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قراءة كتاب Notes and Queries, Number 40, August 3, 1850
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
Lingua iv. 4. Old Plays, v. 5. p. 202. ed. 1780.
On l. 924. (M.) Mr. Warton says this votive address was suggested by that of Amoret in the Faithful Shepherdess; but observes that "the form and subject, rather than the imagery, is copied." In the following maledictory address from Ph. Fletcher's 2nd eclogue, st. 23., the imagery is precisely similar to Milton's, the good and evil being made to consist in the fulness or decrease of the water, the clearness or muddiness of the stream, and the nature of the plants flowing on its banks:—
"But thou, proud Chame, which thus hast wrought me spite,
Some greater river drown thy hatefull name;
Let never myrtle on thy banks delight;
But willows pale, the leads of spite and blame,
Crown thy ungratefull shores with scorn and shame:
Let dirt and mud thy lazie waters seize,
Thy weeds still grow, thy waters still decrease;
Nor let thy wretched love to Gripus ever cease."
P. 13. ed. 1633.
See also the "Masque," in Beaumont and Fletcher's Maid's Tragedy, Act I. vol. i. p. 17. edit. 1750.
On l. 936. (G.):—
"And here and there were pleasant arbors pight,
And shadie seats and sundry flowring banks."
Spenser's F. Queen, vol. ii. p. 146. ed. 1596.
On l. 958. (G.):—
"How now! back friends! shepherd, go off a little."
As You Like It, iii. 2.
On l. 989. (D.) See Bethsabe's address to Zephyr in tire opening of Peele's David and Bethsabe:—
"And on thy wings bring delicate perfumes."
On l. 995. (D.):—
"Her gown should be goodliness
Well ribbon'd with renown,
Purfil'd with pleasure in ilk place
Furr'd with fine fashioun."
Robert Henryson's Garment of Good Ladies. See Ellis' Spec. of Early Eng. Poets, i. 362.
FOLK LORE.
High Spirits considered a Sign of impending Calamity or Death (Vol. ii., p. 84.).—
"Westmoreland. Health to my lord, and gentile cousin, Mowbray.
Mowbray. You wish me health in very happy season;
For I am, on the sudden, something ill.
Archbishop of York. Against ill chances, men are ever merry;
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
West. Therefore be merry, cos; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus,—Some good thing comes to-morrow.
Arch. Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
Mow. So much the worse, if your own rule be true."
Second Part of King Henry IV., Act iv. Sc. 2.
In the last act of Romeo and Juliet, Sc. 1, Romeo comes on, saying,—
"If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep,
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand:
My bosom's lord sits lightly on his throne;
And, all this day, an unacustom'd spirit
Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts."
Immediately a messenger comes in to announce Juliet's death.
In Act iii. Sc. 2., of King Richard III., Hastings is represented as rising in the morning in unusually high spirits. This idea runs through the whole scene, which is too long for extraction. Before dinner-time he is beheaded.
Norfolk Popular Rhymes.—On looking over an old newspaper, I stumbled on the following rhymes, which are there stated to be prevalent in the district in which these parishes are situated, viz. between Norwich and Yarmouth:—
"Halvergate hares, Reedham rats,
Southwood swine, and Cantley cats;
Acle asses, Moulton mules,
Beighton bears, and Freethorpe fools."
They seem to proceed simply on the alliterative principle mentioned by J.M.B. (Vol. i., p. 475.) as common to many popular proverbs, &c. Two others I subjoin from my own recollection, which differ in this particular:—
"Blickling flats, Aylsham fliers,
Marsham peewits, and Hevingham liars."
These are four villages on the road between Norwich and Cromer. A third couplet alludes merely to the situation of a group of villages near the sea-coast,—
"Gimingham, Trimingham, Knapton, and Trunch,
Northrepps and Southrepps, hang all in a bunch."
Throwing Salt over the Shoulder.—This custom I have frequently observed, of taking a pinch of salt without any remark, and flinging it over the shoulder. I should be glad to know its origin.
Charming for Warts.—In Vol. i., p. 19., a correspondent asks if the custom of "charming for warts" prevails in England.
A year or two ago I was staying in Somersetshire, and having a wart myself, was persuaded to have it "charmed." The village-charmer was summoned; he first cut off a slip of elder-tree, and made a notch in it for every wart. He then rubbed the elder against each, strictly enjoining me to think no more about it, as if I looked often at the warts the charm would fail.
In about a week the warts had altogether disappeared, to the delight of the operator.
NOTES ON COLLEGE SALTING; TURKISH SPY; DR. DEE; FROM "LETTERS FROM THE BODLEIAN, &c." 2 VOLS. 1813.
Having been lately reading through this interesting collection, I have "noted" some references to subjects which have been discussed in your columns.
1. College Salting. Salt at Eton Montem (Vol. i., pp. 261. 306. 321. 384. 390. 492.).—I am not quite clear as to the connection between these two subjects: but an identity of origin is not improbable. A letter from Mr. Byrom to Aubrey, "On the Custom of Salting at Eton," Nov. 15. 1693, is in vol. ii. p. 167.:
"I could send you a long answer to your queries, but have not the confidence to do it; for all that I can say was only heard from others when I was at school at Eton, and if I should depend upon that, perhaps I should make too bold with truth. 'Twas then commonly said that the college held some lands by the custom of salting; but having never since examined it, I know not how to account for it. One would think, at first view, considering the foundation was designed for a nursery of the Christian religion, and has not been in being much above 250 years, that it is not likely any remains of the Gentiles, relating to their sacrifices, should in so public a manner be suffered in it; however, I cannot but own with those that understand anything of antiquity, that the Christians very early assumed some rites of the heathens; and probably it might be done with this design,—that the nations, seeing a religion which in its outward shape was something like their own, might be the sooner pursuaded to embrace it. To be free, sir, with you, I am apt to believe, for the honour of that society of which I was once an unworthy member, that the annual custom of salting alludes to that saying of our Saviour to His disciples, 'Ye are the salt of the earth;' for as salt draws up all that matter that tends to putrefaction, so it is a symbol of our doing the like in a spiritual state, by taking away