6 · January 6th
I know of one steadfast standing in place,
Both deaf and dumb who daily swallows
Grand gifts from a servant’s hand.
A dark-stained thane brings her treasure,
A fortune finer than gold. Many seek this marvel
For profit and pleasure — kings, queens, princes…
I will not yet give a name to that race of shapers
Who make riches which this rash lady readily swallows.
What am I?
The first thing that comes to mind is Lady Justice.
Does your Lady Justice take bribes, then? From the nobility?
Ah, but you said profit and not bribes. Profit needn’t be financial.
A book illuminated by a scribe.
I like this, Ian! I can just picture the monk working by candlelight. The Name of the Rose dances in my head.
The thane’s hands are dark-stained by ink and pigments. The race of shapers would include monks, sitting by candlelight, if you will. What does the shaper do with the book?
That makes me think of a book shelf/library but now I think the answer is wine in a wine bottle?
A burial mound.
Interesting line of thought. A grave mound is finished at one time – nothing daily about it. The shapers are grave robbers?
A library? Particularly one that holds history books?
It’s part of a library.
Mary by email: Riddle 6
I think Richard is on to something with burial mound. My next thought was a dragon lair.
See Richard’s comment above. As to dragon lair, dragons usually are not deaf nor dumb.
Well all that makes me think of the bookshelf. That holder of knowledge. Now the internet…
I agree. However, since retirement my bookshelves tend more to pleasure than profit. And yet pleasure can be profit, yes? I do keep wondering why the lady is rash, though.
You’re all on it. A bookcase is the absolute answer. I didn’t realize how the thinking on riddle #5 would actually be close to this one.
I keep thinking of the book of Kells, in the way it was buried to be saved from destruction. And I think other valuable books & mss. were often contained in little “caskets,” often bejeweled. So I’m going to take Bejeweled Book Caskets for $100. 😄
A printing press, mayhap?
The pages of a book or manuscript.
The shapers are the scribes, shapers of letters on parchment or perhaps of runes on stones.
You’re all on it. A bookcase is the absolute answer. I didn’t realize how the thinking on riddle #5 would actually be close to this one.
Chuck, I’ve loved these riddles and seeing everyone’s ingenious guesses and comments and your hints and encouragements! Thank you for giving us all this Christmas/New Year gift.
You’re welcome.
I agree. How about equinox riddles as well! I will miss these discussions.
I could finaly see the answer by Ian’s answers and your clues, but still I am having a hard time seeing bookshelf in every line! Great fun, I didn’t get to open and read all the riddles before answer was reveled but I did have a great time with all of this. Thanks Mr. Wilcox!
By email late last night I received this note from K Watkins:
“I went and found the original. …. From your hint, I’m pretty sure you favor the answer bookcase; but I find myself entranced with the answer oven … all the more if the “cyn” is not a race of bakers, but the one who, having become kin to all humanity, bodily supplied the bread “golde dyrran”. Might that be at once a suitably holy and suitably mischievous reading for Twelfth NightI”
My hints led the group towards bookcase as the answer, which hardly needed prompting because people leaned towards it anyway. I could have used a different hint that would have opened up the other traditional answer which is, as K identifies, an Oven.
I was trying to decide if I could choose another holiday for a few more riddles, and Shirley encourages me to do that. So Equinox riddles are a possibility.