Buch lesen: «Notes and Queries, Number 58, December 7, 1850», Seite 3
Queries
GRAY.—DRYDEN.—PLAYING CARDS
Although my question regarding Gray and Dodsley's Collection of Poems has only been half answered, and my two Queries respecting Dryden's Absolom and Achitophel and Essay on Satire not answered at all, I am not discouraged from putting interrogatories on other matters, in the hope that I may be more fortunate hereafter. On each of my former inquiries I have still a word or two to say, and I do not know why I should not say them now.
First, as to Gray and Dodsley:—Is the epithet droning, or drony, in the first edition of the Elegy? and, as my copy of Dodsley's Collection is dated 1748, and is said (on the half title, preceding the whole title) to be "the second edition," was there a first edition in the same year, or in an earlier year, or was there, in fact, no first edition at all? This question is important, because several poetical productions, of undisputed excellence, originally made their appearance in Dodsley's Collection.
Next, as to Dryden's Absolom and Achitophel: Is it known, or anywhere stated, that it was printed early in the eighteenth century as a penny or two-penny chap-book, and why was it so printed? Observe, too, that it was unaccompanied by Tate's Continuation, which, as far as a lesson to the lower orders is concerned, was of more consequence than Dryden's portion. It is a circumstance I did not mention, but it is, nevertheless, worth a Note, that in The Key which follows the Address "to the Reader," in my edition of 1708, the character of Zimri (which was given by Dryden himself to the Duke of Buckingham) is assigned to Lord Gray, who was in truth the Caleb of the performance. Is it to be taken that the publication of this chap-book edition is merely a proof of the extreme popularity of Dryden's half of the poem?
My third unanswered Query referred to the Essay on Satire, commonly attributed to Lord Mulgrave and Dryden, but with which, as it seems to me, for reasons there assigned, Lord Mulgrave could have nothing to do. As a farther proof of Dryden's sole authorship, I may here add, what I have since found, that the Addendum to the first volume of State Poems consists of one thus entitled: "In opposition to Mr. Dryden's Essay on Satyr," treating it as only his: it begins,
"Now the reformer of the court and stage,
The common beadle of this wilful age,
Has with impartial hand whipp'd sovereign sin,
In me it is but manners to begin."
It sounds drolly, in our day, to hear Dryden called "the reformer of the court and stage," especially recollecting the attack upon him made just afterwards by Jeremy Collier. Then, what are we to say to the subsequent lines, attributed to Prior, which advert to the cudgelling Dryden received in Rose Street for his attack upon Rochester. Prior calls his own production A Satire on the Modern Translators, where he thus speaks of Dryden under his name of Bayes:—
"But what excuse, what preface can atone
For crimes which guilty Bayes has singly done—
Bayes, whose Rose Alley ambuscade enjoin'd
To be to vices, which he practised, kind?"
All the contemporary evidence, with which I am acquainted, tends to establish that Lord Mulgrave, instead of being the author of a satire which Dryden improved and polished, had nothing in the world to do with it. Is there any evidence, not contemporary, which shows the contrary? Surely this, and the two other matters to which I have above adverted, are interesting literary Queries.
Now to a subject that I care less about, and upon which I am entitled, from his published works, to appeal to your correspondent, Mr. S. W. Singer. It is a mere trifle, but upon a curious point—the history of playing cards, which may, however, attract more attention than topics that relate only to such insignificant men as Thomas Gray and John Dryden.
I have before me only four, out of what I presume originally consisted of fifty-two playing cards, unlike any I have hitherto heard of. Each of them illustrates a proverb, which is engraved at the bottom of a pictorial representation of figures and objects, and the cards consist of the ten of diamonds, the ace of hearts, the seven of hearts, and the eight of spades: the number is in Roman figures at the left-hand corner, and the subject, a diamond, heart, and spade, at the right-hand corner. I will briefly describe them separately.
