Boniface Riddle 13: Crapula gulae
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Mon 26 Jul 2021Original text:
Clara fui quondam, Sodomae dum farra manebant,
Regmina foeda tenens, donec pius ultor ab alto
Ardentes flammas multans et sulphura misit.
Praevia sum luxus petulantis foetore carnis,
5 Viribus aequalis bibulae perfecta soroti.
Lurida nam dudum frangebam moenia sancta,
Aurea dum Solymae famosae templa ruebant;
Grandia nam populus mordax quondam idola fecit.
Vivere iam docui mediocres mente superba,
10 Lectos et proceres iustos quoque spernere victus.
Arte mea plures submersi faucibus orci;
Externi ut superis miscentur civibus ignis.Translation:
I was once renowned, when the grit of Sodom was alive,
retaining their loathsome kingdom, until a holy avenger from heaven
punished me, sending out burning flames and sulphur.
I am the bringer of debauchery in the stench of wanton flesh,
5 and I am made equal in strength to my thirsty sister.
For, ghastly, I once smashed down the sacred walls
when the golden temples of famous Solyma fell;
for, at one time, the snarling nation made great idols.
After that, I taught the mediocre to live with a proud mind,
10 and I also taught the best and noblest to spurn righteous living.
I have cunningly sunk many into the jaws of Orcus;
as exiles from heaven, they are joined with the citizens of Hell.Overindulgence (of the gullet)
Notes:
This edition is based on Ernst Dümmler, (ed.). Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Volume 1. Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1881. Pages 1-15. Available online here.
Note that this riddle appears as No. 5 (De vitiis) in Glorie’s edition and 15 in Orchard’s edition.
Line 4, foenore > foetore, following Fr. Glorie (ed.), Variae collectiones aenigmatum Merovingicae aetatis. Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 133A. Turnhout: Brepols, 1968. Page 329.