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<DIV align="center">The Red Book of Riddles<br>
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<DIV align="left">This handye booke doth containe alle diverse manner of riddles and follyes, and, by means of carefulle studye, the prudente scholarlye gentlemane maye finde himselfe noe longer discomfited by the sharpe wite of his fellowes.<br>
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[The posing and puzzling of riddles is a convention of polite aristocratic Western society. Nobles and social aspirants collect books of riddles and study them, hoping thereby to increase the chances of their appearing sly and witty in conversation.]<br>
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The question:<br>
It has a tail, a side and a head<br>
I call it what I call a snake<br>
It has no body and it is dead<br>
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The answer:<br>
It must be a drake<br>
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The question:<br>
Poets know the hearts of Men and Mer<br>
But beasts can't know my heart, you see<br>
This book was written by a bear<br>
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The answer:<br>
It is not a book of poetry.<br>
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The question:<br>
I gave you a sock, not unlike a box<br>
With hammers and nails all around it<br>
Two lids open when it knocks<br>
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The answer:<br>
It must have been a great hit.<br>
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