The proverb illustrated by the ten of diamonds is "Hee's in an ill case yt can finde no hole to creepe out at;" and the engraving (upon copper) represents two men, with grey heads and in black gowns, in the pillory, surrounded by soldiers armed with halberds, partisans, spears, &c., of various shapes, and by a crowd of men in dresses of the seventeenth century. The ace of hearts illustrates the proverb "Look before you leap;" a man in a hat turned up at the sides is about to leap from a high bank into the waters, wherein two others are already swimming: in the background is a fifth man looking over the fence of a cottage. The seven of hearts has engraved at the bottom of it, "Patience on force is a medicine for a mad horse;" and it represents the female keeper of a brothel receiving whip-castigation at a cart's tail, a punishment frequently inflicted of old upon women of that description, as many authors testify: soldiers with halberds, &c., as before, march on either side of the cart, which at the moment is passing a house with the sign of the Half-moon hanging out from the wall by ornamented iron-work. The eight of spades is upon the proverb, "Two of a trade can never agree;" and in the engraving, a couple of fish-wives, who have thrown down their baskets of plaise, flounders, &c., are fighting furiously, while a man, behind, is obviously running away with something he has stolen from them: the background consists of gable-ended houses, part of a street.
These cards came to me from an old relative, who very likely once had the whole pack, or deck, as it was formerly called; but I never could find more than these four, and I have been unable to meet with, or hear of, any others like them. From the costume and other circumstances, I am inclined to think that they belong to the period of the Civil War, or rather later; and I remember, some years ago, to have been shown twenty or thirty cards of the latter end of the seventeenth century, founded upon public events, one of them relating to the celebrated "Virgins of Taunton Dean," another to the Death of Monmouth, &c. I shall be personally obliged by any information respecting the cards I have described; and, since a distinct Query may be desirable, I beg leave to ask any of your readers, whether they know of the existence of any other cards belonging to the same set?
The Hermit of Holyport.
Minor Queries
Pretended Reprint of Ancient Poetry.—In a bookseller's catalogue (J. Taylor, Blackfriars-road, 1824), I find mention of a work entitled Sundrie Pleasaunte Flowres of Poesie, newlie plucked from the Hill Parnasse the hand of P. M., and verie goodlie to smelle. It is said to have been "Imprynted in London, in the yeare of our Lorde 1576," and "Reprinted by Davidson, 1823." The bookseller's note records the fact, that "only TWO COPIES were reprinted from the original supposed to be unique." I do not believe that any work with the above title came from the press in the sixteenth century. Query, Who was the enlightened individual who produced the two copies?
Edward F. Rimbault.
The Jews' Spring Gardens.—In the newspaper called the Postman, Oct. 3. to 6. 1702, I read,
"At Milend the garden and house called the Jews' Spring Garden, is to be let. Enquire at Capt. Bendal's at Milend."
Can any of your readers, acquainted with the neighbourhood of London, afford me information regarding this place, which was probably one of amusement and promenade much used by the Jews, many of the wealthier of whom, at that time and long afterwards, resided in Goodman's Fields?
Y. S.
Cardinal Allen's Admonition to the Nobility.—Sharon Turner (Eliz., book ii. chap. xxx. vol. iv. p. 348.) mentions that there is a copy of Cardinal Allen's Admonition to the Nobility, &c., in the Jesuit's College at Stoneyhurst, and but a few others in England.
I shall be obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me where one is to be found. There is not one either in the Bodleian or the British Museum.
James Bliss.
"Clarum et venerabile nomen."—Can any of your correspondents inform me in what author the following lines are to be found? They are quoted by Burke in his speech on American taxation.
"Clarum et venerabile nomen
Gentibus, et multum nostræ quod proderat urbi?"
W. L.
Whipping by Women.—In the accounts of the constable of this parish for the year 1644, there are the following items:
Was it the usual custom for women sentenced to whipping to be consigned to the tender mercies of one of their own sex?
J. Eastwood.
Ecclesfield.
Lærig (Vol. i., p. 292.).—Have we not a relic of this word in the vulgar leary, used of a tough customer, one not easily taken in?
J. W. H.
MS. History of Winchester School.—
"In the year 1715, proposals were published for an exact account of the History and Antiquities of this College of St. Mary; and large collections are made for that end, now dormant in a private hand."—Rawlinson's English Topographer, p 63., London, 1720.
Can any of your readers tell me where this invaluable MS. (if existing) may be found? and also what became of the late Rev. Peter Hall's collections in manuscript?
Mackenzie Walcott, M.A.
Benedicite.—When a priest saluted or was asked for his blessing,, he said "Benedicite," Bless ye,—Domino, or, in worse Latin, nomen Dei. understood. Can any one say why Benedicat or Benedicimini was not used, as the use of Benedicite was intended to convey or invoke a blessing, not an exhortation to bless.
Peter Corona.
