Bern Riddle 29: De speculo
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Sat 28 Nov 2020Matching Commentaries: Commentary for Bern Riddle 29: De speculo
Original text:
Uterum si mihi praelucens texerit umbra,
Proprios volenti devota porrego vultus.
Talis ego mater vivos non genero natos,
Sed petenti vanas diffundo visu figuras.
Exiguos licet mentita profero foetos,
Sed de vero suas videnti dirigo formas.
Translation:
If a shining shadow has covered my belly,
I will show their very images to those who wish it.
Such a wonderful mother, I do not bear living children,
but rather I give birth to empty forms in the desirer’s sight.
Although, having lied, I produce poor children,
nevertheless, I send their images to the viewer based on the truth.
Mirror
Notes:
This edition is based on Karl Strecker, ed., Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Vol. 4.2 (Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1923), page 747.
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 575.
Tags: latin Bern Riddles