# Riddle from Emma (Jane Austen) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 1999, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882 "1999-10-11T18:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/1 "1999-10-11T18:55:00Z")
In Jane Austen’s book _Emma_, she mentions the following riddle (Chapter IX): My first doth affliction denote, Which my second is destin’d to feel And my whole is the best antidote That affliction to soften and heal.– The answer to the riddle isn’t given. I’ve tried to guess the answer, but can’t think of anything. Help! P.S. The text of the novel can be found here. [http://promo.net/pg/query.html](http://promo.net/pg/query.html) * * * Jacques Kilchoer Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/2 "1999-10-11T19:02:00Z")
**Warning! Possible spoiler below!** … But only if I’m right … I think they answer is [whisper] love. Your first love is an affliction, but the wholeness of love heals it. Of course, I’m probably wrong, since I don’t know why your second love would feel your first. Too badski. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/3 "1999-10-11T19:33:00Z")
How about bleeding-heart? Bleeding is the affliction. Heart is the second that feels. Together they name a flower - These riddles are made up by heels! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/4 "1999-10-11T20:45:00Z")
Thank you Boris and aseymayo, but I don’t think those answers are what the author of the riddle have in mind. Here’s the best answer I’ve come up with so far (after thinking about it again 🙂 > [@](#): > > My first doth affliction denote, leak, because tears are a leak from your eyes. > [@](#): > > Which my second is destin’d to feel coeur, the french word for heart. > [@](#): > > And my whole is the best antidote > That affliction to soften and heal.– leak-coeur, or liquor. When you’re unhappy, the answer is to get drunk! Somehow that doesn’t seem like a Jane Austen sentiment though. * * * Jacques Kilchoer Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/5 "1999-10-11T21:17:00Z")
No Jacques, it doesn’t, but hey - it works for me! ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/6 "1999-10-11T21:39:00Z")
Okay, I guess I understand the riddle better now. My best guess is a brand name of a line of prepared foods … Hungry Man. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/7 "1999-10-11T22:00:00Z")
Here’s the real answer, courtesy of the Jane Austen Info Page. (But I warn you, you’re not gonna like it.) [http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/emmchrad.html](http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/emmchrad.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/8 "1999-10-11T22:04:00Z")
I like it! Do you think I could get a doctor’s prescription for this affliction? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/9 "1999-10-11T22:59:00Z")
Thank you, FP. (The sound you hear is me striking my forehead with my palm.) I can’t believe it was so **obvious** and I missed it! * * * Jacques Kilchoer Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riddle-from-emma-jane-austen/3882/10 "1999-10-13T04:33:00Z")
## Wow! Way to go Fret!! Good answer!! Strangers have the best candy.