Notes and Queries, Number 72, March 15, 1851

Оглавление

Various. Notes and Queries, Number 72, March 15, 1851

Notes

ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHAUCER

INEDITED POETRY, NO. II

ON A PASSAGE IN MARMION

GLOUCESTERSHIRE PROVINCIALISMS

THE CHAPEL OF LORETTO

FOLK LORE

Minor Notes

Queries

BIDDINGS IN WALES

Minor Queries

Minor Queries Answered

Replies

THE MEANING OF EISELL

Replies to Minor Queries

Miscellaneous

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE

Notices to Correspondents

MEMOIRS OF HORACE WALPOLE,

Отрывок из книги

I am glad to perceive that some of the correspondents of "Notes and Queries" are turning their attention to the elucidation of Chaucer. The text of our father-poet, having remained as it were in fallow since the time of Tyrwhitt, now presents a rich field for industry; and, in offering free port and entry to all comments and suggestions, to be there sifted and garnered up, the pages of "Notes and Queries" may soon become a depository from which ample materials may be obtained for a new edition of Chaucer, now become an acknowledged desideratum.

One excellent illustration has lately been added, at page 133., in a note without signature upon "Nettle in, dock out." If confirmed1, it will furnish not only a most satisfactory explanation of that hitherto incomprehensible phrase, but also a curious example of the faithful preservation of an exact form of words through centuries of oral tradition.

.....

It will explain many anomalies, even in Shakspeare, if we suppose that our early writers were content to show their knowledge of a subject in a few particulars, and were by no means solicitous to preserve, what moderns would call keeping, in the whole performance.

The next difficulty, adverted to by ε., is the mention of the THIRD as the morning upon which Palamon "brake his prison," and Arcite went into the woods "to don his observaunce to May."

.....