SNAIL-EATING
(Vol. iii., p. 221.)
Snail-eating is by no means uncommon. When I was a youth I took a dozen snails every morning to a lady who was of a delicate constitution, and to whom they were recommended as wholesome food. They were boiled, and mixed up with milk. They were the common snail, usually found about old garden walls. A friend of mine, in walking round his garden, was in the habit of picking the snails off his fruit-trees and eating them raw. He was somewhat fastidious, for I have seen him take a snail, put it to his tongue, and reject it as not of a good flavour, and select another more agreeable to his taste. We are strange creatures of habit, especially in our feeding. I am fond of oysters, muscles, and cockles; but I do not think anything could induce me to taste a snail, a periwinkle, or a limpet.
B. H.
Snail-eating.—This practice is very general in Italy. While residing near Florence, my attention was often attracted by a heap of fifty or one hundred very clean, empty, snail-shells, in a ditch, or under a bush; and I indulged in many vain speculations, before I could account for so strange a phenomenon.
One day, however, I happened to meet the contadina coming out of my garden with a basket on her arm; and from her shy, conscious manner, and an evident wish to avoid my seeing the contents, I rather suspected she had been making free with my peaches. To my surprise, however, I found that she was laden with the delicious frutta-di-terra (sometimes so called, as the Echinus, so common along the Italian coast, is called frutta-di-mare); and thinking that she had been collecting them simply from regard to my fruit and vegetables, I thanked her for her kind services. But she understood me ironically, and, with a good deal of confusion, offered to carry them to the kitchen, apologising most elaborately, and assuring me that she would on no account have taken them, had not our cook told her that we despised them, and that she would no doubt be welcome. I asked her what in the world she intended to do with them? and, with a look of amazement at my question, even surpassing mine at her reply, she informed me that her brother and his wife had come to pay them a visit, and that, with my kind permission, she would thus treat them to "una bellissima cena." She had collected about three quarts, during a search of two hours. The large brown kind only are eaten. Among the poor they are generally esteemed a delicacy, and reputed to be marvellously nutritious.
Nocab.
SIR JOHN DAVIES, DAVIS, OR DAVYS
(Vol. iii., p. 82.)
The following additional particulars of this eminent lawyer and poet may be deemed interesting. In a letter from Mr. Pary to the Rev. Josiah Mead, of the 26th November, 1626, it is stated:
"Tomorrow, it is said Sergeant Richardson shall be Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir John Davis nominated to the King's Bench, because he hath written a book in defence of the legality of this new Loan."
In another letter of the 9th December, 1626, it is stated:
"I heard last night that Sergeant Davis, who it is said looked to be Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, in place of Sir Randal Crew, was found dead in his bed."
And, again, in a letter from the Rev. Josiah Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville, of the 16th Dec., 1626:
"This of the death of Sir John Davis, for aught I can hear, holds true. It is added, that he was at supper with my Lord Keeper that evening before I was told by him that he should be Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; but he lived not to see the morning. My Lord of Huntingdon rode up, upon this news, for he is his heir."
Ferdinando Lord Hastings, eldest son of Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, married Lucy, daughter and heiress of Sir John Davis, and in 1613 succeeded his father as Earl of Huntingdon.
Sir John Davis married Lady Eleanor, only daughter of the Earl of Castlehaven, and sister of the infamous Earl. She remarried Sir Archibald Douglas, and died in 1652. She was the lady of the anagram celebrity, "Reveal, oh, Daniel," and "Never so mad a lady." There is no doubt that she and her brother were as mad as could well be.
In a letter from Mr. Edward Rossingham to Sir Thomas Puckering, dated 4th January, 1636, it is stated:
"Sunday before Christmas the Bishop, Dean, and Chapter of Lichfield sent up a complaint against the Lady Eleanor Davis. It seems the cathedral church in Lichfield is lately very beautifully set out with hangings of arras behind the altar, the Communion table handsomely railed in, and the table itself set out in the best manner, and the Bishop's seat fairly built. This Lady came one Communion day, in the morning, with a kettle in one hand and a brush in the other, to sprinkle some of her holy water (as she called that in the kettle) upon these hangings and the Bishop's seat, which was only a composition of tar, pitch, sink-puddle water, &c., and such kind of nasty ingredients, which she did sprinkle upon the aforesaid things. This being the act of a mad woman, the Lords, to prevent further mischief, have given out two warrants, the one to bring the Lady to Bethlehem, the other to the keeper of Bethlehem to receive her. There are messengers gone into Staffordshire to bring her up."
