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In his introduction to "Solomon and Saturn,"
Dobbie notes that the riddling questions and answers of the poem are much in the
style of the
Old Norse Vafthruthnismal
in which Odin and the giant Vafthruthnir engage in
a riddlelike contest of wits.20 The questions in the Norse
poem are often cosmological and the answers riddles wrapped in myth. For example:
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"What is the horse called that draws up day
Each morning for mankind
"The sky-horse is Skinfaxi, Shining-mane,
Who draws the glittering day.
The greatest of horses to all heroes
His mane is a bright flame."
*
"What is the source of wind that wanders
The waves unseen?"
"The Corpse-Eater
Hraesvelg sits in the skin
Of an eagle at the end of heaven.
When his wings beat, wind moves
Over the world of men."21
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A similar riddle contest
takes place in the Icelandic Heidreks Saga (sometimes
known as the Hervarar Saga) where Odin in the disguise
of an old man, Gestumblindi, matches wits with the proud persecutor, King
Heidrek. Gestumblindi, accused of crimes, tries to escape royal judgment by
stumping the king with a riddle. The disguised god riddles while the king answers:
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*
"What strange marvel did I see without,
in front of Delling's door;
two things lifeless, twain unbreathing,
were seething a stalk of wounds?
This riddle ponder, O Prince
Heidrek!"
"Your riddle is good, Gestumblindi," said the
king;
"I have guessed it. Those are smith's bellows;
they have no wind unless they are blown, and
they are as lifeless as any other work of smith's craft,
but with them one can as well forge a sword as anything else."
*
Then said Gestumblindi:
"What is that creature, a cover to the Danes,
with back gory, yet guardian of men;
spears it encounters, to some gives life,
in its hollow hand a man holds his body?
This riddle ponder, O Prince Heidrek!"
"That is the shield," said the king.
"In battles it often becomes bloody,
and it is a good protection for those
who are nimble with it."
*
Then said Gestumblindi:
"Four are hanging, four are walking,
two point the way out, two ward the dogs off,
one ever dirty dangles behind it.
This riddle ponder, O Prince Heidrek!"
"Your riddle is good, Gestumblindi,"
said the king; "I have guessed it.
That is the cow."22
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[Now back to the frame of Sources
and Analogues or on to Varieties of Riddles]
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