Bern Riddle 31: De nympha
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Sat 28 Nov 2020Matching Commentaries: Commentary for Bern Riddle 31: De nympha
Original text:
Ore mihi nulla petenti pocula dantur,
Ebrius nec ullum reddo perinde fluorem.
Versa mihi datur vice bibendi facultas
Et vacuo ventri potus ab ima defertur.
Pollice depresso conceptas denego limphas
Et sublato rursum diffusos confero nimbos.
Translation:
No drinks are given to me when my mouth seeks them,
nor, when full of drink, do I give any drink in return.
At other times, I am given the ability to drink,
and a drink is given from the depths to the empty belly.
When a thumb is lowered, I refuse the contained liquids,
and when raised again, I bring rain-showers.
Siphon
Notes:
This edition is based on Karl Strecker, ed., Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Vol. 4.2 (Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1923), page 748.
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 577.
Tags: latin Bern Riddles