It appeared afterwards she was so poor, that it became a question at the Council who should maintain her. She seems to have been wholly neglected by her second husband.
Sir John Davis and his lady are buried in the church of St. Martin's in the Fields, and the following are their epitaphs, from Strype's Stow, book vi. p. 72.:
"D. O. M. S. Johannes Davys, Equestris ordinis quondam Attornati Regis Generalis amplissima Provincia in regno Hib. functus. Inde in Patriam revocatus inter Servientes Domini Regis ad Legem primum locum sustinuit. Ob. 1626."
"Accūbat dignissimo marito incomparabilis Uxor, &c., 1652."
"Note.—She was the Lady Eleanora, the only daughter of the Earl of Castlehaven, Baron Audley."
W. H. Lammin.
Fulham, April 15. 1851.
LOCKE MSS
(Vol. ii., p. 413.)
In reference to an inquiry after MSS. relating to Locke, I enclose particulars of a small 4to. MS. volume in my possession.
Thomas Kerslake.
"MANUSCRIPT.—Locke's (John, an Attorney living at Publow, and father of the illustrious Metaphysician of the same name) Common-Place Book, containing Matters (relating to the Hundreds of Chew, Chewton, Kainsham, Brewton, Catsashe, Norton Ferris, Horethorne, Froome, Wellowe, Whitstone, Wells Forum, Portbury, Bathe Forum, Winterstoke, Bempstone, Kilmersdon, Brent, Hartliffe and Bedminster, Hampton and Claverton, and Phillips Norton Liberties, Glaston, Queene Camell, &c.) of daily use to him as Court Keeper to Col. Alex. Popham, a Magistrate and Leader of Parliamentary Forces in Somersetsh., variously dated from 1629 to 1655, all in the handwriting of the elder John Locke,—also many entries by other hands of other matters, in the remaining leaves of the same volume, many of which are probably in the handwriting of the afterwards distinguished younger John Locke, 4to. original vellum wrapper, 12l. 12s.
Contains:—
Entries of Bailments and Bindings over of Prosecutors in cases of Felony which occurred in the neighbourhood of Pensford, for the Assizes at Bath, Taunton, Bridgewater, and Wells, 1630-31.
Appointment at Bathe of Overseers of Woollen Cloth, 1631, for Chew, Dundry, Chewstoke, Ubley, Mids. Norton, Kainsham, Publow, Kelston, Mounton Coombe, Bathford, Bathwicke, Freshford, Weston, Froome, Rode, Beckington, Lullington, Berkley, Chew, Mells, and Leigh, Colsford, Hampton et Claverton, Batheaston, Charterhouse Hinton, with the names of the Overseers.
Scotch Postures (Humorous).
Names of the Tithings in the Hundreds of Chew, Chewton, and Kainsham.
Abp. Usher on the Liturgie and Episcopall Government, 1640.
The Sums of the Payment of each Tithing of the above hundreds of the 1st of 15th and 10th of the Subsidy of 3-15ths and 10ths to K. James, to declare war against Spain, 1623-4.
The Yearlie Proportion of the Severall Hundreds of the Easterne Division of the Countie towarde the releife of the Hospitall, 1632.—Ditto, Westerne Division.
The Yearlie Rate for the Maymed Soldiers of every Hundred and Libertie within this County of Somerset.
The Rate of Kainsham Hundred, with the amount of each Parish.
A Rate devised at Hinton in 1601, for the raising of 100 men for Ireland, with consent of the Bath Magistrates, and their names.
The number and proportion of Shipping within Englande and Wales, to be made readie against Mar. 1, 1635.
Hundred of Kainsham, Quarterlie Payment of each tithing to the Hospitalls and Maymed Soldiers.
A Rate made at Pensford 23rd Sept., 1635, for the raising of 160l.
The Assizes holden at Bathe, 24th July, 1637, before the Right Honble. S. Fynch,—the Names of the Justices (among whom are John Stowell, Ralph Hopton, John Horner, Rob. Hopton, John Harington, &c.), and the Names of the Grand Jury.
Subsidie 17th Charles:—A Particular how each Tithing within the Hundreds of Chew, Chewton, and Kainsham stands chardged, for the Reliefe of his Maties Army and the Northerne parte of the Kingdom, Thomas Hunt of Dundry, Collector.
The Protestation by Order of Parliament, 5o Maij, 1641,—with Jo. Locke's acceptance of the Protestation in the Parish Church of Publoe, 3rd Apr., 1642.
