THE BOOK OF RIDDLES.
The Book of Riddles alluded to by Shakspeare in the Merry Wives of Windsor (Act I. sc. I) is mentioned by Laneham, 1575, and in the English Courtier, 1586; but the earliest edition of this popular collection now preserved is dated 1629. It is entitled The Booke of Merry Riddles, together with proper Questions and witty Proverbs to make pleasant pastime; no less usefull then behovefull for any young man or child, to know if he be quick-witted or no. The following extract from this very rare work will be found interesting.
Here beginneth the first Riddle.
Two legs sat upon three legs, and had one leg in her hand; then in came foure legs, and bare away one leg; then up start two legs, and threw three legs at foure legs, and brought again one leg.
Solution.—That is, a woman with two legs sate on a stoole with three legs, and had a leg of mutton in her hand; then came a dog that hath foure legs, and bare away the leg of mutton; then up start the woman, and threw the stoole with three legs at the dog with foure legs, and brought again the leg of mutton.
The Second Riddle.
He went to the wood and caught it,
He sate him down and sought it;
Because he could not finde it,
Home with him he brought it.
Solution.—That is a thorne: for a man went to the wood and caught a thorne in his foote, and then he sate him downe, and sought to have it pulled out, and because he could not find it out, he must needs bring it home.
The iii. Riddle.
What work is that, the faster ye worke, the longer it is ere ye have done, and the slower ye worke, the sooner ye make an end?
Solution.—That is turning of a spit; for if ye turne fast, it will be long ere the meat be rosted, but if ye turne slowly, the sooner it is rosted.
The iv. Riddle.
What is that that shineth bright all day, and at night is raked up in its own dirt?
Solution.—That is the fire, that burneth bright all the day; and at night is raked up in his ashes.
The v. Riddle.
I have a tree of great honour,
Which tree beareth both fruit and flower;
Twelve branches this tree hath nake,
Fifty [sic] nests therein he make,
And every nest hath birds seaven;
Thankéd be the King of Heaven;
And every bird hath a divers name:
How may all this together frame?
Solution.—The tree is the yeare; the twelve branches be the twelve months; the fifty-two nests be the fifty-two weekes; the seven birds be the seven days in the weeke, whereof every one hath a divers name.