Bern Riddle 44: De margarita
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Wed 02 Dec 2020Matching Commentaries: Commentary for Bern Riddle 44: De margarita
Original text:
Conspicuum corpus arte mirifica sumpsi;
Multis cava modis gemmarum ordine nector.
Publicis concepta locis in abdito nascor.
Vacua do lucem, referta confero lucrum.
Nullum mihi frigus valet nec bruma vilescit,
Sed calore semper molli sopita fatigor.
Translation:
I have acquired a remarkable body by wondrous artifice.
Hollow, I am related to the order of gems in many ways.
Conceived in public places, I am born in secret.
Empty, I give light; full, I give wealth.
Cold cannot overcome me, nor can winter cheapen me,
but when lulled to sleep, I am always worn down by a gentle warmth.
Pearl
Notes:
This edition is based on Karl Strecker, ed., Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Vol. 4.2 (Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1923), page 752.
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 590.
Tags: latin Bern Riddles