:

a

line. Lawrence, in his “Delineation Sir Thomas Browne, in his “ Vulgar of the horse" thus notices it ::

Errors," supposes that the very gene“ Markbam in his Cavallarice, and ral superstition, tliat the devil, what. that Mirror of learned riding-masters, ever shape he assume, always appears Michael Baret, describe a mode of run- with a cloven-foot, arises from his ning matches across the country, in being mentioned as frequently taking their days, denominated the Wild goose the form of a goat ; and remarks, chase, an imitation of which has con

" that whereas it is said in Scripture, tinued in occasional use to the present thou shalt not offer unto devils, the time, under the name of Steeple hunting that is to say, two horsemen, original word is Seghnirim, that is, drunk or sober, in or out of their wits, rough and hairy goats." Also “ that fix upon a steeple, or some eminent

the goat was the emblem of the sió distant object, to which they make a

offering, and is the emblem of sinful straight cut over hedge, ditch, and men at the day of judgment." gate—the devil take the hindmost. The There is a curious tale told of Rich, Wild goose chase was a more regular the manager of Covent Garden theatre, thing, and it was prescribed, that after celebrated for his extreme activity in the horses had run twelve score yards, the character of harlequip. He had the foremost horse was to be followed ordered a hackney-coachman to drive wherever he went by the others, within him to the city, when passing along a a certain distance agreed upon, or be very narrow street, he perceived the beaten or wbipped up by the triers or

window of a friend's house open, and judges. A horse being left behind twelve immediately jumped from the coach score, or any limited number of yards, into the House. The unconscious was deemed beaten, and lost the match. Sometimes it bappened that a horse

coachman drove on to the place he lost the lead, which was gained, and

was directed, and on opening the door the chase won by the stouter, although perceived that his passenger had dis. less speedy antagonist; and the lead appeared. After muttering some curses has often been alternately lost and won, on the bilking rascal,” he was reno doubt to the rapturous enjoyment turning to his stand, when Rich,watchof those who could relish such laborious ing the opportunity, threw himself and dangerous amusements, which I from the window into the coach, and fear were also attended with disgusting began swearing at the driver, for pot circumstances of cruelty, in the triers taking him to the place be bad apbeating up the hind-most horse.”

pointed. The fellow stared, and seemShakespeare mentions this helter ed much alarmed, but torning round, skelter amusement in his “ Romeo. he again proceeded to the place of and Juliet,” where Mercutio says, destination, and wbilst he was letting “ If thy wits run the wild goose chase, down the steps, Rich offered to pay I have done;" and Burton in his “ Apa- bim, but the man declined taking the tomy of Melancholy," tells us that money, saying that “ he bad made a “ riding of great horses, running at vow, not to receive any money from ring, tilts and tournaments, horse his customers that day;" but Rich races, wild goose chases, are the dis- insisting op bis accepting it, the driver ports of great men.”

jumped upon his box, and flogging Helter Skelter, an expression, de his horses, cried out, “No, no, Mr. noting cheerful hurrying progression, Devil, I know you well enough, for is used by Shakespeare in the 2nd part all you wear shoes." of Henry IV. where Pistol thus ad- Old Nick, a caut name for the devil, dresses Falstaff:

is satirically derived by Butler in his “Sir John, I am thy Pistol, and thy rentine, Nicholas Machiavel, born in

“ Hudibras," from the famous Flofriend, And helter skelter have I rode to thee, 1469, whose treatise, entitled “ The And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys, Prioce,” describing the arts of a tyAnd golden times, and happy news of rannic government, has given origin price

ng, to the word Machiavelism, used as Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is synonimous with political intrigue. Harry the Fifth's the man."

