1
Say, what am I? or what are we?
For I am more than one,
I never speak, I cannot see,
I've neither flesh or bone.
In England I have ne'er been seen,
And think I never shall;
In Wales, where I have always been,
M'importance is not small;
For there I lead a chosen few,
Who all in black appear,
One's rather crooked it is true,
And One's a grenadier.
In wintery weather, windy, wet,
I never quit my place.
Foremost in war, and never yet
Been in the least disgrace.
Altho so brave, I'm poor & old,
In wrinkles and in want,
Tis true I feel nor heat nor cold,
And be in pain — I can't.
But tho not hot, I'm in a sweat,
Yet garments I wear never.
I'm in the Law, but nothing get,
I'm in the wrong for ever.
In a weak way I long have been,
Yet own no habitation,
Tho in the window I am seen,
Of each house in the nation — .
Riddle 2 d
I have a mouth, but never eat,
My food being rather drink than meat,
Which never makes me ill,
Altho' it does not with me stay,
In truth I vomit twice a day,
Yet I keep drinking still
The Kitchen is my proper place,
And there I shew a dirty face,
And am a nasty creature;
But when I in the parlour come,
Or in the nicer drawing-room,
I then look smart & neater.
I never speak, but often sing,
Which does both hope & pleasure bring
And raises expectation;
I sing till I can sing no more,
But when my harmony is o'er
Am in great agitation.
I have my faults, (for who has not?)
I own I'm often very hot,
But I'm of worse accused;
They'll tell you I am scandal's friend,
But do not to such tales attend,
Believe me, I'm abused.
Riddle 3 d
That you will quickly find me out
I own I have but little doubt,
For, if you please to make enquiry,
You'll find me in the Ladies Diary.
Would you my residence discover?
Look for me in the Town of Dover,
Most likely you will find me there,
Tho I've a place in Dorsetshire;
The Country's fine & dry & pleasant
Well stock'd with Foxes, Hare & Pheasant,
But these to me afford no fruit,
I never hunt, and cannot shoot;
But you'll suppose me happy there
On those fine Downs to breathe fine Air?
But no such pleasures I possess,
I am in debt and deep distress;
I never wish to see a stranger,
For I am constantly in danger;
He who has Bailiffs in his head
Like me, must always be in dread;
For who wou'd like, in Jail, to be
Depriv'd of his sweet liberty?
Then say, if such a life of Woe
Be worth the having, surely no.
Well then, no longer I'll survive —
But stop — I've never been alive,
I never walk'd, I never spoke,
What then, is all you've said a Joke?
No, every Syllable is true —
I only mean to puzzle you.
Riddle [4]
I've a circular form, but I've never a head,
I am usually Black 'tho sometimes I aMred.
I have several companions of Various Shapes,
Some tall and well form'd, some ugly as Apes.
Tho I really can't boast of e'er earning a penny,
With the help of a comrade I've fleeced a great Many
But it did me no good, I'm in poverty still,
And so must remain, let me do what I will.
Tho I never was married I'm always in love
And I still am in hopes; How falacious they prove!
I'm of great use in Oxford, that Fountain of Knowledge,
And a place is found for me in every College.
Tho with Knowledge or Learning, I'm very ill stored
Without my assistance you can't write a Word.
Riddle [5]
Two Letters form me while I've Breath
When kill'd, I've need of Four,
But if I die a natural Death
Must have Three Letters more
[6]
Sometimes I am bright, sometimes covered with soot
I'm of very great use at a feast,
I am often applied to the right or left foot
I'm a Fish, I'm a Boy, I'm a beast
C.A. Sen r
[7]
My 1 st when good may claim another
My 2 d Water cannot smother
My whole stands in the way before ye
And puts a stop to speed & hurry
C.A. Sen r
[8]
My 1 st implied Mirth, & my 2 d reflection
If my whole you divide in a proper direction
It will tell you your fortune, & answer your question.
C.A. sen r
[9]
My first's a handsome horned beast
And so indeed's my second;
My whole is manufactured goods
Not fit for garments reckoned
'Tis smooth & strong & somewhat stiff
And not so fine as chintz
Yet our old Poet Shakespear says
't'was once worn by a Prince.