Kainsham:—The "Purblinde, Partiall, and Innovated Rate" of this Hund., 24th Sept., 1649.
Kainsham Hund.—A Rate for Ship-money—with the Particulars of every Tithing, Parish, and Particular Person chardged—contains the name of every rateable person in the parishes of Burnet, Preston, Stanton Drew, Stanton Prior, Salford, Publoe, Marksbury, Chelworth, Shrubwell, Belluton, Compton Dando, Farmborrow, Chewton, Whitchurch, Charlton, Brislington, and Kainsham, with the amount of this celebrated tax assessed to each person.
The Names of the Lords Lieutenants nominated by the Howse of Comons, 1641.
The Muster Roll of the Collonell Sir Rawfe Hopton, Knight, his Band of 200 foote Soldiers, within the Eastern Division, and Regiment of the Countie of Somerset.—Bathe, xxio xxijdo Maij, 1639.—(Contains, a List of the Officers, "William Tynte," &c.—a list of bearers of Pikes, with the Names of the Soldiers and of the gentlemen or tithings for whom they serve,—also a similar list of the bearers of "Shott.")
A list of Parishes in the Deaneries of Froome and Bedminster, with the name of the Clergyman of each, the arms supplied by him, and the Names of the men who bore them.
A Rate for raising £41-00-03 per mensem, in the hund. of Kainsham, for Generall Fairfax Army, 1648.
Several Papers relating to Differences concerning Rates between the In Hundred and Out Hundred of Kainsham.
Particulars and Value of Feer's Tenement, in Belluton, now in the possession of Henry Stickland, given in by him this day, 24 Dec., 1655.
Rente to my Landlord, Coll. Alex. Popham, out of the 3 Tenements I hold in Publoe, and the Lives thereon at the time of their obtaining, 1650.
A Receipt for his Rente at Publoe, 3. 8bris & 11 Dec., 1638.
The above are in the handwriting of Jo. Locke, the elder; in another hand, on blank covers, left by the former, are—Propositions on
Philosophy:—Phisicke, Ethike, and Dialectike.
De Providentia Dei et ad genus.
De Prædestinatione.
Propositiones Catholicæ.
N.B. One of the later chapters of the Essay on the Human Understanding is treated under propositions nearly identical with the leaf of the MS. which is described in the preceding four lines.
Copia Actus locationis Mensæ Dominicæ in Ecclesia S. Gregorij Civitatis London.
Character of Drunkenness (Rhyme), &c. &c.
At the end, in several hands, are various receipts: one in the elder Locke's handwriting, 'The Weapon Salve, and the use thereof, as it was sent unto mee as a most excellent and rare secret from my Cosin Alderman John Locke5, of Bristoll, in his Letter, dat. 5o Apr. 1650,'—also 'To make Shineing Inke', signed 'J L: Ox:'
On the last leaf is a record of the Births, Marriages and Deaths of the Locke Family, from 1603 to 1624, including that of John Locke, the father, 29 April, 1606."
Replies to Minor Queries
Defoe's Anticipations (Vol. iii., p. 287.).—Defoe had probably seen the English translation, or rather abridgment, of Father Dos Santos's Ethiopia Oriental, in Purchas's Pilgrimes (vol. ii. 1544, fol. ed.), in which some hints are given of the great lake (nyassi, i. e. sea) Maravi, which lies nearly parallel with the eastern coast, and was known to D'Anville, in whose map Massi is misengraved for Niassi. A very careful examination of the Portuguese expeditions across the continent of Africa has been given by Mr. Cooley, in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (vol. xv. p. 185.; xvi. p. 138.), and he has ascertained, approximately, the extent and position of that great lake, which, from distrust of D'Anville, one of the most exact geographers, had been expunged from all modern maps. It is considerably to the N. and E. of the Nyami lately determined, and of much greater extent.
Anatol.
