Riddle 40: Creation

Eternal is the Creator who now rules this earth with sustaining power and governs this world; mighty is the Monarch and rightly King, Master of all; He rules and governs earth and heaven even as these He encompasses. He created me wondrously in the beginning when He first established this earth; bade me dwell long at my vigil, so that I never sleep after, and suddenly sleep comes upon me, my eyes are closed in haste. The mighty Lord everywhere guides this earth with his power; so I at the Ruler's word include all this world. I am so timid, that a spectre, swift-moving, can boldly terrify me, and I am everywhere bolder than a boar, when enraged he stands at bay; none of the warriors upon earth can prevail against me save only God who governs and rules this high heaven. I am much fairer in fragrance than is incense or the rose, which in its pleasure springs so peerlessly from the soil of the earth; I am more delicate than it; though the lily is loved by men, bright in its blossom, I am better than it; so too perforce I always overpower the perfume of spikenard with my sweetness everywhere. And I am fouler than this dark fen which here reeks of disease. I guide all things under the sweep of the sky, according as my loved Father taught me in the beginning, that I must rule rightly thick and thin; hold the likeness of each thing everywhere. I am higher than heaven; the high King bids me behold his precious hidden things. I too see everything under the earth, the evil foul dens of malignant spirits. I am older by far than this world or this earth could become, and yesterday I was born a babe from my mother's womb, renowned among men. I am fairer than adornments of gold, though man gird it about with wires; I am meaner than this foul wood or this sea-weed which lies here cast away. I am everywhere broader than the earth, and wider than this green wold; a hand can enclose me, and three fingers can with ease clasp me all about. I am harder and colder than the hard frost, the fierce rime, when it comes to earth; I am hotter than the darting shining light, the fire of Vulcan. I am yet sweeter on the palate than the bread of bees mingled with honey; I am also more bitter than is wormwood which stands grey in the copses. I can eat more mightily and hold my own with an ancient giant in gorging; and I always can live happily, though I never see food. I can fly faster than ever could pernex or eagle or hawk; there is no zephyr or coursing wind which can sweep so swiftly everywhere; the snail is speedier than I, the earthworm more nimble and the fen-frog faster in his journey; the son of the dung whom we call the weevil is more rapid in his going. Far heavier am I than the grey stone or the great mass of lead; I am much lighter than this little worm which goes here dry-foot on the flood. I am harder than flint which drives this fire out of this strong hard steel; I am far softer than down which is wind-blown here in the air. I am everywhere broader than the earth and wider than this green wold. I easily embrace everything at a distance, curiously woven with wondrous power. There is no other creature below me in this mighty earthly life; I am above all beings whom our Ruler created, who alone can mightily tame me with eternal power, so that I shall not be puffed up with pride. I am greater and stronger than the mighty whale which views with dim vision the depth of the sea; I am more powerful than he; likewise am I slighter in my strength than the hand-worm which the children of men, the sages, dig with a knife. I have no fair locks on my head, delicately curled, but am bald far and wide; nor could I enjoy eyelids, nor brown hair, but the Creator deprived me of all; now curled locks grow wondrously on my head, so that they can shimmer very curiously on my shoulders. I am larger and stouter than fattened swine, the grunting pig, which, dark-coloured, lived joyously rooting in the beech-wood, so that he . . .