Construction:
Every stanza on this puzzle has the identical construction: Three traces of three phrases every, so 9 phrases in complete. A “window” would then be a 3×3 grid just like the one for noughts and crosses.
Magic:
However the many references to “magic” point out that this can be a magic sq., a 3×3 sq. containing all numbers from 1 to 9 ordered so that every one rows, all columns and the principle diagonals sum as much as 15. (The idea of a magic sq. is broader, however that is what we appear to have right here.)
The three×3 magic sq. has just one answer, however it may be rotated or mirrored.
Early chook:
The primary stanza is used as “fodder” for the riddle; these are the phrases that we should function on to seek out the reply. That’s indicated by the “first three” (traces) and confirmed by the trace.
If we take a look at the phrases, we see that the sequence “ear” seems usually, however that does not appear to be vital. We are able to additionally see that the phrases start with the identical letters because the numbers from one to 9 in English.
We are able to assign every phrase a quantity. The anomaly of the 2 t’s, two f’s and two s’s is resolved by the situation that the ensuing grid should characterize a sound magic sq.:
eight Early-birdone overridessix sluggard
three tear5 fallsseven out of the blue
4 concern9 nourishestwo tearSo the primary stanza describes this magic sq.
816
357
492
Reply:
A magic dwells in every starting.
It is a line from Herman Hesse‘s poem Stufen (Steps). I do not understand how broadly that citation is understood, however within the German-speaking world, it’s a widespread factor to say, usually cited out of the context of the poem. (I have never discovered an appropriate equal in English.) Additionally, that line could be thought of a “magical passage” of the poem.
Anyway, that is what we see right here: The beginnings of phrases point out the beginnings of the numbers of a magic sq..
