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A Riddle.

I Sawe a hill vpon a day,
Lift vp aboue the aire:
Which watered with blood alway
And tilled with great care,
Herbes it brought foorth
Of mickle woorth.

Pulling a handfull from that ridge

And touching but the same,

Which leauing neere vnto a bridge,

Doth cause much sport and game,

(A thing scarce of beleefe)

Lamenting without greefe.

Diana looking then towards her husband, said. Dost not thou remember (my Syrenus) that thou hast heard this Riddle that night, when we were togither in my vncle Yranius his house? And dost not thou remember also how Maroncius sonne to (Fernasus) did propound it? I remember verie well (said Syrenus) that he did put it there, but told not (as I thinke) the signification of it. But then I remember it (said Diana.) For he said, that the field was that part of the horse from whence they pull out his longest haires, wherewith the Rebeckes being strong, make a tuned noise, alâˆ£though they suffer neuer the more any paine or hurt. Seluagia said, that it was so, and that Maroncius Author of the Riddle, had told it for a fine one, although he had many more better then that. There are many pretie ones, said Belisa, and one of them is, that I will now put: wherefore call thy wits togither Diana, for this time thou shalt not escape scot free: and it is this.

A Riddle.

WHat bird is that so light,
Her place that neuer changeth:
She flies by day and night,
In all the world she rangeth:
Ouer the sea at once she flies,
Mounting aboue the loftie skies.

She’s neuer seene by eies,
And who doth seeke to show her
Hath beene accounted wise:
Yet sometimes we doe knowe her,
Onely the wals by viewing well
Of her close house, where she doth dwell.

Thy Riddle Belisa (said Diana) hath beene more vnfortunate then the rest beâˆ£fore; for I had not declared any of their significations, if I had not heard them beâˆ£fore now, and this which thou hast put, as soone as I heard it, I vnderstood it, which of it selfe is so easie and manifest, that any indifferent conceite (I thinke) is able to dissolue it. For it is verie cleere, that by the birde which thou speakest of, ones thought is vnderstood, which flies with such swiftnes, that is not seene of any body, but coniectured and knowen by the outward signes and gesture of the bodie, wherâˆ£in it is included. I confesse my selfe ouercommed (said Belisa) and haue no more to say, but that I yeeld my reasons to thy discretion and wit, and my selfe to thy dispoâˆ£sition and will. I will reuenge thee (said Ismenia to Belisa) for there comes an obâˆ£scure probleme to my minde, that hath posed the wisest Shepherds, which I will propound, and thou shalt see how I will grauell Diana, who shall not be so fortuâˆ£nate (I thinke) in expounding it, as she hath beene in the rest, and looking vpon Diana, she said.

A Riddle.
TEll me what Master he may be,
Whose Master is his man?
Bound like a sencelesse foole is be,