Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/75

 10* s. v. JAN. 20, 1906.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

known efforts. It has remarkable interest for the philologist, is less strictly edifying than might be anticipated from its title, and is a characteristically Tudor production. Its quaint title-page, dated 1606, declares it to be "Opus septem dierum," and describes the sins as

Through the seuen seuerall Gates of the
 * ' Drawne in seuen seuerall Coaches,

Cilie

bringing the Plague with them." Among the sins with which London is charged are many still existing, such as " compelling your children (for wealth) to goe into loathed beds" and the like. Decker seems, indeed, as earnest, and at times almost as eloquent as a seventeenth- century Ruskin.

Ben Jonson's 'Underwoods' are reprinted, we suppose, from the 1640 edition of his ' Works,' as, somewhat to the indignation or amusement of his contemporaries, he called his collected plays and poems. We are at least aware of no separate publication of the date. They have been less read than they merit, though Ben's lyrical produc- tions, with a few exceptions, are held, unjustly, in lighter regard than his dramas. The best known of these poems is perhaps what is called ' Her Triumph,' which stands fourth in ' A Celebration of Charis in Ten Lyrick Peeces,' and begins, " See the Chariot at hand here of Love." This is possibly most regarded in consequence of the musical setting, which is worthy of the lines. For their autobiographical value, however, the poems are unique, and they.form pleasant souvenirs of Ben's friendships and intimacies. The title 'Underwoods' is said by the writer to be due to the analogy to his former volume ' The Forrest.' Like Milton, Ben Jonson has an elegy upon a Marchioness of Winchester. It is, however, pre- sumably upon Lady Anne Paulet, and not upon Milton's Marchioness. Owing to Ben's classical knowledge his poems are a mine to the philologist. We hope that the editors of the ' N.E.D.' will notice on p. 82 what seems to us a very early use of the word "Tribade. 5 This is in a fierce and venomous attack on the " Court Pucelle." In'the same poem is an allusion we should like to trace :

Take heed

This age would lend no faith to Dorrell's Deed. What is Dorrell's Deed ? Is the allusion to some prank of John Darrell, the exorcist ?

The printing of this work is exquisite, and the entire series, as we have previously stated, is an artistic triumph for a great press.

County of Suffolk: its History as Disclosed by Existing Records, <t-c. By W. A. Copinger. Vol. V. (Sotheran & Co.)

A FULL account of the scheme which Dr. Copinger has so conscientiously and admirably carried out will be found at 10 th S. ii- 218 and iv. 99. In chronicling the appearance of the fifth and con- cluding volume (or one volume less than at the outset we anticipated) our task scarcely extends further than saying that the same unsurpassable standard of workmanship is maintained. It is conceivable, and greatly to be hoped, that what has been done for (Suffolk by Dr. Copinger will in course of time be accomplished by other anti- quaries no less zealous, able, and in more than one respect happily endowed for other counties. This is, however, a dream of perfection. Men with

equal knowledge, equal means, and equal devotion do not abound ; and we must content ourselves- with recording that Suffolk, in regard to the* classification and calendaring of its treasures,, occupies a gratifying pre-eminence. One further chance of recognizing the service is at once possible and in some respects obligatory. An index nominum et locorum has been prepared, and is virtually ready for the press. It will be issued as soon as a number of subscriptions sufficient to cover the cost of printing has been received by the publishers. Self-interest urges that such a list, should be filled in without delay.

A Supplement to the Glossary of the Dialect of Cumberland. ByE. W. Prevost, Ph.D. (Frowde.") WE might have conjectured that when that huge- galleon ' The English Dialect Dictionary,' with its splendid freight, was safely launched, it would take the wind out of the sails of all smaller craft, or deter them from venturing out on a sea already so completely dominated. Dr. Prevost, however, is an enthusiast, and bravely puts out a supplement to a work which he published six years ago. As he comes after such diligent collectors as Mr. W Dickinson and Mr. R. Ferguson, it was not to be- expected that many new dialect words or usages, would be found in his spicilegium. As a matter of Fact, the words given here, with a few exceptions,, seem to be of but tertiary interest and importance. Opening almost at hazard, we light on "don-Iyi, sadly, ailing, unwell," already given in the other glossaries. And surely it is out of place to register as dialect such a perfectly general English word as "fass, a girl, a young woman, a female lover, &c." There are scores oS other words which in a similar way would fail to justify their admission ; eg.>dicky, edgeways, entry, flabbergast, lush, oaf, queer, rifi-ra$\ slinge, sluxfa, stodgy. Some of Dr. Prevost'a etymologies we ven- ture to query. He states, for instance, that durdum, an uproar, was originally door-doom, a rough-and-ready quest held at the door of an evil- doer. We should like to know whether this- door-doom was a recognized popular institution, or is a mere conjecture. Durdum looks like ai> onomatopoeic word ; Ferguson compares it with- the Gaelic durdan, a murmur. Pushers, given as an occasional word for slippers, has all the appear- ance of being a mere reshaping of " papooshes "" (Pers. pclpush). Cundeth, a covered-in drain, given, under Gwote, is, of course, merely "conduit." Weaver's beef, which with the Cumberland folk stands for a red herring, we may note is given- in Fuller's ' Worthies' as an Essex word for sprats.

Dictionary of Indian Biography. By C. E. Buck- land, C.I.E. (Sonnenschein & Co.) UNIFORM in size and appearance with the series off Dictionaries of Quotations issued by Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein, this volume aims at supplying short biographies of men who have helped to establish,, or been in any way connected with, our great Indian empire. Jt is convenient and cheap, and will serve many purposes of reference. It might,, however, with advantage be enlarged by the inclu- sion of more names of men living or recently dead. Like the screen in the rooms of Joseph Surface, it is useful for those who want to find things in a hurry. The lives of native rulers and minister* constitute a valuable feature.