So who's up for some seventeenth-century riddles?

1631 STC /1476:06

Riddles, jests and other merriments always sold well in seventeenth-century England.

Then, as now, people enjoyed a good laugh--being surrounded by plague, terrible sickness, fire, Puritans, etc may have had something to do with that!

When I came across A Book of Merrie Riddles--claimed to be "very delightful for youth to try their wits"--I couldn't resist offering a few to YOU.   Let's see what you make of these seventeenth-century jests.  First, I'll give you few questions with solutions. Then, I'll give you a few without; see what you come up with.

Question: I wound the heart and please the eye. Tell me what I am, by and by.

Solution: Beauty.

Question: When I did live, then was I dumb, and yield no harmony: But being dead, I do afford most pleasant melody.

Solution: Any musical instrument made of wood.

Easy, right?

Of course there are a few a little more inscrutable today:

Question: Who wears his end about his middle once in his time?
(I would let you figure out this one, but it's pretty contextually situated.)

Solution: A thief whose arms are tied with the halter, wherewith he shall be executed.

Hmmm....

So here are a few more...what do you think are the solutions?

Question 1: I do walk, yet I do not go. I do drink, yet no thirst lack;  I do eat, yet do not feed; I do wake, yet no work make.  What am I?

And another:

Question 2: I was not, I am not, I shall not be, yet I do walk as men do see. What am I?

**********************************************************
Let me know: Are you as smart as a 17th century youth?
I'll post the answers soon.....

---

       *********SPOILERS!!! Solutions ahead!!!***************


I figure that's sufficient space, if you're really concerned.

Question 1: so, so, SO LAME. The solution is "Someone moving about in a dream."

Question 2: so, so, so, SO, SO, SO LAME! (or fiendishly clever, you decide).  The solution is "A person with the surname of 'Not'."  As in Susie Not. NOT!!!