 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
65
Sarcasmus Ænigmaticus.
Hereto is added the following Riddle, with the occasion of composing it, as neither altogether impertinent to what precedes, nor to what is counselled by this Portion of Scripture;
Answer a Fool, according to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit,
Prov. 26. 5.
As well, to Foes, as Friends, I thought it fit
To shew this Poem, ere I publish'd it,
Because a Foe, sometimes, lets fall a word,
Which (heeded well) more Caution may afford
Then friendly Censurers: And, to that end,
When I to some had read what here is pen'd;
By them, proposed jeering Questions were,
Fit for no Answer but by Counter-jeer.
Yet I will Answer them, when unto me
This following RIDDLE, shall unriddl'd be.
To shew this Poem, ere I publish'd it,
Because a Foe, sometimes, lets fall a word,
Which (heeded well) more Caution may afford
Then friendly Censurers: And, to that end,
When I to some had read what here is pen'd;
By them, proposed jeering Questions were,
Fit for no Answer but by Counter-jeer.
Yet I will Answer them, when unto me
This following RIDDLE, shall unriddl'd be.
What
may that be, which, when it is Exprest
Is most Unknown? Is Worst, when 'tis at Best?
And when it is at Greatest, then 'tis Least?
'Tis Black and White, Red, Yellow, Blew and Green;
Yet, Understood, Felt, Smelt, Heard, Tasted, Seen;
Neither now is, nor shall be, nor hath been.
To any one, who tells me what it is,
That's answerable ev'ry way to this,
I do engage; and thereto set my hand,
To tell him any thing he doth demand.
Is most Unknown? Is Worst, when 'tis at Best?
And when it is at Greatest, then 'tis Least?
'Tis Black and White, Red, Yellow, Blew and Green;
Yet, Understood, Felt, Smelt, Heard, Tasted, Seen;
Neither now is, nor shall be, nor hath been.
66
That's answerable ev'ry way to this,
I do engage; and thereto set my hand,
To tell him any thing he doth demand.
George Wither.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |