Читать книгу: «Notes and Queries, Number 53, November 2, 1850», страница 4
REPLIES
FAIRFAX'S TRANSLATION OF TASSO
On referring to my memoranda, I find that the copy of Fairfax's translation of the Gerusalemme Liberata of Tasso, containing the third variation of the first stanza, noticed in my last, has the two earliest pages reprinted, in order that the alteration might be more complete, and that the substitution, by pasting one stanza over another (as the book is usually met with) might not be detected. A copy with the reprinted leaf is, I apprehend, still in the library of the late William Wordsworth; and during the last twenty years I have never been able to procure, or even to see, another with the same peculiarity.
The course with the translator was, no doubt, this: he first printed his book as the stanza appears under the pasted slip; this version he saw reason to dislike, and then he had the slip printed with the variation, and pasted over some copies not yet issued. Again he was dissatisfied, and thinking he could improve, not only upon the first stanza, but upon "The Argument" by which it was preceded, he procured the two pages to be reprinted. It is, however, by no means clear to me that, after all, Fairfax liked his third experiment better than his two others: had he liked it better, we should, most probably, have found it in more copies than the single one I have pointed out.
As your readers and contributors may wish to see "The Argument" and first stanza as they are given in Mr. Wordsworth's exemplar, I transcribe them from my note-book, because, before I gave the book away, I took care to copy them exactly:—
THE ARGUMENT
"God sends his angell to Tortosa downe:
Godfrey to counsell cals the Christian Peeres,
Where all the Lords and Princes of renowne
Chuse him their general: he straight appeeres
Mustring his royall hoast, and in that stowne
Sends them to Sion, and their hearts upcheeres.
The aged tyrant, Judaies land that guides,
In feare and trouble to resist provides.
"I sing the sacred armies and the knight
That Christ's great tombe enfranchis'd and set free.
Much wrought he by his witte, much by his might,
Much in that glorious conquest suffred hee:
Hell hindered him in vaine: in vaine to fight
Asia's and Affrick's people armed bee;
Heav'n favour'd him: his lords and knights misgone
Under his ensigne he reduc'd in one."
I own that, to my ear and judgment, this is no improvement upon what we may consider the author's second attempt, although I think that the slip pasted over some (if not most) copies is better than the first experiment.
THE HERMIT OF HOLYPORT.
SMALL WORDS
I stand convicted by the critical acumen of your correspondent [Greek: Ph]. of having misquoted the line from Pope which heads my "note" at p. 305. I entirely agree with [Greek: Ph]. that the utmost exactness is desirable in such matters; and as, under such circumstances, I fear I should be ready enough to accuse others of "just enough of learning to misquote," I have not a word to say in extenuation of my own carelessness.
But I entirely dispute [Greek: Ph].'s inference, and am unable to see that the difference detracts in any substantial degree from the applicability of my remarks, such as they were.
What does Pope's epithet "low" mean? Is it used for "vulgar" (as I presume [Greek: ph]. intends us to infer), or simply for "small, petty, of little size or value"?
To me it appears impossible to read the line without seeing that Pope had in his mind the latter idea, that of poor, little, shabby, statureless monosyllables, as opposed to big, bouncing, brave, sonorous polysyllables, such as Aristophanes called [Greek: hræmata hippokræmna]. After all, however, it would do me very little damage to concede that he intended the meaning which [Greek: ph]. appears to attribute to the epithet "low", for if he did mean "vulgar" words, it is evident that he considered vulgarity in such matters inseparable from littleness, as the "low" words must, if his line is not to lose its point altogether, have been ten in number, that is, every one a monosyllable, a "small" word.
Take it which way you will, the leading idea is that of "littleness;" moreover, there is no propriety in the word "creep" as applied to merely vulgar words, while words petty in size may, with great justice, be said to "creep" in a "petty pace," requiring no less than ten steps to walk the length of a line.
Pope was criticising compositions intended to pass as poetry of the best kind. Will [Greek: ph]. point out in any existing poem of such profession and character, a single heroic line, consisting of ten words, all which ten words shall be "low" in the sense of "vulgar"? Can even the Muses of burlesque and slang furnish such an instance?
Has not [Greek: ph]. suffered himself to be carried too far by his exultation in being "down" (the last-named Muse has kindly supplied me with the expression) upon a piece of verbal carelessness on the part of
K.I.P.B.T.?
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES
Concolinel (Vol. ii., pp. 217. 317.).—As Calen O Custore me, after sorely puzzling the critics, was at length discovered to be an Irish air, or the burthen of an Irish song, is it not possible that the equally outlandish-looking "Concolinel" may be only a corruption of "Coolin", that "far-famed melody," as Mr. Bunting terms it in his last collection of The Ancient Music of Ireland (Dublin, 1840), where it may be found in a style "more Irish than that of the sets hitherto published?" And truly it is a "sweet air," well fitted to "make passionate the sense of hearing," and melt the soul of even Don Adriano de Armado. The transmogrification of "Coolin" into "Concolinel", is hardly more strange than that of "Cailin og astore mo" [chree] (=my dear young girl, my [heart's] darling) into Callino castore me.
J.M.B.
DR. RIMBAULT'S communication is very interesting, but not quite satisfactory, not affording me any means of identifying the air. It would under most circumstances, have given me much pleasure to have lent DR. R. the MS., for I know no one so likely to make good use of it; but the fact is, that without pretending to compete with DR. RIMBAULT in the knowledge of old music, I have also meditated a similar work on the ballads and music of Shakspeare, and my chief source is the volume which is said to contain the air of Concolinel. It will be some time before I can execute the work alluded to, and I would prefer to see the Doctor's work published first. Whichever first appears will most likely anticipate much that is in the other, for, although Dr. R. says he has spent "many years" on the subject, the accidental possession of several MS. volumes has given me such singular advantages, I am unwilling to surrender my project. I have the music to nearly twenty jigs, and two have some of the words, which are curious.
R.
Wife of the Poet Bilderdijk—Schweickhardt the Artist (Vol. ii., pp. 309. 349.).—JANUS DOUSA will find a very sufficient account of Southey's visit to the Dutch poet Bilderdijk, in vol. v. of the Life and Correspondence of Southey, now publishing by his son. To the special inquiry of JANUS DOUSA I can say nothing, but I would fain ask who was Katherine Wilhelmina Schweickhardt? I have in my possession a series of eight etchings of studies of cattle, by H.W. Schweickhardt, published in 1786, and dedicated to Benjamin West. My father was very intimate with Schweickhardt, and I think acted in some sort as his executor. I do not know when be died but it must be thirty years since I heard my father speak of his friend, who was then deceased, but whether recently or not I cannot say. I am rather disposed to think the event was comparatively a remote one: he left a widow. Was Mrs. Bilderdijk his daughter? The etchings are exceedingly clever and artistical; my copy has the artist's name in his own handwriting. If I am not mistaken, Schweickhardt lived, when my father knew him, at Lambeth, then a picturesque suburb very unlike the "base, common, and popular" region which it has since become. B.T. Pouncy, another clever artist of that day, and a friend of my father's, resided there also. Pouncy published some etchings which, although not professedly views of Lambeth, were in reality studies in that locality. When I was a boy I remember my father pointing out to me the Windmill, which was the subject of one of them.
The Mrs. Bilderdijk who translated Roderick, was, according to Southey, the second wife of her husband. How did JANUS DOUSA learn that her maiden name was Schweickhardt?
G.J. DE WILDE.
Noli me tangere (Vol. ii., p. 153.).—In addition to the list of artists given by J.Z.P. (p. 253.), BR. will find that the subject has also been treated by—
Duccio, in the Duomo at Siena.
Taddeo Gaddi, Rinnucini Chapel.
Titian, Mr. Roger's Collection.
Rembrandt, Queen's Gallery.
Barroccio. An altar piece which came to England with the Duke of Lucca's paintings, but I cannot say where it is now; it is well known by the engraving from it of Raphael Morgen.
B.N.C.
Chimney Money (Vol. ii., pp. 120. 174. 269. 344.).—There is a church at Northampton upon which is an inscription recording that the expense of repairing it was defrayed by a grant of chimney money for, I believe, seven years, temp. Charles II.
There is also a tombstone in Folkestone churchyard curiously commemorative of this tax. The inscription runs thus—
"In memory of
Rebecca Rogers,
who died August 29. 1688,
Aged 44 years.
"A house she hath, it's made of such good fashion,
The tenant ne'er shall pay for reparation,
Nor will her landlord ever raise her rent,
Or turn her out of doors for non-payment;
From chimney money, too, this cell is free,
To such a house, who would not tenant be."
E.B. PRICE.
Passage from Burke (Vol. ii., p. 359.).—Q.(2) will find the passage he refers to in Prior's Life of Burke, vol. i. p. 39. It is extracted from a letter addressed by Burke to his old schoolfellow Matthew Smith, describing his first impressions on viewing Westminster Abbey, and other objects in the metropolis. Mr. Prior deserves our best thanks for giving us a letter so deeply interesting, and so characteristic of the gifted writer, then barely of age.
I.H.M.
Bath.
Nicholas Assheton's Journal (Vol. ii., pp. 331-2.).—If T.T. WILKINSON will turn to pp. 45, 6, 7, of this very amusing journal, published by the Chetham Society (vol. xiv., 1848), he will find some account of the Revels introduced before James the First at Hoghton Tower, in the copious notes of the editor, the Rev. F.R. Raines, M.A., F.S.A., elucidating the origin and history of these "coarse and indecorous" dances—the Huckler, Tom Bedlo, and the Cowp Justice of Peace.
J.G.
Manchester.
Scotch Prisoners, 1651 (Vol. ii., pp. 297. 350.).—Heath's Chronicle (p. 301. edit. 1676) briefly notices these unhappy men, "driven like a herd of swine, through Westminster to Tuthill Fields, and there sold to several merchants, and sent in to the Barbadoes."
The most graphic account, however, is given in Another Victory in Lancashire, &c., 4to. 1651, from which the parts possessing local interest were extracted by me in the Civil War Tracts of Lancashire, printed by the Chetham Society, with references to the other matters noticed, namely, Cromwell's entry into London, and the arrival of the four thousand "Scots, Highlands, or Redshanks."
These lay on Hampstead Heath, and were thence guarded through Highgate, and behind Islington to Kingsland and Mile End Green, receiving charity as they went, and having "a cart load or two of biskett behind them." Thence they proceeded by Aldgate, through Cheapside, Fleetstreet, and the Strand, and on through Westminster.
"Many of them brought their wives and berns in with them, yet were many of our scotified citizens so pitifull unto them, that as they passed through the city, they made them, though prisoners at mercy, masters of more money and good white bread than some of them ever see in their lives. They marched this night [Saturday, Sept. 13.] into Tuttle Fields. Some Irishmen are among them, but most of them are habited after that fashion."
The contemporary journals in the British Museum would probably state some epidemic which may have caused the mortality that followed.
GEO. ORMEROD
Sedbury Park, Clepstow.
Long Friday (Vol. ii., p. 323.).—T.E.L.L. is not correct in his supposition that "Long Friday" is the same as "Great Friday". In Danish, Good Friday is Langfredag; in Swedish, Längfredag. I have always understood the epithet had reference to the length of the services.
COLL. ROYAL SOC.
The Bradshaw Family (Vol. ii., p. 356.).—The president of the pretended high court of justice, a Cheshire man, had no connexion with Haigh Hall, in Lancashire. E.C.G. may satisfy himself by referring to Mr. Ormerod's History of Cheshire (vol. iii. p. 408.) for some valuable information respecting the regicide and his family, and to Wotton's Baronetage (vol. iii. P. 2. p. 655.) for the descent of the loyal race of Bradshaigh.
J.H.M.
Bath.
Julin, the drowned City (Vol. ii., pp. 230. 282.).—I am sorry I did not state more clearly the inquiry respecting the fate of Julin, which DR. BELL has been so good as to notice. This is partly the printer's fault. I spoke of the drowned, not the doomed city.
The drowning was what I desired some account of. "A flourishing emporium of commerce", extant in 1072, and now surviving only in tradition, and in "records" of ships wrecked on its "submerged ruins," does not sink into the ocean without exciting wonder and pity. I knew of the tradition, and presumed there was some probability of the existence of a legend (legendum, something to be read) describing a catastrophe that must have been widely heard of when it happened.
This I conjectured might be found in Adam of Bremen; to whose mention of Julin DR. BELL referred. But it seems that in his time the city was still existing, and flourishing ("urbs locuples").
The "excidium civitatis," if the Veneta of Helmold were Julin, must have taken place, therefore, between 1072 and 1184, when the latter account was written. If Veneta was Julin, and "aquarum æstu absorpta," there must, I suppose, be some account of this great calamity: and as I have seen in modern German works allusions to the drowning of the great city, and to the ruins still visible at times under water, I hoped to find out the where of its site, and the when of its destruction—as great cities do not often sink into the waves, like exhalations, without some report of their fate.
