Notes and Queries, Number 34, June 22, 1850

    S. W. Singer.
Mickleham, June 12.

"Trash" or "Skriker."—Many hundreds of persons there are in these districts who place implicit credence in the reality of the appearance of a death sign, locally termed trash or skriker. It has the appearance of a large black dog, with long shaggy hair, and, as the natives express it, "eyes as big as saucers." The first name is given to it form the peculiar noise made by its feet when passing along, resembling that of a heavy shoe in a miry road. The second appellation is in allusion to the sound of its voice when heard by those parties who are unable to see the appearance itself. According to the statements of parties who have seen the trash frequently, it makes its appearance to some member of that family from which death will shortly select his victim; and, at other times, to some very intimate acquaintance. Should any one be so courageous as to follow the appearance, it usually makes its retreat with its eyes fronting the pursuer, and either sinks into the earth with a strange noise, or is lost upon the slightest momentary inattention. Many have attempted to strike it with any weapon they had at hand; but although the appearance stood its ground, no material substance could ever be detected. It may be added that "trash" does not confine itself to churchyards, though frequently seen in such localities.

    T. T. W.

Burnley.

NOTES ON MILTON

(Continued from Vol. i., p. 387.)

L'Allegro.

On l. 6. (D.):—

"Where triumphant Darkness hovers
With a sable wing, that covers
Brooding Horror."

    Crashaw, Psalm xxiii.
On l. 11. (G.) Drayton has this expression in his Heroical Epistles:—

"Find me out one so young, so fair, so free."

    King John to Matilda.
and afterwards,—

"Leave that accursed cell;
There let black Night and Melancholy dwell."

On l. 24. (G.) Most probably from a couplet in Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy:—

"And ever and anon she thinks upon the man,
That was so fine, so fair, so blith, so debonaire."

    P. 3. Sc. 2. p. 603. ed. 1621. 4to.
And in Randolph's Aristippus,—

"A bowle of wine is wondrous boone chere
To make one blith, buxome, and deboneere."

    P. 13. ed. 1630. 4to.
On l. 27. (G.):—

"Manes. Didst thou not find I did quip thee?
"Psyllus. No, verily; why, what's a quip?
"Manes. We great girders call it a short saying of a sharp wit, with a bitter sense in a sweet word."

    Alexander and Campaspe, Old Plays,
    vol. ii. p. 113. ed. 1780.
"Then for your Lordship's Quippes and quick jestes,
Why Gesta Romanorum were nothing to them."

    Sir Gyles Goosecappe, a Com., Sig. G. 2. 4to. 1606.
Crank is used in a different sense by Drayton:—

"Like Chanticleare he crowed crank,
And piped full merily."

    Vol. iv. p. 1402. ed. 1753.
On l. 31. (M.):—

"There dainty Joys laugh at white-headed Caring."

    Fletcher's Purple Island, C. vi. St. 35.
On l. 42. (G.):—

"The cheerful lark, mounting from early bed,
With sweet salutes awakes the drowsy Light;
The earth shee left, and up to Heaven is fled:
There chants her Maker's praises out of sight."

    Purple Island, C. ix. St. 2.
"From heaven high to chase the cheareless darke,
With mery note her lowd salutes the morning larke."

    Faery Queene, B. i. c. 11.
On l. 45. (G.):—

"The chearful birds, chirping him sweet good-morrow,
With nature's music do beguile his sorrow."

    Sylvester's Du Bartas.
On l. 67. (G.) See note already inserted in "Notes and Queries," p. 316.

On l. 75. (G.):—

"In May the meads are not so pied with flowers."

    Sylvester's Du Bartas.
On l. 78. (G.) So in Comus:—

"And casts a gleam over the tufted grove."

    v. 225.
On l. 80. (G.):—