Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 1.djvu/430

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. i. MAY as, 1910.

On yet another, Aritarah rides a " piebald " steed with a crescent on his forehead. He also strikes off a mare's head during a fight. But usually the hero is mounted on his favourite Abjar, black as night, and having on his forehead a white star, " whose sire was Wasil, and his dam Hemama. n

Horse -armour and the stirrup* also receive mention " housings and armour," recalling to us the interesting passage in Claudianus lib. viii. (circa A.D. 400) :

TJt calibe indutos equites, et in vere latentes Vidit cornipedes, quanam de gente rogabat Ferrati venere viri, quae terra metallo Nascentes informal equos ? num Lemnius auctor Addidit hinnitum ferro simulacraque bellis Viva dedit ?

Upon the above evidence, therefore, We may be permitted to conclude that in the last centuries of the so-called "Age of Ignorance n the horse was not only no rarity, but Was in very general use through- out Arabia Felix, and that the pedigree of a fine animal there Was perhaps already as much an object of scrupulous attention as the genealogy of a chief's family.

It may be contended that as this great romance of ' Antarah ' was only reduced to writing by Al-Asmai, circa A.D. 800, the evidence as to the employment of the horse in the fifth arid sixth centuries contained in it must not be pressed. Also the veracity of AI-Asmai lies open to attack, although he is not the only " reducer " of the romance to writing. Nevertheless, it would be about as reasonable to suggest that the numerous references to copper in the ' Kalevala ' of Finland had been worked into that poem by Lonnrot, the Swedish professor who reduced it to writing, as that AJ-Asmai inserted all this horse -life into the romance of ' Antarah.' ST. CLAIB BADDELEY.

ANN OF SWANSEA'S WILL.

MBS. SIDDONS is said to have allowed her scapegrace sister an annuity on condition that she lived a hundred and fifty miles or more from London. Why, of all places outside the radius, that sister should have chosen Swansea, I do not know ; but there, after many varied matrimonial and other adventures, she settled about 1800 with Hatton, her second husband. He died in 1806, and she tried for a time to make an income as dancing mistress at Kidwelly. About 1809 she returned to Swansea, where she spent the remainder of her life.

in his * Ars Militarist
 * Mentioned by the Emperor Maurice (582601)

In 1783 she had published a volume of " Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects by Ann Curtis, sister of Mrs. Siddons " ('D.N.B.,'- s.v. Siddons). This was followed in 1811 by a volume of " Poetic Trifles by Ann of Swansea, authoress of ' Cambrian Pictures,'" etc., etc." Under the same pseudonym between 1815 and 1831 she published eleven novels (in fifty-two volumes). For a list see 7 S. viii. 415. She died on 26 Dec., 1838 r

Her will Was proved at Doctors' Commons on 14 Feb., 1839, the property being " sworn under one hundred pounds." The official copy has lately been presented to the Royal Institution of South Wales, and I think that the whole document is worth preserving in ' N. & Q.'

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND

TESTAMENT

of me ANN HATTON of Swansea in the County of Glamorgan Widow I give and bequeath unto my dear valued and highly respected Friend Douglas Cohen Esquire M D now residing at Liverpool a Portrait of myself painted by Watkeys my two Prints of Mr John Kemble and Mrs Siddons and one Pearl Letter Holder One Steel Lazy Tongues One small round Snuff Box One small Fruit Knife also a Novel of my Writing entitled Uncle Peregrines Heiress in Five Volumes together with Baileys Dictionary Lampiers Classical Dictionary. Brooks Gazateer. Scotts Lyrical Ballads Lay of the last Minstrel Marmion Rokeby Moores Lalla E-aooke Southby's Maddock Poetic Trifles Moores Loves of the Angels and Salmons Chronology and I make it my earnest request that my dear and highly respected Friend the said Douglas Cohen may be put in possession of the Property above bequeathed to him with all convenient speed after my death and I pray God and his most glorious and righteous Son to convert him to the Christian Faith to prosper him in his worldly affairs to give him that inestimable Blessing Health and in his own good time to bring him to his Glorious Kingdom. I have on the marriage of my Step daughter Mary Hatton now Mary Lawrence with William Snead given them Six Months Board Lodging and Washing free of all expence in my House and afterwards all the Furniture of my House with the exception of my own Bedroom Furniture my Gift to the said Mary Hatton then comprising Plate Linen and China as well as necessary articles of Household Utensils and having since his death made her many handsome presents I feel my Conscience justified in making the follow- ing Bequest merely in her favor that is to say I give and bequeath to the said Mary Lawrence as a Remembrance of me my Gold Watch and Seals and my Guard and also Jacinth Ring set with Pearls and my Pearl Hoop Ring also my large Tea Caddy for Tea the last Gift of her Father to me also my large Prayer Book and Sturns Reflec- tions and one white lace Veil two worked Net Aprons one silk Scharf and the whole Duty Man and one worked Net Collar one figured Net Collar and one large Brazilian Bracelet and I trust she will be satisfied with this Bequest remembering bhe long services and faithful attachment of my