The lines in Hudibras are, It is probably derived from the « Nick Machiavel bad ne'er a trick hilaritèr celeriter of our Roman con- (Tho' he gives name to our Old Nick) querors, which have precisely the But was below the least of these." same meaning

A Writer in this Magazine, who

Gent. Mag.July 1819.PI. ILp.17

North-West Iiew of the

Pouncy se Cathedral of Bayeux, in Normandy. Published as vý Aststir

dirat Aug.1.1819. 71. Nichols, And Lyon Court Fleet Street London.

a

1819.] Old Nick; &c.--Bayeux Cathedral.--Horace. 17 signed Palæophilus, is most probably may be seen in your vol. LXXIII. correct in deducing this nick.name of pp. 1156, 1226 ; vol. LXXIV. p. 18; the devil from a malevolent sea Deity, with farther remarks on it by Mr. worshipped by the antient Germans Gough, io p. 313 of the latter volume. and Dades under the name of Nocca Very accurate drawings of this tapes. or Nicken, styled in the Edda, which try have lately been made for the socontains the Pagan creed of Scandi- ciety of Antiquaries by Mr. Slodart; navia, Niken, which Keysler derives and it is to be farther illustrated by from the German nugen, answering to Mr. Dibdin, in his “ Bibliographical the Latin necare.

Tour,” now preparing for the press. Another vulgar name, Old Scratch, Yours, &c.

D. has probably been given from the common pictorial representations of

Mr. URBAN,

June 10. him with enormous crooked talons or LA

ATELY taking up my Horace, claws; and a third appellation some- and accidentally turning to the times applied to him, of Old Harry, third Ode of the first book, my eye appears to be derived from the verb was caught by the passagem to harrie, to lay waste, to destroy. « Qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, (To be continued.)

Qui vidit mare turgidum,”. &c.

This reading displeased Bentley, Mr. URBAN,

June 5.

who wished to substitute “rectis ocuTHE city of Bayeux, in Normandy, Ause, about a league and a half

not appear sufficient authority to jusfrom the sea, is old and very indif- the present reading is, that the sight

tify the alteration. The objection to ferently built. Previous to the Re- of the dangers or the horrors of the volution it conlained seventeen parish

sea was not likely to produce tears, Churches, including the suburbs, and seven convents.

however it might scare or terrify him The Cathedral (see Plate II.) which other classical authors, where ihe

who contemplated them. But if, in was built in 1159 by Bp. Philip de lection was never disputed, we have Harcourt, and dedicated to the Virgin, the same idea, it seems unreasonable is large, in forın of a cross, with

to refuse to Horace that which is pointed arches. In the centre of the conceded to another. Let us consitransepts is a handsome square tower, der the text. Horace is not speaking surmounted by a light and elegant of one who, from a situation of perspire. The portal at the West end is fect safety, should view an object so flanked by two square towers, each horrid in itself as to tempt him to of which terininates in a very lofty turn his eyes aside ; and that, there. spire; and the lower part of the fore, he who had magnanimity enough whole is formed by five porches. to look at it with unaverted eyes; That in the middle has a pointed arch

must have an heart of brass. formed by five ogires, the reins and

robur et æs triplex,” &c. But he mouldings whereof are enriched with supposes him who looks at these horcarvings, representing the figures of the principal persons in the old and rors to be in a state of danger from New Testament. The mouldings of and exposed to them in the navigat

.them, as being in the midst of them, the sweeps of all the other porches

The sense of his own are plaio. Io the centre pier of the danger, therefore, might excite his

ing those seas. portal stands a statue of the Virgin; tears: and the sorrows which even and each side are six apostles as large the greatest heroes of antiquity feel, as life. This portal, with the statues

are, by the poets, represented as vent. thereon, appears to be coeval with

ing themselves in tears. the Cathedral.

Thus in the Odyssey, Book E. verse At Bayeux is preserved the famous embroidered tapestry of Malilda, con

151, speaking of Ulysses, Homer says,

8δε πο7' οσσε sort of William the Conqueror, representing the histories of Harold king Δακρυοφιν τερσοντο, καλειβείο δε γλυκυς of Eogland and Willianı duke of Nor

αίων mandy; a particular account of which Noglov odugojueva. (compiled chiefly from Montfaucou) And numberless otber instances of the Gent. Mag, July, 1819.