Epitaph in Hall's Discovery (Vol. iii., p. 242.).—The work entitled Discovery of a New World, or a Description of the South Indies, hitherto unknown, by an English Mercury, imprinted by E. Blount, no date, 12mo., is not, as our correspondent supposes, very rare, nor is it by Bishop Hall. It is a free translation, or rather paraphrase, and an excellent one in its way, by John Healey, of Bishop Hall's very entertaining Mundus Alter et Idem, first published in 12mo., Francof., without date, afterwards reprinted with Campanella's Civitas Solis and Bacon's Atlantis at Utrecht, 1643, 24mo., and subsequently included in the edition of Bishop Hall's works by Pratt, 10 vols., Lond., 1808, 8vo. The epitaph quoted is not a satire upon any statesman of the time. The writer is describing the Land of Changeableness, or, as it is called in the Latin original, "Variana vel Moronia Mobilis," and gives in the course of his description this epitaph on Andreas Vortunius (a vertendo), or, as he is styled in the English translation, "Andrew Turncoate." The epitaph occurs in p. 132. of the Latin edition of 1643, and is evidently, as indicated by the marginal notes, an imitation or parody of the famous one on Æelia Lælia Crispis, which has exercised the ingenuity of so many writers, and of which our own countryman, Richard White, of Basingstoke, the historian, has given three different interpretations. See his Ælia Lælia Crispis, Epitaphium Antiquum quod in Agro Bononiensi adhuc videtur, a diversis interpretatum varie, novissime autem a Richardo Vito explicatum, Padua, 1568, 4to. An article on this epitaph and its various interpreters, of whom I have collected about forty, might be made a very interesting one.
James Crossley.
[We wish Mr. Crossley—than whom no one is more competent—would favour us with such an article. The following communication from Mr. Forbes is only one of several we have received, showing that the interest in this enigma is not abated.]
Epitaph in Hall's Discovery (Vol. iii., p. 242.).—When this epitaph is assigned to its right owner, it may perhaps throw some light on its twin-brother—the epitaph on "Ælia Lælia Crispis"—"about which many of the learned have puzzled their heads." (See Encyc. Brit., article "Ænigma.") I enclose a copy of this epitaph, which you can use or not, as you please. If you think that it might help to "unearth" Mister Andrew Turnecoate, you may perhaps like to lay it before your readers; if, on the other hand, that it would but increase the difficulty of the operation by distracting attention needlessly, you can hand it over to "the Editor's best friend"—the fire.
"D. M
Ælia Lælia Crispis,
Nec vir, nec mulier,
Nec androgyna
Nec puella, nec juvenis,
Nec anus;
Nec casta, nec meretrix,
Nec pudica;
Sed omnia;
Sublata
Neque fame, neque ferro,
Neque veneno;
Sed omnibus:
Nec cœlo, nec terris,
Nec aquis,
Sed ubique jacet
Lucius Agatho Priscius,
Nec maritus, nec amator,
Nec necessarius;
Neque mœrens, neque gaudens,
Neque flens;
Hanc,
Nec molem, nec pyramidem,
Nec sepulchrum,
Sed omnia,
Scit et nescit, cui posuerit."
C. Forbes.
Saint Thomas of Lancaster.—The following passage in Fuller's Worthies (of Yorkshire) does not seem to have been noticed by either of your correspondents who replied to Mr. R. M. Milnes' Query in Vol. i., p. 181.:
"Thomas Plantagenet. Before I proceed, I must confess myself formerly at a great loss to understand a passage in an honourable author, speaking of the counterfeit reliques detected and destroyed at the Reformation: 'The Bell of Saint Guthlac, and the Felt of Saint Thomas of Lancaster, both remedies for the headache.' (Vice Lord Herbert's Life of Henry VIII., p. 431.) But I could recover no Saint Thomas (saving him of Canterbury) in any English Martyrology, till since, on enquiry, I find him to be this Thomas Plantagenet. He was Earl of Derby, Lancaster, Leicester, and (in the right of Alice his wife) of Lincoln. A popular person, and great enemy to the two Spencers, minions to King Edward II, who being hated as devils for their pride, no wonder if this Thomas was honored as a Saint and Martyr by the common sort.6 Indeed he must be a very good chymist who can extract martyr out of malefactor; and our chronicles generally behold him put to death for treason against King Edward II. But let him pass for a saint in this shire, though never solemnly canonised, it being true of such local saints, what Servius Honoratus observeth of topical gods, 'ad alias regiones nunquam transibant,' they travelled not so far as to be honored in other countries. His beheading, alias his martyrdom, happened at Pomfret A.D. 1322."
It would appear from the foregoing extract that Thomas of Lancaster was never admitted into the Romish calendar of saints; though his memory was locally revered, especially for his opposition to the two Spencers, or Despensers, as they are called by Hume. This historian had no respect for "the turbulent Lancaster;" but the quaint old Fuller seems to have thought well of him.
As a bell-man I am more interested in the virtues of the bell of Saint Guthlac, than in the hat of Saint Thomas, and I take this opportunity of asking assistance from the readers of "Notes and Queries" towards a collection of curious anecdotes and information about bells, which I am endeavouring to make. Any contributions will be thankfully received by me.