The Church History Society.—As one who feels greatly interested in the scheme for the establishment of The Church History Society, given in your number for the 2nd November last, and which you properly describe as "a proposal calculated to advance one of the most important branches of historical learning," will you permit me to inquire, through the medium of "Notes and Queries," whether Dr. Maitland's scheme has met with so much encouragement as to justify the expectation, and I will add the hope, that it may ever be fully carried out?
Laicus.
Pope Ganganelli.—There was a Life of Pope Clement XIV. (Ganganelli) published in London in 1785. It was a distinct work from that by Caraccioli. Can any of your readers inform me of the author's name; or is there any one who has seen the book, or can tell where a copy may be found?
Cephas.
Sir George Downing.—I should be glad to obtain any information respecting Sir George Downing, of East Halley, Cambridgeshire, and Gamlingay Park, or his family. He was ambassador from Cromwell and Charles II. to the States-General of Holland, secretary to the Treasury, and the statesman who caused the "Appropriation Act" to be passed, the 17th of Charles II. The family is of most ancient origin in Devonshire, and I have heard that a portrait of him is possessed by some person in that county.
Alpha.
Solemnization of Matrimony.—In the service of the Church for this occasion, on the ring being placed upon the woman's finger, the man is prescribed to say: "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow," &c. How is this last sentence to be reconciled with the law? or is the vow to be considered revocable?
A. A.
Abridge.
Passage in Bishop Butler.—In Bishop Butler's sermon "Upon the Government of the Tongue" occurs the following passage:
"There is in some such a disposition to be talking, that an offence of the slightest kind, and such as would not raise any other resentment, yet raises, if I may so speak, the resentment of the tongue, puts it into a flame, into the most ungovernable motions. This outrage, when the person it respects is present, we distinguish in the lower rank of people by a peculiar term."
Now I should be glad if any one could offer a conjecture as to the Bishop's meaning in this last sentence? I have shown it to several people, but no one has been able to think of this "peculiar term."
R.
The Duke of Wharton's Poetical Works.—Ritson prepared an edition of this nobleman's poetical works for the press. It contained nearly as much again as the printed edition of 1732. What has become of the MS.?
Edward F. Rimbault.
Titus Oates.—Can any of your correspondents refer me to an autograph of Titus Oates?
Edward F. Rimbault.
Erasmus' Colloquies—Apuleius' Golden Ass, Translations of.—Will any of your readers be kind enough to enlighten a provincial ignoramus by answering the following Queries:—
1. Which is the best and most complete English translation of Erasmus' Colloquies?
2. Is there an English translation of Apuleius' Golden Ass?
3. Is the French translation of the latter work considered a good one?
G. P. I.
The Molten Sea.—In 1835, Captain J. B. Jervis, of the Bombay Engineers, published at Calcutta an essay, entitled Records of Ancient Science, in which he endeavours to reconcile the discrepancy between the 1 Kings, vii. 23. 26. and the 2 Chron. iv. 2. 5. by proving that a vessel of oblate spheroidal form—of 30 cubits in the periphery, and 10 cubits in the major axis—would (according to the acknowledged relation of the bath to the cubit) hold exactly 2,000 baths liquid measure, and 3,000 baths when filled and heaped up conically with wheat (as specified in Ezekiel, xlv. 11.).
I do not possess any means of criticising this explanation of the difficulty, and having searched in various modern commentaries for a notice of it without success, I venture to submit it in your columns to the attention of others.
Tyro-Etymologicus.
"Sedem Animæ", &c.—Will any of your correspondents inform me where the following quotation is taken from:—
"Sedem animæ in extremis digitis habent."
It will be found in Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, folio edition (7th), p. 55., and in the 8vo. edition of 1837, vol. iv. p. 80. Burton cites it as from Sallust, but the verbal index of that author has been consulted in vain for it.
W. S.
Richmond, Surrey.
Old St. Pancras Church.—Old St. Pancras has always been a noted burial-place for Roman Catholics that reside in or near London; and it has been assigned as a reason for that being their mausoleum and cemetery, that prayers and mass are said daily in a church dedicated to the same saint, in the south of France, for the repose of the souls of the faithful whose bodies are deposited in the church of St. Pancras near London (England), where crosses and Requiescat in Pace, or the initial of those words, R.I.P., are found on the sepulchral monuments. It is said prayer and mass are said at St. Peter at Rome, also for the same purpose.
Can any of your readers inform me where that church is in the south of France; and when such prayers and masses were first said?
It is also understood that this church was the last whose bell tolled in England for mass, and in which any rites of the Roman Catholic religion were celebrated after the Reformation.
S. S. N. H.
