Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/164

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. xir. AUG. 28, 1915.

(iii. 90), " where precisely the same incident occurs," and Leonora, when asked why she ,so late reveals the truth, answers :

Because, my lord, I loath'd that such a sin Should lie smother'd with me in my grave ; my

penitence,

Though to my shame, prefers the revealing of it 'Bove worldly reputation.

Note again, at the conclusion of the speech in which Mariana unfolds her story of Ce- sario's base origin :

Duke. Produce your witness. Mariana. The faulconer's wife his mother, .And such women as waited then upon me.

And compare in the corresponding situation, during the hearing of Leonora's suit in ' The Devil's Law Case,' IV. ii. (iii. 93) :

Crispiano. . . . .what proof is there

More than the affirmation of the mother Of this corporal dealing ?

Contilupo. The deposition of a waiting- woman

That serv'd her the same time, where the terse, direct reply to the judge's question seems to point to identity of authorship.

There is yet another trace of Webster in 'the closing words of the scene :

Mariana. If all fail I will learn thee to conquer Adversity with sufferance.

Mentivole. You resolve nobly.

These sententious remarks, with the accom- -panying admiring comment of the person to whom they are addressed, are a conspicuous feature of Webster's dialogue. One is conscious of the author's pride in the ex- pression of a fine sentiment, and his desire to impress it upon his audience. Compare, ..for instance :

Ferdinand what do you think of good

horsemanship ? Antonio. Nobly, my lord : as out of the Grecian

horse issued

Many famous princes, so out of brave horseman- ship Arise the first sparks of growing resolution, that

raise The mind to noble action.

Ferdinand. You have bespoke it worthily.

' Duchess of Malfy,' I. ii. (ii. 163). Ercole. I will leave you to the freedom of your

own soul,

May it move whither heaven and you please ! Jolenta. Now you express yourself most nobly. ' The Devil's Law Case,' I. ii. (iii. 20). Ercole. I do look on my action with a thought

of terror, To do ill and dwell in't is unmanly.

Capuchin. You are divinely inform'd, sir.

Ibid., II. iv. (iii. 50).

Enfield.

H. DUGDALE SYKES. (To be continued.)

WORDS IN BISHOP DOUGLAS'S 'ENEADOS,' 1513.

THANKS to Sir James Murray's kind guidance, I have perused this work in Small's edition of 1874, keeping the first printed edition, 1553, by my side, as also the original Latin text. The bracketed dates represent citations in the ' N.E.D.' It will be seen that in many instances my own are merely stopgaps ; but in some cases I have come across a word not already noticed, and in some others I am able to give an earlier date than that already given. The few citations from Book XIII. are explained by the fact that Douglas, warned, as he feigns, in a dream, translated the supplement written by Mapheus Vegius.

Acceptable (1386, 1447, then 1535). " Lo, the accept abill day for euermor." Book xiii. 181.

According = accordingly (a. 1495, 1523). " Bereyng wyth funeral fyre and flambis accord- ing." xiii. 179.

Adorn = adoTe (1470, '80, then 1581). " The haly sterne adornit he rycht thair " (Lat., Sanctum sidus adorat). ii. 109.

Adversary, sb. (1330 to 1420; then 1541). " He is thy fa and aduersar principall." xi. Pro- logue, 4.

Agile (c. 1577, '81, &c.) "The agil Latyn pepill wyth hym was " (Lat., Celeresque Latini). xi. 56.

Ale, disguised as ill. " Some langis for the liffyr ill to lik of ane quart " [A quart of the liefer ale]. viii. Prologue, 147.

Amidicard, see depart, v. " Tysiphone Walkys wod wroth amydwart the melle." x. 339.

Any, of (with superlative). " He is thy ancyent ennemy, werst of ane." xi. Prologue. 4.

.41= that, rel. pron. (14 and 15 c., then 1879). " Scurrilite is bot for doggis at barkis." ix. Pro- logue, 205.

J./=otit. " Now lasch thai at wyth bludy swerdis brycht." xii. 133.

J.=what. "And at I say imprentis in zour thocht." viii. 182,

Ax-tree = axle-tree (1230 to 1483, then 1566). " The quhirland quheill and spedy swyft extre." xii. 122.

peple or citeis bene so bad Put by this Caxtoun, that," &c. i. Prologue, 10.
 * 1) ad = badly (1611, 1681). "The namis of

Ballen, adj. " A ballen pa vis coueris tfcair left sydis " (Lat., Lffivas cetra tegit). The editor says, "made of whalebone." But is this likely? I would suggest "ballen "= balled or rounded. The "cetra " was a short shield. vii. 134.

Ballinger. A vessel of some kind. "Ane raid vnsickir for schip or ballingaire " (Lat., Statiomale fida carinis. Ed. 1553 reads "ballingere "). ii. 68.

Bar, sb. A barrier (1325, 1388, then 1667). "Bot we debait suld this barres within." xii. 161. (Lat., Cominus. The editor, taking ' this" as sing., says, " enclosed space," but I prefer "this "= these.)

Bawburd, on, around. " And tume the cours on bawburd, a wele far away" (Lat., Longos et circum flectere cursus). iii. 145.