Alfred Gatty.
Ecclesfield.
Francis Moore (Vol. iii., p. 263.).—That such a personage really did exist there can be little doubt. Bromley (in Engraved Portraits, &c.) gives 1657 as the date of his birth, and says that there was a portrait of him by Drapentier ad vivum. Lysons mentions him as one of the remarkable men who, at different periods, resided at Lambeth, and says that his house was in Calcott's Alley, High Street, then called Back Lane, where he seems to have enlightened his generation in the threefold capacity of astrologer, physician, and schoolmaster.
J. C. B.
Lambeth.
"Tickhill, God help me" (Vol. i., p. 247.; Vol. ii., p. 452.).—Although I am full late with my pendent, I am tempted to add the instance of "Kyme God Knows," well known to all explorers of the Fens. The adjunct, "God knows," is supposed to be part of the following verse:
"It's Kyme, God knows,
Where no corn grows,
And very little hay;
And if there come a wet time,
It weshes all away."
If I misquote, perhaps some Fen man will set me right.
As to the "Lincoln-heath where should 'un?" instanced by your correspondent H. C. St. Croix, in the No. for April 27, 1850, it is quite unknown in this neighbourhood, and I believe must belong to some other locale.
B.
Lincoln.
Meaning of Tye (Vol. iii., p. 263.).—On or contiguous to the South Downs, in Sussex, there are several portions of land bearing this designation, as Berwick Tye, Alfriston Tye, Telscombe Tye, &c. They are all contiguous to the villages from which they derive their names. These lands were formerly held in common by the tenants of the respective manors, and I think the origin of the expression may be traced to the tethering or tying-up of cows, horses, &c., for the double purpose of preventing their straying, and of preserving the fences of the neighbouring tenements. I offer this conjecture with some diffidence, because the word is very often found in composition with proper names of places, as Lavortye, Brambletye, Holtye, Puxtye, Ollantigh. The vulgar notion, that it means a space which originally measured ten acres, is, I think, untenable.
M. A. Lower.
Lewes.
Dutch Church in Norwich (Vol. iii., p. 209.).—Some interesting details connected with the establishment of the Dutch Church in Norwich, as well as the first settlement of the Walloons in that city, will be found in Blomefield's History of Norfolk, vol. iii. p. 282. et seq., edit. 1806.
J. Y.
The Dutch Church, Norwich.—Some account of this church may be seen in Burn's History of the Foreign Refugees, 1846. It is to be regretted, however, that the registers and acts of vestry are missing. The seal of the church has lately been discovered.
J. S. B.
Lost Manuscripts (Vol. iii., pp. 161. 261.)—In pursuance of Mr. Mackenzie's suggestions respecting the search for lost manuscripts, permit me to ask, if all hope must be considered as given up of decyphering any more of those discovered at Herculaneum, or of resuming the excavations there, that have been so long discontinued? Perhaps the improved chemical processes of recent days might be found more successful in facilitating the unrolling of the MSS., than the means resorted to so long ago by Sir H. Davy. Can any of your correspondents state whether anything has been done lately with the Herculaneum MSS.?
Eustace says that—
"As a very small part of Herculaneum has hitherto been explored, it is highly probable that if a general excavation were made, ten times the number of MSS. above mentioned (1800) might be discovered, and among them, perhaps, or very probably, some of the first works of antiquity, the loss of which has been so long lamented."—Classical Tour, vol. i. 4to., p.585.
J. M.
Oxford.
The Circulation of the Blood (Vol. iii., p.252.).—In a paraphrase on Ecclesiastes xii. 1-6., entitled, King Solomon's Portraiture of Old Age, by John Smith, M.D., London, 1676, 8vo., 1752, 12mo., the author attributes the discovery of the circulation of the blood to King Solomon. Mede also finds the same anticipation of science in "the pitcher broken at the fountain." Who was the first to suggest the transfusion of blood?
T. J.
Alliteration (Vol. iii., p. 165.)—Your correspondent H. A. B., in quoting the seventh stanza from Phineas Fletcher's Purple Island, observes, that the second line,
"A life that lives by love, and loves by light,"
is "noticeable" for its alliteration. But the best specimen that I have met with in English—after having read much verse, and published a volume, which my partial friends call poetry—will be found in Quarles' Divine Emblems, book ii. emblem ii. Beyond all question, Quarles was a poet that needed not "apt alliteration's artful aid" to add to the vigour of his verse, or lend liquidity to his lines. Quarles is often queer, quaint, and querulous, but never prolix, prosey, or puling.
