Guess This!

In view of the fact that I've been wading through Middle English poetry of late, I thought I'd throw in a riddle this week. There are over 80 Anglo-Saxon Riddles left to us, most of them found in the Exeter Book (Manuscript). The language and use of metaphor are both quite fine - Enjoy!


Biþ foldan dæl fægre gegierwed
Part of the earth grows lovely and grim

mid þy heardestan ond mid þy scearpestan
With the hardest and fiercest of bitter-sharp

ond mid þy grymmestan gumena gestreona--
Treasures--felled, cut, carved,

corfen, sworfen, cyrred, þyrred,
Bleached, scrubbed, softened, shaped,

bunden, wunden, blæced, wæced,
5 Twisted, rubbed, dried, adorned,
5
frætwed, geatwed, feorran læded
Bound, and borne off to the doorways of men--

to durum dryhta. Dream bið in innan
This creature brings in hall-joy, sweet

cwicra wihta, clengeð, lengeð,
Music clings to its curves, live song

þara þe ær lifgende longe hwile
Lingers in a body where before bloom-wood

wilna bruceð ond no wið spriceð,
10 Said nothing. After death it sings
10
ond þonne æfter deaþe deman onginneð,
A clarion joy. Wise listeners

meldan mislice. Micel is to hycganne
Will know what this creature is called.

wisfæstum menn, hwæt seo wiht sy.

Do you know what it is? If you're really stumped, click Here.

What Job Saw...

I just wanted to share a little treasure from Job that I happened upon a little while ago. In the midst of universal derision, immense personal loss, physical deterioration and mental anguish, he says:
"Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written ! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:22-27
This foreshadowing of Christ's coming and the Resurrection of the Body is astounding. This is the 'fool's hope' that is only vaguely hinted at in the Old Testament, and totally foreign to the greatest of the early Greek philosophers and poets. This proclamation must have come down like a hammer, breaking all around him into pieces - for who could really comprehend such a seemingly presumptuous (if not insane) assertion? And yet Job remains unmoved. His innocence and faith preserve hom from the blow that his hearers no doubt felt, but did not understand. I can just imagine old Job waiting patiently for what seemed like ages down in Sheol, and saying upon Christ's glorious arrival: "Praised be my suffering Lord! I knew you'd come." And that is what I hope to say when He comes again.
(To hear G.K.C. say all this and more ten times better, enter here.

Is There Anyone Out There Who...

The time: 5:15 Matinee
The place: Any local small theatre
The movie: Pride & Prejudice (yes, yes, the new one)
The review: Well, see, there's the tough part. Is there anyone out there who has seen this movie and relishes its swift but bracing beauty? Granted, it is much shorter than the A&E version, thus less dense - but, shouldn't we try to see if it can stand on its own two feet? I admit I was critical at first, and spent much of the movie trying to sift through some 'Americanisations' (quick scene changes, short dialogue, earthy qualities/characters)to discover its heart, and I found it to be quite genuine. What I thought at first to be simply bad acting was really certain characters fighting their own social awkwardness - a thing rarely done well in Hollywood. In a world where everybody knows exactly what to say when, this movie gets under the skin of real life, where we feel most the burden and the blessing of trying to find and say the right words at the right time (ei. see Darcy). Therein lies the chief romance. As for the character of Elizabeth (scathing remarks of Kiera Knightly aside), I did appreciate her liveliness and quick spirit, even if it was a bit girlish. We often imagine a 'mature' Elizabeth who is somehow above most of her peers, but in this character we are able to see the shock with which she realizes the error of her own assumptions as well as the growth that takes place afterwards. The discussion she has with her father after Darcy's proposal is especially touching - and more than just sentimental. There is a point where one feels tempted to reach out and grasp the beauty there. Is there such a thing as earthy sublimity? That is, at least, what seemed to be present. Overall, I must say I liked the movie very much, and even more the second time, but for different reasons than the 6-hour masterpiece. Yes, in this version the characters were rough-hewn, weak-tongued, and short-lived - but aren't we all in some way or another?