C.A. Sen r
Say, what am I? or what are we?
For I am more than one,
I never speak, I cannot see,
I've neither flesh or bone.
In England I have ne'er been seen,
And think I never shall;
In Wales, where I have always been,
M'importance is not small;
For there I lead a chosen few,
Who all in black appear,
One's rather crooked it is true,
And One's a grenadier.
In wintery weather, windy, wet,
I never quit my place.
Foremost in war, and never yet
Been in the least disgrace.
Altho so brave, I'm poor & old,
In wrinkles and in want,
Tis true I feel nor heat nor cold,
And be in pain — I can't.
But tho not hot, I'm in a sweat,
Yet garments I wear never.
I'm in the Law, but nothing get,
I'm in the wrong for ever.
In a weak way I long have been,
Yet own no habitation,
Tho in the window I am seen,
Of each house in the nation — .
Riddle 2 d
I have a mouth, but never eat,
My food being rather drink than meat,
Which never makes me ill,
Altho' it does not with me stay,
In truth I vomit twice a day,
Yet I keep drinking still
The Kitchen is my proper place,
And there I shew a dirty face,
And am a nasty creature;
But when I in the parlour come,
Or in the nicer drawing-room,
I then look smart & neater.
I never speak, but often sing,
Which does both hope & pleasure bring
And raises expectation;
I sing till I can sing no more,
But when my harmony is o'er
Am in great agitation.
I have my faults, (for who has not?)
I own I'm often very hot,
But I'm of worse accused;
They'll tell you I am scandal's friend,
But do not to such tales attend,
Believe me, I'm abused.
Riddle 3 d
That you will quickly find me out
I own I have but little doubt,
For, if you please to make enquiry,
You'll find me in the Ladies Diary.
Would you my residence discover?
Look for me in the Town of Dover,
Most likely you will find me there,
Tho I've a place in Dorsetshire;
The Country's fine & dry & pleasant
Well stock'd with Foxes, Hare & Pheasant,
But these to me afford no fruit,
I never hunt, and cannot shoot;
But you'll suppose me happy there
On those fine Downs to breathe fine Air?
But no such pleasures I possess,
I am in debt and deep distress;
I never wish to see a stranger,
For I am constantly in danger;
He who has Bailiffs in his head
Like me, must always be in dread;
For who wou'd like, in Jail, to be
Depriv'd of his sweet liberty?
Then say, if such a life of Woe
Be worth the having, surely no.
Well then, no longer I'll survive —
But stop — I've never been alive,
I never walk'd, I never spoke,
What then, is all you've said a Joke?
No, every Syllable is true —
I only mean to puzzle you.
Riddle [4]
I've a circular form, but I've never a head,
I am usually Black 'tho sometimes I aMred.
I have several companions of Various Shapes,
Some tall and well form'd, some ugly as Apes.
Tho I really can't boast of e'er earning a penny,
With the help of a comrade I've fleeced a great Many
But it did me no good, I'm in poverty still,
And so must remain, let me do what I will.
Tho I never was married I'm always in love
And I still am in hopes; How falacious they prove!
I'm of great use in Oxford, that Fountain of Knowledge,
And a place is found for me in every College.
Tho with Knowledge or Learning, I'm very ill stored
Without my assistance you can't write a Word.
Riddle [5]
Two Letters form me while I've Breath
When kill'd, I've need of Four,
But if I die a natural Death
Must have Three Letters more
[6]
Sometimes I am bright, sometimes covered with soot
I'm of very great use at a feast,
I am often applied to the right or left foot
I'm a Fish, I'm a Boy, I'm a beast
C.A. Sen r
[7]
My 1 st when good may claim another
My 2 d Water cannot smother
My whole stands in the way before ye
And puts a stop to speed & hurry
C.A. Sen r
[8]
My 1 st implied Mirth, & my 2 d reflection
If my whole you divide in a proper direction
It will tell you your fortune, & answer your question.
C.A. sen r
[9]
My first's a handsome horned beast
And so indeed's my second;
My whole is manufactured goods
Not fit for garments reckoned
'Tis smooth & strong & somewhat stiff
And not so fine as chintz
Yet our old Poet Shakespear says
't'was once worn by a Prince.
C.A. Sen r