A LATIN WORD SQUARE.
Reading edition
BY H.
My first was highly prized of old; They thought the future it foretold, And nothing did without it; But now we listen with a smile When once 'tis mentioned in a while, And hardly think about it. My second has no proper hue, Though white, red, yellow, black, and blue, 'Tis called by one or t'other. We pass it over night and day, And yet when man becomes its prey They swallow each the other. My second backward spells my third, And shows what magic's in a word. It makes a part of being. 'Tis singular, and yet 'tis true, Imperfect as it is, to you It shows how time is fleeing. Now take my first, reverse its spell, 'Twill make my fourth; and he, note well, Could solve the problems mighty— To square the circle, change to gold, Perpetual motion to unfold, And make elixir vitæ.