Enigmas.
ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS IN APRIL NUMBER.
13. A well. 14. Able, table, cable, fable. 15. A secret.
ENIGMAS.
16.
PRAY, what is that we enter, but ne'er see?
And yet familiarized with it are we;
Though ne'er created, yet existing 'tis,
And with ourselves concurrent always is.
Its property throughout our lives we share,
And draw on its resources everywhere.
Itself indefinite, yet marks the sum
Of our career—past, present, and to come.
Its current value, too (to this attend),
Must on our working of that sum depend.
In fact, its origin, its age, its death,
May be explained away in one word's breath;
Though of enigmas it must ever be
To human minds the greatest mystery?
17.
MY name's a paradox to you,
Expressing what I'd fain not do,
For constancy's my aim;
I'm really such a loving elf,
To you I would attach myself
With ardor aye the same.
18.
SOMETIMES, a minister of state,
Scarlet and gold I wear;
Faith o'er the world I circulate
In many a form that's fair.
No mediator ever aids
The mortal in distress,
Howe'er the tyrants of the earth
His spirit may oppress,
As I successfully can do.
Whene'er he's destitute,
Then finds he me a comforter,
Where worldly friends are mute.
For I can raise his mind above
The vanities of life;
Can banish all its jealousies,
Extinguish all its strife;
Can mitigate the miseries
Attendant on the poor;
And wretches, all disconsolate,
With radiant hope allure.
19.
MY character consider well,
The deadliest quarrel I can quell,
When folks by me are led;
For satisfaction I can give
To all who'd not dishonored live,
And e'en avenge the dead.
I'm dull and heavy, yet at need
You may accelerate my speed,
Upon a hostile course;
Destruction's ever my good aim,
Yet I've an honorable fame
For equalizing force.