Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/400

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. v. MAY 19, MOO.

raised platform in the Market - Place. At JEthelred's coronation, the * Saxon Chronicle ' tells us, there were two archbishops and ten provincial bishops present. Such a ceremony would certainly take place in a church, and that at Kingston, no doubt, occurred in the

this is Mistress Anne Page," or Launcelot's " O heavens, this is my true-begotten father !" Pretending to misunderstand Polixenes, Her- mione exclaims, " Grace to boot ! You must be more explicit if you would not have me believe that your queen and I were the first

What was it, and when?"

[It] was when had sour'd themselves

to

church there. As' far as I know, the earliest I tempters of you and your young playfellow

description of the Market - Place ceremony from the path of virtue."

nfaiK, Q rl i e4-~>, t A ,,1 ' ~,,*4-~A v^ I 2. 0, would her name were Grace!

Hermione says, "You say that I never but bishops, and it is to be regretted that this O nce before spoke to better purpose. What has been widely copied. was this other speech of mine, this ' elder

Ine tradition at Kingston is that the stone sister ' of the one you just now approve 1 ? was formerly in the chapel of St. Mary, which ' ' * * was attached to the south side of the parish church ; but this chapel, which also contained statues of certain kings, traditionally said to have been those of Saxon kings, was destroyed in 1730, when one of the arches of the church fell down. The stone is traditionally said to have been removed from the debris of the chapel and to have been placed close to the entrance to the town hall, where it was often used as a stirrup stone, but still known as the old coronation stone.

Many years ago Alderman Gould of Kingston, who is still living, and who has done much for the town, was able to have this stone placed in its present more dignified position protected by a railing, with the names of the kings inscribed round it.

The historical and circumstantial evidence concerning these coronations appears to be sufficient to warrant the conclusion that this stone is a relic which has come down to us from the period of the so-called Heptarchy.

T. W. SHORE. 105, Ritherdon Road, S.W.

would her name were Grace ! ' Though the speech was mine, I am vain enough to hope, since you think so much of it, that it \vas wholly excellent.

Leontes. Three crabbed months

death

Ere I could make thee open thy white hand, And clap thyself my love : then didst thou utter, " I am yours for ever."

3. Hermione. 'Tis Grace indeed. She continues : " That speech of mine, which be excelled." R. M. SPENCE, D.D.
 * for ever earn'd a royal husband,' could not

Manse of Arbuthnott, N.B.

I think we may safely rest with the mean- ing given in 'H.E.D.,' 'Grace,' sb. 11, ' Boot,'

a.

SHAKESPEARIANA. 4 WINTER'S TALE,' I. ii. 99 (9 th S. v. 208).

1. Grace to boot ! L. 80.

2. O, would her name were Grace ! L. 99.

3. 'Tis Grace indeed. L. 105.

At the reference given above HENRICUS, while asking specially an explanation of No. 2, adds, " A reading which should gather all three into one net would be very wel- come." This is impossible. Nos. 2 and 3 are in close connexion, but there is no relation- ship whatever between them and No. 1. I take them in their order.

1. " Grace to boot !" I regard this as equi- valent to " Heaven help us ! ' Occurring as the words do in a speech full of light-hearted banter, we can assign to them no solemn im- port. They are merely an ejaculation in the

7, c. ; and Sch., 4 Lex.' " Grace to

boot ! " equals " God help us ! "

In saying, "O, would her name were Grace ! " Hermione well knew to what pre- vious speech of hers Leontes referred, arid in " Tis Grace indeed " she merely completed her loving characterization of that utterance " I am yours for ever."

The repetition of "Grace" in connexion with the event serves to sharpen the contrast between the queen's real thoughts and those imputed to her by the jealousy of the king. Hers were high and noble in regarding as an act of grace the pledge which, however, was so soon to prove the reverse. That she should consider as supremely fortunate the destiny that united their loves makes the sequel appear only the more hideous.

This scene recalls another ('Othello/IV.iii.), where Desdemona is skilfully shown to be exquisitely pure and refined at a time when she is being most shamefully accused. But these touches of the great artist elude attempts at explanation. They must be felt to be perceived. E. M. DEY.

St. Louis.

WINTER'S TALE,' I. ii. 400-5 (9 th S. v. 283).

form of an invocation which has no more I read with much appreciation MR. H. G. reverence in it than has Slender's " O heaven ! GOTCH'S notes on ' Winter's Tale,' and am