The Project Gutenberg eBook of Classical Enigmas, adapted to every month in the year, composed from the English and Roman Histories, Heathen Mythology, and names of famous writers, by Anne Ritson.

CLASSICAL ENIGMAS, &c.

♈ Aries

Name the Queen of Old England, whose bigotted zeal,

Made her subjects the terrors of Popery feel,

Then that glorious example of goodness and grace,

The last Sovereign , who reign'd, of the true Stuart race.

The King , who unjustly the sceptre to gain,

Had his friends, and his kindred most cruelly slain.

Next him , whom the puritan party dethron'd,

And whose faults, by the loss of his head was atton'd.

Now name that bold King , who threw off the yoke

Treating the Pope, and his Bulls as a joke:

Who not from religion, but whimsey of passion,

Declar'd, that the Bible should come into fashion.

Place these Monarchs together, the first letters take,

When a Month in the year, they'll certainly make.

A. R.

♐ Sagittarius

That Monster of Rome , who no equal can claim,

For the crimes that for ever, have blacken'd his name.

Augustus's sister , great Anthony's wife,

Whom he left for that beauty, who cost him his life.

The Emperor , who thought it improper to lay,

When death call'd his soul from his body away,

Determin'd the summons undaunted to meet,

And was plac'd by his courtiers erect on his feet.

That Prince whom the Romans delighted to name,

As first of their race, tho' from Venus he came.

That Emperor gigantic, who for his ring chose

A bracelet, the wrist of his wife could enclose.

The harsh Roman Father , who sternly sat by

To condemn, and behold, his own children die.

The conquer'd , whom first Cincinnatus did doom

To pass through the yoke, for contending with Rome.

Last one of the Twins , who was nurs'd by a goat,

Yet founded old Rome, that great city of note.

Now take the initials , and put them together,

They'll tell you a month, that has often wet weather.

A. R.

♎ Libra

The Grecian fam'd for strength of lungs,

And voice as loud, as fifty tongues;

The Nymph , who answers every tone,

And sigh for sigh, when your're alone;

The Man who boldly did aspire,

To steal the sun's etherial fire;

Those regions dark , you now may tell,

Where wicked spirits ever dwell;

Then name the fields of bliss below,

Where we are told the happy go;

That King , whose vanity appears

Rewarded, with enormous ears;

The Wind , whose blustering looks inform,

He rides upon the raging storm;

And the lov'd wife , whom stories tell,

Her husband went to seek in hell!

Last name one of the Judges three,

Who bliss, or punishment decree;

On all who pass the Stygian wave,

By Charon ferry'd, king or slave.

Unite all the first letters well,

A month within the year they'll tell.

A. R.

♑ Capricorn

First name me the Cinque Port that's nearest to France,

Where the Despot of Paris, would like to advance;

But he fears with the billows of Neptune to strive,

Well-knowing, he never shall get back alive.

Now an Island , where in the same shire you will find

An University large, for great learning design'd;

The island the prayers of a Bishop can claim,

And the College boasts proudly of William Pitt's name.

Then a College in Bucks, founded long time ago,

By Edward the Sixth, as the records will show.

Now the birth-place of Henry the Fifth you may tell,

Who tho' wild as a Prince, as a King govern'd well;

Then name where the crooked backed Richard the Third

Was conquer'd , and where they his relics interr'd;

Then where in these modern times it is known,

To view the horse-racing, that Royaltys shown;

Last tell me that lovely unfortunate fair ,

Whom Henry the Second, protected with care;

Put these names together, perhaps you will find,

They'll tell you a month that to mirth is inclin'd.

A. R.

♌ Leo

Take the writer , whose size both of body and mind,

Were much more gigantic, than common you'll find,

Whose brains were employ'd for the good of the age,

And perfect the language, you find in each page,

Whether out with his Rambler, you venture to roam,

Or stay with his Rasselas, shut up at home.

When tired of his numbers, I'd have you to name,

A Bishop of Ireland, recorded by fame,

Whose writings will ever be held in esteem,

By those who make sacred religion their theme.

Next remember the writer , whose delicate lay,

Deserv'd from Apollo, a chaplet of Bay;

Who in Hagley's sweet groves, for his Lucy did mourn,

And wept with true sorrow long over his urn.

There is none but poor Shaw, with his numbers can vie,

Who so sweetly laments that his Emma should die.

Then last name the Poet , whose anguish and grief,

Seeks in sorrowful verses some little relief,

Who o'er his Narcissa, so young, and so fair,

Laments in a language, uncommon, and rare.

Place these sons of Parnassus, in proper array,

And they'll tell you a month that is cheerful and gay.

A. R.

♒ Aquarius

The God whom Artists always grace,

By giving him a double face:

The food divine, that's eat on high,

By all the inmates of the sky;

Also the Liquor , drank above,

Which Hebe hands, to mighty Jove;

He , who for fair Calypso's smile,

Forgot his wife, and native isle:

Now Thetis' son , who chose the strife,

Of warlike fame, instead of life:

That island , where we're always told,

The brass Colossus stood of old:

The time , no efforts can regain,

Tho' oft we spend its hours in vain.

