwise!) - but what, pray tell if you can, is the answer to the first? I consider myself something of a cruciverbalist, but this cryptic clue has me stumped. :o)
hope fellow AWAD linguaphiles can help
cheers
Mary Steer
Kingston, Canada
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According the the notes in the back of my version (Penguin Classics), the answer is woman (woe + man). Seems like a bit of a stretch to me.
Oh, by the way, welcome to the board!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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In the charade, "my first" is woe and "my second" is man, so that "my whole" is woe-man = woman (boo! groan! hiss!).
I found this by searching Yahoo for "Jane Austen Emma Charades"
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hope fellow AWAD linguaphiles can help
Nope! Can't help at all.. but can say WELCOME !
Nice to have you with us!
Hev
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OP
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thanks everyone who helped (and welcomed)!
I checked the back of my Penguin Classic, too, but it didn't have a note for this. Hey....maybe it's a collector's item! (kidding)
At least we lasses can take some small comfort from the fact that we are the best antidote to soften and heal the woe that man feels..... :o))))))
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'm glad some people were able to help you. I admit to being entirely stumped by that type of riddle.
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Welcome aBoard modestgoddess! (cute nickname!)
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Welcome aBoard modestgoddess!! (though, noting the last of your "faves", I wonder what you're modest about?) Now, us blessed/cursed with a Y chromosome cannot take your comment lying down  ... "At least we lasses can take some small comfort from the fact that we are the best antidote to soften and heal the woe that man feels..... :o))))))"Is it not possible that the woe that man feels is sometimes caused by the best antidote? (well, stereotypically speaking anyway - the roles are reveresed in the stales' household!)stales
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Imagine the elephant who uses the sap of the oak seed to mend a wounded tusk.
Or a suicidal hobbit.
Wardrobe.
Crossbow. Well, at least he won't be cross anymore.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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May I add my welcomes to those already tendered, mothergoddess? And may you bring many more conundrums to the table! Would you be very offended if, for everyday use, I shorten your name to MG? From me, it is the highest compliment, I can assure you, having been the proud partner to a small succession of MGs, in past years. I always regarded them as feminine as they were good to look at, exciting to travel with and had great stamina yet needed careful attention, respectful handling and regular feeding! And as they grew older, they needed tender cosseting
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