"We sack, we ransack to the utmost sands
Of native kingdoms, and of foreign lands:
We travel sea and soil; we pry, we prowl,
We progress, and we prog from pole to pole."
Verily, old Francis must have had a prophetic peep at the effects of free trade, and the growing greatness of Great Britain, in the gathering of the Nations under a huge Glass Case in Hyde Park, in the present year 1851!
C. G.
Edinburgh.
Vineyards in England (Vol. ii., p. 392.).—The Lincoln "Vine Closes" may as well be added to the rest. They were given to the church here by Henry I. See the charter, entitled Carta Hen. I. de Vinea sua Linc., in Dugdale (Caley's) vol. vi. p. 1272. Their site is a rather steep slope, facing the south, and immediately east of the city. The southern aspect of our hill was celebrated long ago by some poet, as quoted by H. Huntingdon:
"Urbs in colle sita est, et collis vergit ad austrum".
N.B. One of the Abbey fields at Bullington, a few miles east of Lincoln, is known as the Hopyard. The plant has never been cultivated in these parts within memory, or the range of the faintest tradition, but the character of the soil is clayey, and perhaps not unsuitable. Were hopyards often attached to monasteries? The house at Bullington was of the order of Sempringham.
B.
Lincoln.
Countess of Desmond (Vol. iii., p. 250.).—If your correspondents on this subject should be wandering to the south-east of London, they may be interested in knowing that there are two very striking portraits of this lady in Kent, one at Knowle, near Seven Oaks; the other, which is the more remarkable picture of the two, at Bedgebury, near Cranbrook, the seat of Viscount Beresford.
E. H. Y.
St. John's Bridge Fair (Vol. iii., pp. 88. 287.).—I cannot agree with the conjecture that this was Peterborough Bridge Fair. On the confines of Gloucestershire and Berkshire, at the distance of about 77 miles from London, near Lechlade, and on the road to Farringdon, is a St. John's Bridge, near which was a priory or hospital. It is at this place that the Thames first becomes navigable. (Leland's Itinerary, vol. ii. fo. 21, 22, 23; vol. iv. fo. 48; Bowles's Post Chaise Companion, 1782, pl. 28; Lysons' Berkshire, vol. i. p. 193., and map of county prefixed; Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, vol. i. p. 320.; Parliamentary Gazetteer, art. "Lechlade.") Whether there is or ever was a fair at this place is more than I can state; but perhaps some of your correspondents dwelling in those parts can give information on this point.
C. H. Cooper.
Cambridge, April 14. 1851.
Paring the Nails unlucky on Sundays (Vol. ii., p. 511.; Vol. iii, p. 55.).—Compare Sir Thomas Browne's Vulgar Errors, lib. v. cap. xxi. § x.
Ache.
Errata in Braithwait's Latin Drinking-song (Vol. iii., p. 297.).—It is well for us that honest Barnaby is not alive to visit upon us the scandalous "negligences and ignorances" with which our transcript of his song abounds; and it is no excuse perhaps to say, that the errors almost all of them exist in the MS. from whence the transcript was made. Sensitive as he has shown himself "upon the errata's," he would not have accepted the apology from us which he makes for himself. "Good reader, if this impression have errors in it, excuse it. The copy was obscure; neither was the editor, by reason of his distance, and employments of higher consequence, made acquainted with the publishing of it."
"His Patavinus erravit prelis,
Authorem suis lacerando telis."
The following corrections, which are necessary to the sense, have been pointed out, and have no doubt been already silently made by many of our readers.
There may be other errors; for, as it stands at present, the song is inferior to the other known productions of the pleasant author of the Itinerarium. We can only hope that its publication, in even this imperfect form, may lead to the discovery of a better text; and we must be content if the lines of the author are applied to our blunders:
"Delirans iste Sapiens Gottam,
Reddit Coetum propter Cotem."
—–
"Quid si breves fiant longi?
Si vocales sint dipthongi?
Quid si graves sint acuti?
Si accentus fiant muti?
Quid si placidè, plenè, planè,
Fregi frontem Prisciani?
Quid si sedem muto sede?
Quid si carmen claudo pede?
Quid si noctem sensi diem?
Quid si veprem esse viam?
Sat est, Verbum declinavi,
Titubo—titubas—titubavi."
In the last line of the extract from "Phyllis and Flora," hinc is printed for huic; inpares, in the preceding line, is the correct reading for impares. "Impar richtiger Inpar" (Scheller).
S. W. S.