Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851

Thomas May, the Author of the Supplement to Lucan.—Who was this Thomas May? To an Elzevir edition of Lucan, 1658, Amsterdam, "accuranto Cornelio Schrevelio," there is added "Supplementum Lucani Libri Septem; authore Thoma Maio, Anglo." In the preface it is stated, "Supplementum Lucani ab Anglo quodam antehâc seorsim editum, et huic materiæ aptissimum adjunximus, ne quid esset quod hic desideraretur." In the fourth book of this Supplement, Cato is represented as soliloquising before his death as follows:—

"Quam diversa, inquit, restant post funera sortes!
Credo equidem, divine Plato, te dogmata vera
Hæc ipsum docuisse Deum. Deus ipse sequendam
(Aut Natura homines ratioque innata fefellit)
Proposuit virtutem, et præmia debita justis
Hæc quonian justos injusta potentia fraudat
Sæpius in terris, et gens humana rebellat
Solvere post mortem justissimus ipse tenetur."

The famous soliloquy in Addison's Cato seems to resemble this, in its general tone of thought. In a former passage occur these lines:—

"Solatia sola hæc,
Quod meliore frui post mortem lumine sperat.
Immortalem animam spes hæc probat."

The idea is similar to that contained in—

"Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?"

Addison seems to me to have had May's description of Cato's death in his mind, when he wrote the soliloquy.

    J. H. L.

Bunting's Irish Melodies.—This admirable musical scholar many years since promised a new edition of the first two volumes of his Irish Airs. Is there any hope of this being soon accomplished?

    George Stephens.

Stockholm.

Rudbeck, Campi Elysii.—A copy of this work is said to exist in Sherard's[6 - Sherard, 1738.]Collection, in the Botanical Garden, Oxford. It must have been acquired before 1797. (See Bibliotheca Banksiana, iii. 67.)

Vol. I.—The title and some following leaves are written. Does any note exist as to who copied these leaves, or when, or where?

Is any name of any former owner written on the book-back, title, or elsewhere; or is it known when it was purchased, or at what price?

Does any library-mark, auction-number, or other identifying signature occur?

Is it quite complete at the end, or is anything missing after page 224.?

Does the whole consist of figures, or have some leaves an introduction, text, or corrections, &c.?

Vol. II.—Does anything in this volume illustrate any of the above questions?

    A Swedish Bibliognost.

Stockholm.

Prince of Wales' Motto (Vol. iii., p. 106.).—The Query of Effessa is one of great interest to us "Taffies," but I wish to add the following to it. Is there any foundation for the idea, which we so strenuously maintain, that "Ich Dien" is a misspelled edition of "Eich Dyn," "Behold the man:" and that the motto was bestowed on Edward of Carnarvon in consequence of his royal father having learned these two Welsh words, and made use of them when he presented his infant to the assembled tribes as a prince who could "speak no word of English?"

    Seleucus.

Borrow's Danish Ballads.—The singular author of Lavengro, Mr. Geo. Borrow, some years ago published certain translations of Danish or other northern ballads, with which I have never been able to meet. Can you or any of your readers furnish me with the title of the book and publisher's name?

My curiosity respecting it has again been aroused somewhat strongly by the account in Lavengro of the way in which he began to study Danish. It might afford a good lesson to all young "philologers."

I presume that, at the mature age of "Notes and Queries," commonplace compliments as to its usefulness and high general value, begin to be very stale; but I cannot close without a hearty "God speed" to you in your labours.

    Bruno.

Head of the Saviour.—Can any of your readers give me some information about an engraving of our Saviour, which may just now be seen in many of the London print-shops? It represents the side-face, and is said to be a fac-simile of a likeness engraved on an emerald by order of some Roman Emperor, and which served as the ransom of some other famous person (who, I quite forget). Is this really the truth?

    P. M. M.

Lines on English History.—The Sword Flamberg.—I shall be greatly obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me where I can procure a copy of some lines on English history, commencing:

"William the Norman conquers England's state—
In his own forest Rufus meets his fate," &c.

They are said to be written by a Roman Catholic gentleman named Chaloner.

I also wish to know something about the old German sword called the "Flamberg." I have seen it represented as twisted like a column of flame, and should like to know its history, and whether there was any allusion in it to the flaming sword that kept the gate of Paradise.

Mention is made of it by Körner in his poem, "Männer und Buben:"

"Stosst mit an
Mann für Mann
Wer den Flamberg schwingen kann."

Can your correspondents tell me, also, whether there is such a phrase, expressive of the place where four roads met, as a "four warnt way," and whence its origin, and how properly spelt?

    An English Mother.

Denarius Philosophorum.—Can you inform me what the inscription "Denarius Philosophorum" means, on Bishop Thornborough's monument in Worcester Cathedral?

    D. Y.

"Sees Good in everything."—Where does the line,

"Sees good in everything, and God in all."

come from?

    D. Y.

Christchurch, Oxford.