His riddles shouldst thou fail to guess,
On thee he’ll loose his mastiffs strait;
Then will thy mangled limbs express
In language clear the wand’rer’s fate.”
“I am prepared for all his guile;
Let him begin forthwith his task!
And thou wilt find, that I have skill
To solve each riddle he may ask.”
“Nay! nay! thou dost, advent’rous youth,
Thy skill, perhaps, too highly prize: