Bern Riddle 4: De scamno
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Thu 26 Nov 2020Matching Commentaries: Commentary for Bern Riddle 4: De scamno
Original text:
Mollibus horresco semper consistere locis,
Ungula nam mihi firma, si caute ponatur.
Nullum, iter agens, sessorem dorso requiro:
Plures fero libens, meo dum stabulo versor.
Nulla frena mihi mansueto iuveni pendas,
Calcibus et senem nolo me verberes ullis.
Translation:
I always dread to stand in squishy places,
for I have a firm hoof if it is carefully placed.
I do not need anyone to sit on my back when travelling:
I happily carry many while I dwell in my ‘stable.’
Do not hang bridles on me, tamed as a youth!
And as an oldie, I do not want you to kick me!
Bench
Notes:
This edition is based on Karl Strecker, ed., Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Vol. 4.2 (Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1923), page 739.
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 550.
Tags: latin Bern Riddles