Poems on several subjects

A family of five, I hear,
Dwelt in a house together,
And two of them, as doth appear,
Had each of them a mother,
Grand-father, father, uncle, aunt,
A brother, and a sister;
All this is true; and Truth, all grant,
No mortals can resist her.

[_]

Exp. Lot's family in the cave.

V.

In days of yore I was but one,
But now in number more;
Though one cannot increase alone,
Yet I exceed threescore.

[_]

Exp. Language in the ark.

VI.

I am beyond all human reach,
Yet man I do direct;
I knowledge to the wise men teach,
Salvation to inspect.

[_]

Exp. A star.

VII.

I am ambitious to obtain
A certain pitch of glory;

I fail so soon's my end I gain,
And yet I am not sorry.

[_]

Exp. The moon.

VIII.

I wear a robe of colours true,
Yet dy'd by no man's hand;
When I appear, I favour shew
Both unto sea and land.

[_]

Exp. The rainbow.

IX.

Though I be aged but one night,
My rev'rend head is hoary;
But soon as I see Phoebus bright,
I'm robb'd of all my glory.

[_]

Exp. Hoarfrost.

X.

I make the cowards fly for fear,
Yet I'm a friend in need;
I make the dubious causes clear;
Ill doers all me dread.

[_]

Exp. The sword, or magistrate.

XI.

A gloomy aspect I do wear,
Yet all men welcome me;
They need not sow, nor could they ear,
If I should absent be.

[_]

Exp. Rain and dew.

XII.

I do both feed and clothe mankind,
Secure and bound their lands;
And in my owner's cause, though blind,
What I fay firmly stands.

[_]

Exp. A sheep, whose shin is parchment.

XIII.

I'm absolute beyond man's pow'r,
Yet man did me command;
Bent on my journey from my bow'r,
He made me stop and stand.

[_]

Exp. The sun commanded by Joshua .

XIV.

What I was once I am not now,
And yet the same I am;
I labour for myself and you,
Yet know not of the same.

[_]

Exp. An Ox.

XV.

I'm solitary, without the sun,
And yet a friend to love;
Respect of beauty is not shown,
Until that I remove:
Nor man nor beast could long subsist
Without my helping hand;
My stay oft in twelve hours consist,
And yet I never stand.

[_]

Exp. The night, or sleep.

XVI.

I am descended from above,
By an immortal line;
I freely teach the art of love,
Help prophets to divine.
My art is what cannot be taught
To any mortal man;
Yet freely I impart my thought
To any that me scan.
I'm neither seen, nor can be felt,
Yet obvious to see;
With men I am but harshly dealt,
Yet their delight's in me.

[_]

Exp. Music, or poetry.

XVII.

I have twelve sons, and ev'ry son
Had thirty daughters fair;
And these their daughters, ev'ry one,
Had children twenty-four:
Yet none of these fair daughters saw
Another in the face;
Their age exceeds not, I can shaw,
'Bove twenty-four hours space.

[_]

Exp. The year having 12 months, every month 30 days, every day 24 hours; days signify the daughters not aged above twenty-four hours.

XVIII.

I am man's chief and only friend,
And yet his greatest foe;
I love him dearly to the end;
To death with him I go.

[_]

Exp. Conscience.

XIX.

I cruel was, yet well esteem'd
Among both great and small;
But now I am almost asham'd;
Another fills my stall.
I us'd to wound, but now I doat,
Yet I am thrust away;
Whate'er I do, it matters not,
My rival gains the day.

[_]

Exp. Love out-rivall'd by money.

XX.

I am a mystery so dark
That no man can unfold it;
Yet those that search may gain the mark,
As clear as they can hold it.

[_]

Exp. The Holy Scriptures,

XXI.

I conquer'd am, yet conquer all;
I'm both a foe and friend:
A thousand arrows I let fall,
At once, among mankind.

[_]

Exp. Death conquer'd by Christ .

XXII.

But once with human voice I spake,
Yet was I not regarded;
Whom I reprov'd, though he me strack,
With muteness I referr'd it.

[_]

Exp. Balaam's Ass.

XXIII.

I never spake, yet so reprov'd,
Which true repentance wrought;
But I knew not, nor was I mov'd;
For why? I have no thought.

[_]

Exp. The cock, when Peter denied Christ .

XXIV.

I swiftly run, yet have no feet,
Where no man ran before;
My clothing's but a simple sheet,
Yet I have riches store.

[_]

Exp. A ship.

XXV.

I'm on the earth, yet reach to heav'n,
Although of human birth;
Whate'er I ask, to me is giv'n,
Yet I abhor this earth.

[_]

Exp. True prayer.

XXVI.

I'm no man's friend, and yet I have
In many's bosom place;
By many I am made a slave,
And yet I them disgrace.

[_]

Exp. Slander.

XXVII.

I have a precious thing within,
Yet I'm not fit for ought;
I fear not God, yea, sure I sin,
And thereof take no thought.

[_]

Exp. A man mortally drunk.

XXVIII.

I'm but a novice, yet I set
A trumpet to my mouth;
Though lies I tell at any rate,
It passeth all for truth.

[_]

Exp. False fame.

XXIX.

I am but one, but many made;
I'm public, yet unknown;
Although the streets with peace I tread,
Yet few me rightly own.

[_]

Exp. True religion.

XXX.

Men bury me beneath the ground,
And yet their life I am;
And when I rise again, I'm bound,
Bruis'd, sent the way I came.

[_]

Exp. Corn made bread.

University of Virginia Library

Thirty Riddles, with their Expositions.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.