а

a

16 illi

same kind might be adduced. Here to the octavo edition of Cartwright's
it was grief that made Ulysses weep. Works, 1651. As this book is scarce,
In the Iliad, Achilles is represented and the verses beautiful, many of
weeping, as the question To XMOLDES your readers may be pleased to ineet
plainly shews, Book E. v. 73. In Ho- a Iranscript of them:
race, we are not to consider simply I cannot keep my purpose, but must
the Vidit mönstra natantia,” &c. give

[grieve but the “ commisit pelago ratem,”

Sorrow and Verse their way; 'nor will I which connects the destiny of him

Longer in silence; no,that poor, poor part that weeps with the evil which he

of Nature's legacy, verse void of art, contemplates. Thus, in the 137th Psalm,

And undissembled teares, Cartwright

shall have the captive Jews are represented as

[grave.

Fixt on his hearse, and wept into his weeping at the recollection of Sion, Muses, I need you not ; for Grief and I from the circumstance of their destiny

Can in your absence weave an Elegy: being involved in the calamities of which we will do ; and often interweave Sion.

Sad looks and sighs ; the ground-work If this interprelation of the text be

must receive correct, there seems not the smallest Such characters, or be adjudg'd unfit reason for any alteration; it stands For my Friend's shroud; others have on the same foundation as number, shew'd their wit, less other passages, and, consequently, Learning, and languagefitly; for these be ought to be left undisturbed. H. H. Debts due to his great merits; but for me,

My aymes are like myself, humble and Mr. URBAN, Kilkenny, May 12.

low,

[to show

Too mean to speak his praise, too mean consider the following observa.

The World wbat ic hath lost in losing
thee,

[harmony. tions not unworthy of insertion in the

Whose words and deeds were perfect pages of your valuable Magazine, But now 'is lust; lost in the silent Which, from its commencement, has

grave,

[have greatly contributed to the advance.

Lost to us mortals, lost, till we shall inent and diffusion of Foglish Litera. Admission to that Kingdom where he ture. Some of the ensuing remarks sings

(Kings. inay prove not wholly uninteresting Harmonious anthems to the King of to those who are critically skilled in Sing on, blest Soul! be as thou wast the writings of our antient Dramatic below,

[show Authors: and some, although expla. A more than common instrument to watory of passages, which to well-in- Thy maker's praise ; sing on, whilst I

lament
formed persons are neither difficult
or obscure, may yet be acceptable to Thy Joss, and court a holy discontent,
readers less conversant with such pro-

With such pure thoughts as thine, to
dwell with me,

[thee, ductions, and superficially acquainted Then I may hope to live and dye like with the language and customs of our

To live belov’d, dye mourn'd, thus in abcestors.

my grave; [cannot bave." In volume IX. page 58, of Mr. Blessings that Kings have wished, but Gifford's excellent edition of Ben

The 4th, 5th, and 6th lines (espeJonson's Works, meet with a

cially the words in Italic letters) are Nole explanatory of a difficult pas quite decisive of the truth of Mr. Gif. sage in Shakspeare's Henry V. Act i.

ford's assertion, that the custom of Scene 2:

asfixing short poems to the hearse or “Either our History shall, with full

grave of eminent persons was once mouth,

(grave, prevalent in England. Speak freely of our acts; or else, our Like Turkish muie, shall have a tongue

Iu page 202 of the same volume, a less mouth, Not worshipp'd with a waxen epitaph."

passage in Jonson's “Discoveries" is

thus pripted : The verses quoted from John

“ Have I not seen the pomp of a whole Eliot and the Bishop of Chichester

Kingdom, and what a foreign King could support the correctness of Mr. Gif- bring hither? Also to make himself ford's iuterpretation, which is strongly gazed and wondered at, laid forth as determined by Izaak Walton's ex- it were to the shew, and vanish all away quisite poem on the death of Wil.

in a day.”. liam Cartwright. It is the last of

A gross error has plainly crept in the 55 commendatory poems prefixed bere; no stop whatever should inter

we

4