Take the first letters and they'll tell

A month, when firing pleases well.

A. R.

♋ Cancer

The King , who was forc'd Magna Charta to sign,

Or his crown and kingdom, for ever resign.

The term which fair Scotland, with England did join,

And the Roses and Thistles, agree to entwine.

No king can I find, who will give my next letter,

So think of an Admiral , can you do better?

Then speak of the Trafalgar Hero whose name,

Stands high in the records, of glory and fame.

Then the pride of Old England, that Queen who alone,

Well guarded her rights, and protected her throne.

If you join the initials, perhaps you will find,

A Month in the year, when bright Phœbus is kind.

A. R.

♉ Taurus

The first Roman Emperor , whose forty years sway,

His people with pleasure, could always obey.

The General , whom Cæsar contrived to annoy.

And occasion his army in terror to fly,

By desiring his soldiers, their faces to wound,

Which soon made the combatants vacate the ground.

That Roman , whose firmness no sufferings could move,

Tho' destin'd the cruellest torments to prove.

The name of that Horse , whose vile master did say,

He wish'd he all Romans, could kill in a day.

The fair Roman Matron , whose cause to espouse,

The long smother'd spirit of Brutus did rouse.

These names plac'd aright, the first letters will tell,

A month in the year, most people love well.

A. R.

♓ Pisces 21

The fickle Goddess , false and blind,

To some profuse, to more unkind:

The Shepherd , who on Latmos height,

Was courted by the Queen of night;

The Maid , for whom Achilles swore,

He'd aid the Grecian cause no more:

Jove's mother name, and Saturn's wife ,

Who fled to save her infant life:

He , who when feigning madness try'd,

With care to turn the plough aside,

Nor o'er that furrow bend its way,

Where he beheld his infant lay.

The Queen , whom Jove with love assail'd,

And in the husband's form prevail'd;

The King , whose horses Diomed,

And grave Ulysses captive led;

And now conclude with that blest time ,

We should enjoy, while in its prime.

So place the initials, and they'll say,

A month, not quite so warm as May.

A. R.

♏ Scorpio 23

I would have you that great University name,

From whence many good scholars, have risen to fame;

Then where William the Conqueror , rested in peace,

And all his vexations in this world, did cease;

Then tell me the River , on whose verdant sides,

The noble, the merchant, the trader resides,

Whose opulent stream wild meandring flows,

Well laden with riches, to proud London goes:

Then where , the best medicine is to be had,

For those who are bitten, by dogs raving mad.

The fam'd Wells in Derbyshire, which we are told,

Tho' close by each other, are one hot, t'other cold:

That commotion , which troubles the bowels of earth

And causes confusion, when 'ere it bursts forth;

Then a place name in Berkshire, where Henry the first

Lays quietly resting, that Fates done her worst.

Join the first letters together, and soon they will make

A month, when its pleasant a ramble to take.

A. R.

♊ Gemini

The Bard , tho' wanting sight inspir'd,

Was with poetic rapture fir'd;

His noble strains, and verse to raise,

Singing of heaven, his tuneful lays,

In numbers born to lasting fame,

I beg you'll tell this writer's name.

Next him, another Author tell,

Who wrote in numbers soft and well;

Whose lines were tutor'd to convey,

To every heart the moral lay,

Whose Cato and Spectators shine,

With many beauties of the nine;

Now he , whose gloomy thoughts appear,

For ever damp'd with sorrows tear,

Whose discontented numbers show,

The cause, from which his murmurs flow,

And disappointment marks the name,

Of him, who grumbling sought for fame.

These writers, when their names yon know,

Will tell a month when flowrets blow.

A. R.

♍ Virgo

The goddess of the rosy morn,

Whose smiles with health, our cheeks adorn;

Then tell as quickly as you can,

The Poets much enduring man ;

The Youth who gave the cup on high,

When fair Hebe left the sky;

The Muses name , I'd have you find,

Most to astronomy inclin'd;

Then take the River , at whose sound,

The gods, eternally are bound;

The Muse , before whose comic eye,

Despair and melancholy fly;

The initials join'd, will surely find,

Amusement for your active mind,

And rightly plac'd, will soon appear

A month, within the circling year.

A. R.

KEY TO THE ENIGMAS.

Errata.

The first line indicates the original, the second how it should read:

p. 9 :

And sigh for sigh, when your're alone;
And sigh for sigh, when you're alone;

p. 23 :

Whose opulent stream wild meandring flows,
Whose opulent stream wild meandering flows,

p. 24 :

A month, when its pleasant a ramble to take.
A month, when it's pleasant a ramble to take.

p. 26 :

These writers, when their names yon know,
These writers, when their names you know,

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLASSICAL ENIGMAS, ADAPTED TO EVERY MONTH IN THE YEAR ***

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