VERY VERY VERY HARD!

Riddleman · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 595

ok, this is very hard, it was the worlds first riddle, according to the cource from which i got it from, so i dont know for sure, but i know the answer. Here you go Its a long one too.

Whilst digging in a 4,500-year-old burial mound at Xiaguan in Yunnan province in central China, a parchment was found sealed inside a clay vessel for its owner to take with him on his journey to his ancestors. The parchment talks of a traveller, getting lost on a mountain, and whilst seeking safety sees two old men sitting by a fire next to the entrance of a cave. As he approached, he overheard the last part of their conversation, and he later recorded it thus.

Mr Riddle puzzle me in and puzzle me out.
Riddle me dark from the cave to shout.
The question is easy the answer is not.
It lives in the future that has yet to arrive.
I would if I could I could not and died.
Had I have lived I would have not lied.

Mr Puzzle riddle me left riddle me right.
Puzzle me bright from the fire to light.
The answer is easy the question is not.
It lies in the past that time has forgot.
Do I just jest or do I jest not.
I know the truth do I or do I not.

What was the question and answer?

Master-Guy · New Member Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 1

question: What was the question and answer?
answer: What was the question and answer?

Riddleman · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 595

no

Unclever title · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 11:41 am Post subject:

I have my doubts at this being the first riddle. It is too complex, or maybe it is too simple...

It lies in the future, the answer to the question previously asked.
It lies in the past, the question to the answer just given.
The first stanza, Mr. Puzzle speaking, He is asking the question, in the dark cave so to speak.
the second stanza, Mr. Riddle speaking, He is answering the question with the light of knowledge.

From this I will guess that the Question is something simple and universal like "What is the answer?"
The answer is probably cryptic and causes one to look inside themselves, like "Wha is the question?"

This is almost too close to Hitchhiker's... But am I close?

Unclever title · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 11:49 am Post subject:

I have my doubts at this being the first riddle. It is too complex, or maybe it is too simple...

It lies in the future, the answer to the question previously asked.
It lies in the past, the question to the answer just given.
The first stanza, Mr. Puzzle speaking, He is asking the question, in the dark cave so to speak.
the second stanza, Mr. Riddle speaking, He is answering the question with the light of knowledge.

From this I will guess that the Question is something simple and universal like "What is the answer?"
The answer is probably cryptic and causes one to look inside themselves, like "Wha is the question?"

This is almost too close to Hitchhiker's... But am I close?

Riddleman · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 595

well according to the source, no ones right so far

PepperMcCoy · New Member Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Nevada

Question: What is the future?
Answer: (the past repeates itself) so the future is the past?

This is my best anser.

Riddleman · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 595

no...no right answers so far

Blaze · Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 2:30 am Post subject:

Im pretty sure the question and answer to this is

Question : Is God real?

Answer : You wont know until you die.

its something like that...

Riddleman · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 595

blaze got it