Tolkien & Romance...

Just thought I'd pass this little tidbit along. I am currently reading The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft, and came upon part of a letter that Tolkien wrote to his son, Michael, on the Medieval Courtly Love Tradition. It is remarkably refreshing, in the sense that he is telling the truth without losing sight of the ideal. It is as follows:
"The romantic chivalric tradition...can be very good, since it takes...fidelity, and so self-denial, "service", courtesy, honour, and courage. Its weakness is, of course, that...its centre was not God, but imaginary Deities, Love and the Lady...This is, of course, false and at best make-believe....It takes the young man's eye off women as they are, as companions in shipwreck not guiding stars." (p.103-4) This premise does not, however, include one Lady who serves as both.
jmj

The Five Obses- I Mean Habits...

Alright, I've come up with the list of various quirks that Whiskey Mike has asked us to share, but I'm afraid the command to tag five others will have to go unheeded, as there are none left to receive such an honor. Here goes:


1.Double-checking: Call it what you will (OCD?), but I always have a nagging desire to double, sometimes triple, check everything I do that bears some degree of romantic finality. Looking at a letter before dropping it in the mailbox, reading directions at least twice over(from road maps to recipes), checking to see that my e-mails have indeed been 'sent', performing the same math problem a number of times,that sort of thing. It may be a bit compulsive and unnecessary, but I justify it by reminding myself that I'm also extremely absent-minded, and tend to do these sort of things wrong the first time. :)

2.Going through grocery stores backwards: OK, I don't know why, but I usually begin with the frozen food sections of most grocery stores, and end in the fruit aisle. This is not very logical, as it allows more time for your ice cream to melt, but I do believe it is my favorite aisle in the place. There may be something to be said for the subconscious here.

3.Keeping boxes: I am notorious for keeping all sorts of boxes and bags around in the hopes that they will come in handy for presents, projects, etc. After Christmas or a Birthday party, for example, the mere presence of all those empty boxes fills me with an exuberance that defies explanation - I must keep them all, I simply must.

4.Delight in anti-bacterial agents/cleaning: Deep down, there rages a war - on the countertops, in the bathroom, over the floors. Millions of microbes vying for mastery over our sinks, our showers, yes, even our doorknobs. That is why I keep a private arsenal of various chemically-enhanced ballistics designed to obliterate all forms of bellicose bacteria. These aggressors need to be met head-on at least once a week, sometimes twice, especially if certain battalions have been augmented by spilled foods or some common household disaster (Fridge going out) - they'll take all they can get. And the war rages ever on...

5.C.B.S.- Chronic Baking Syndrome: I will let this one explain itself, as most of you know my propensity for providing certain delectables at a moment's notice. More often than not, this 'notice' arises from an inner desire to please; but I deserve no thanks, for you cannot fathom the utter delight involved in preparing such pleasures.

Just a Little Bit of Poetry...

Though the Christmas season is somewhat behind us, here is a little poem (of sorts) that may spark a sweet remembrance of holiday bliss...

"Swaddling Clothes"

With what words can I weave a
song-cloak fitting for your Grace?
To grasp the stars and fling them
feebly across the vast night-scape;
To crown your dome with the
Brilliant splendor that guides the wise,
And set the pearled orb beneath your feet -
Might be fair clothing for a Daughter of a King.
Or, perhaps the sun himself will suit
Your glory best - as he doth
Blind and bless all on whom he gazes
With the dawn's light livery of hope -
Whose beauty alone is known by what it shows,
And not in being shown.
What can I offer, dear Lady? For my
Words are soft and simple, and are
Too small to warm the littlest creature,
Much less the Mother of a King.

Therefore, with humble heart, I'll rend my words
And offer every one up to your pleasure -
For your sweet eye doth look upon my song
And fills it with a warmth beyond all measure.
Thus, grace, honor, praise become your hem,
And you make haste to clothe your Son with them.