THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
doing of it is made clear. Here be a cask of fine London ale, and
in my hands do I hold two measures—one of five pints, and the
other of three pints. Pray show how it is possible for me to put a
true pint into each of the measures." Of course, no other vessel or
article is to be used, and no marking of the measures is allowed.
It is a knotty little problem and a fascinating one. A good many
persons to-day will find it a by no means easy task. Yet it can
be done.
7.—The Clerk of Oxenfords Puzzle.
The silent and thoughtful clerk of Oxenford, of whom it is
recorded that " Every farthing that his friends e'er lent, In books and
learning was it always spent," was prevailed upon to give his
companions a puzzle. He said, '* Ofttimes of late have I given much
thought to the study of those strange talismans to ward off the plague
and such evils, that are yclept magic squares, and the secret of such
things is very deep and the number of such squares truly great.
But the small riddle that I did make yester eve for the purpose of
this company is not so hard that any may not find it out with a
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