Bern Riddle 26: De sinapi
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Sat 28 Nov 2020Matching Commentaries: Commentary for Bern Riddle 26: De sinapi
Original text:
Me si visu quaeras, multo sum parvulo parvus,
Sed nemo maiorum mentis astutia vincit.
Cum feror sublimi parentis humero vectus,
Simplicem ignari me putant esse natura.
Verbere correptus saepe si giro fatigor,
Protinus occultum produco corde saporem.
Translation:
If you look for me, I am teeny-weeny,
but no one larger is more cunning than me.
When I am carried on the shoulder of my lofty parent,
the ignorant think that I am of a simple nature.
If, when captured, I am often beaten and worn down by a circle,
I immediately produce a hidden flavour from my heart.
Mustard grain
Notes:
This edition is based on Karl Strecker, ed., Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Vol. 4.2 (Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1923), page 746.
A list of variant readings can be found in Fr. Glorie, ed., Variae collectiones aenigmatum Merovingicae aetatis, Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 133A (Turnhout: Brepols, 1968), page 572.
Tags: latin Bern Riddles