Читать книгу Galatea - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Страница 11

[111] See p. viii. of Gyll's version: "Dedicated by Cervantes, to his Excellency Don Joseph Moniño, Count of Florida Blanca, Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of K. Charles III." The fact is, of course, that Gyll translated from Los seis libros de Galatea, reprinted in 1784 by Antonio de Sancha with a dedication to Floridablanca. The words—"Dedicated by Cervantes"—are interpolated by Gyll. Floridablanca died in 1808, nearly two hundred years after Cervantes.

[112] Evidently a misprint for Silena.

[113] In justice to Gyll, the polemist, I reprint his two letters contributed to Notes and Queries (May 25, 1861, and July 27, 1861):—

(a) "A STATIONER writes his remarks on the subject of some alterations on lapidary inscriptions in Wraysbury Church: and pray, Sir, by what right does this tradesman ask any family why they choose to change a monumental reading, provided nothing is inserted which militates against truth?

What has the world to do with family arrangements? And whether is the article to be taken for a charge or a lament? I only wish this busy citizen to employ his time more profitably—while I wonder that any periodical should condescend to introduce the subject, without notice being given to members of the family, and an inquiry made. If they had reasons good for it, what on earth does the public care about it? Certain words on certain monuments were not approved by a county family, and they were omitted: and lo! a citizen rises to impeach the proprietary of it. The case stands thus, Monument No. 1:

This was an unusually large slab, on which the simple record of the deaths of Wm. Gyll, Esq., and his wife, were only inscribed. The family thought the space might be occupied by the addition of other family names, &c.—and it was done. And now the slab is full.

No. 2. Wm. Gyll, Esq., was styled here Equerry to H.R.H. Duke of Sussex; but that he was also Captain in the 2nd Life Guards was omitted. It was deemed expedient to make room for its insertion, and it was done.

No. 3. On Mrs. Paxton's monument, a daughter of Wm. Gyll, Esq., the latter gentleman is styled of this parish; and as he had considerable property here, it was his proper designation. Room was made to effect this, and it was done.

There are thirteen monuments to the family of Gyll, or relations, in the chancel of Wraysbury Church; and where the patronymic was spelt with an i as formerly, instead of y as latterly, a change was made that these names might correspond with the same orthography on other monuments (see Chauncey & Clutterbuck, Herts), and with antique deeds (see Collectanea Topographica, vol. viii.).

The family for many years had returned to the original mode of spelling their patronymic, to distinguish them from other families similarly called; and for this privilege a permission was obtained by sign manual in 1844. And if a correspondent change was made on the monuments, what has anyone in the world to do with it but the family?

In one case a mistaken date was inscribed, 17th for 26th March. This is made a charge and a crime by this miserable citizen critic, as if these mistakes were made purposely.

In two cases Dr. Lipscomb's monumental inscriptions give widow for wife, and Sept. for April. Had the STATIONER, who is so wonderfully correct, and turns all things to wrongs, gone or sent to Wraysbury, he would have found his improvements already on the monuments.

But his candid soul converts all this to vanity: and, no doubt, vanity finds endless occupation for ingenuity and invention. Suggests that a family ought to be proud of civic honours. Many thanks to the suggestive STATIONER; but if this family is not, what cares the world about it? It may have gained nothing by the position; but if he will be obtrusive, let him tell the next editor who is in want of matter another secret—for he uses this term in his disquisition—that Mr. Gyll, in 1789, refused to be created a Baronet, and that the patent was made out and was ready for execution. See the newspapers passim, 18th and 23rd April, 1789.

It may be the family desires no remembrance of the honours conferred, or the honours proffered; and if so, what daring presumption gives a STATIONER a plea to impugn any act done by A. or B., and parade it before the public in an accommodating journal? His confined education may preclude his knowing that a Lord Stanhope doffed his title and removed his arms from all his carriages; and that Horace Walpole remarked, that calling him "My Lord," was calling him names in his old age. Many have not assumed honours to which they were entitled.

As the STATIONER, or the poor malice of the writer under this name, has made a charge, I trust, Sir, in your equity, that you will insert this explanation in your next number; and I also trust to read in your most interesting and useful publication, for the future, more that concerns the curious world than that a family substituted on a monument a y for an i, and withheld altogether the naming of an honour which might have appeared there.

GORDON GYLL.

7, Lower Seymour Street, Portman Square."

(b) "As you have not published the letter I sent to your office in answer to that of A STATIONER, and also to an LL.D., who, instead of quietly confining himself to an opinion on a point of law, rushed into personalities quite unjustified by circumstances, for no letter was addressed to him unless he be the STATIONER in disguise, who, in his arrogance dared to say that I was ignorant of the first principles of composition—I wish to know whether the LL.D. or STATIONER mean to assert that by our improving certain monuments in Wraysbury Church (which we, as a family acting in unison, were entitled to do without the interference of anyone) we have falsified them.

If that be intended, we consider the allegation false and injurious, and unless we have an unequivocal denial, we shall refer the case to our legal adviser. The entire object of the STATIONER was to insult our family, and to impute motives, which was enough to incite to resentment.

If he had politely said that we had caused one letter to be substituted for another, which did not change the sound of the name, and had put in a Christian name where the title of a civic honour was inscribed, whereby the party was more clearly identified—for Mr. Alderman A. may be anybody—it had been well and harmless, and no such letter, which he terms acrimonious, had been written.

You gave, in a note to my letter, an opinion that the question was not touched. Now, Sir, I wish to ask you or the LL.D. if any LAW is violated, and if a family has a right to inscribe on a monument that A. or B. were Deputy-Lieut., Magistrates, M.P., or High Sheriffs? and if so, if a party is termed Alderman where his proper description would be Lord Mayor, the family may not legally and judiciously alter it?

We stand impeached with breaking a law, and by implication with, falsifying a lapidary inscription. We wish to know if these imputations are meant either by LL.D. or the STATIONER, for if they are, let the case be tried before proper tribunal, or else let us have a denial. If I do not hear from you I shall send the family lawyer to meet the charge.

GORDON GYLL.

7, Lower Seymour Street, Portman Square."

The above are reproduced exactly as printed in Notes and Queries. As already observed (p. lii. n.), Gyll did not carry out his threats.