10 s. vm. AUG. 10, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
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first three volumes are all out of print and eagerly
sought after. Reports are given here by counties,
with notes and illustrations of the most important
inscriptions. The Tighe mural slab (1673) at
St. Michan's is an instance of a record which is
now almost undecipherable, and was only traced by
means of a copy of it made many years ago by a
member of the family. Under St. Patrick's Cathe-
dral Swift's terrible epitaph is quoted, with that of
Stella, and Swift's servant Alexander McGee ; but
everywhere the intelligent reader will find matter
of interest, while the expert will acknowledge the
careful scholarship of the committee and its editor,
Lord Walter Fitzgerald. The Association's funds
" dp not allow of paid hands," but they have sub-
scribers scattered all over the country, and they
deserve the support of English antiquaries. Their
object is not only to record inscriptions, but also to
prevent injury to them, to repair them carefully
where they are of national interest, and to print
extracts from chapter books and registers. The
'Journals' are issued free to their subscribers,
whose number ought to be increased. The Hon.
Treasxirer is a learned contributor to *N. & Q.,'
Mr. E. R. McC. Dix, of 17, Kildare Street, Dublin.
Wine, Women, and Song, the brief title of mediaeval Latin students' songs translated into English verse with an Essay by J. A. Symonds, is a very welcome addition to "The King's Classics" (Chatto & Windus). Sympnds's versions and com- ments thereon, first published in 1884, introduce the reader to some of the most genuine manifesta- tions of the Middle Ages. It was a period, as he remarks, when the unnatural prevailed, and an orthodoxy lost in futilities had become tyrannous. But in these songs, preserved in a Munich MS. of the thirteenth century, 'Carmina Burana,' and a Harleian MS., written before 1264, and published in 1841 as 'Latin Poems commonly attributed to Walter Mapes,' we find a spirit of youth and gaiety which exists at all times, and breaks through all conventions and philosophies. The wandering students were called "Goliardi," and their exact history, like that of this term, is obscure. Their Latin differs notoriously from that of previous models, though we rather wonder that Symonds did not refer to the ' Pervigilium Veneris ' as a predecessor in the melodic cadences which dis- tinguish their poems. The modern student's "Gaudeamus igitur" is derived from this mediaeval source. The poems offer considerable difficulties to a translator, which were excellently met by Symonds, a scholar admirably equipped for such a work. His introductory essay a little too elaborate in style to be pleasing is yet full of interest, and we have no hesitation in commending the book as one of the most attractive in an excellent series.
Poems of Patriotism, edited by G. K. A. Bell, is a favourable specimen of the "Golden Antho- logies" of Messrs. Routledge, which are certainly very cheap at a shilling. Mr. Bell's extracts range from Scott's ' Breathes there the Man,' a selection of sixteen lines, to Mr. Kipling's ' Recessional,' and show considerable catholicity of taste. We find specimens from Blake ; ' School Fencibles,' a song by the author of ' lonica ' ; Agincourt from Shakspeare and Drayton ; Chevy Chace ; the Armada in the verse of Macaulay and Mr. Austin Dobson ; Marvell's ' Horatian Ode y ; ' The Canadian Boat Song,' which has been the subject of con- troversy in our columns ; and ' The Private of the
Buffs ' and ' The Red Thread of Honour,' two of the
best patriotic poems by a minor bard. Copyright
has been waived in the case of poems by Mr. New-
bolt, W. E. Henley, and others which add much to
the collection. A good deal of patriotic verse is,
as Mr. Bell says, feeble enough, and Englishmen
are more inclined to praise great men than their
country as a whole or patriotism in general. This
being so, we wonder that he has not included in
his collection Tennyson's Wellington ode, which is
one of the truly great poems of the last century.
We far prefer it for the present purpose to ' Love
thou thy Land.' That is a piece of reflective wis-
dom ; but in its elaboration of style, and suggestion
of " aurea mediocritas " between caution and action,
it can appeal but little to the average reader.
THE useful series of " Little Guides " (Methuen) has just received a notable addition in North Wales by Alfred T. Story. Besides Snowdon, there are many centres well worth visiting in this district, and M-e commend to holiday-makers this handy little book, which, owing to its alphabetical arrange- ment, is easy to consult without delay concerning any place. Wisely, Mr. Story has put some of the best waterfalls in the alphabetical list as well as the towns. Thus the tourist can turn at once to Rhaiadr Du, a waterfall, to our mind, superior to the much vaunted falls of Lodore. Explanations here and elsewhere as to the meaning of the Welsh should have been added. We note a few, but desire more. Considerable attention is paid to geology for which Wales offers great opportunities ; and* there is a list of the rarer plants to be found. Mr. Story also supplies details of several attractive routes for the walker and cyclist. We think he might in the case of every village have noted its distance by road from the nearest town or con- venient inn, though generally he gives the intelligent a good idea of such details. We should hardly say that North Wales was "well provided " with rail- ways as well as roads ; we should add, at any rate, that the Cambrian Railway is apt to confine itself to a single line, also apt to be scandalously un- punctual. It includes a station at a junction, where no tickets can, we believe, be taken a curiosity du& to a^local quarrel.
We are glad to find that Mr. Story indulges in a reasonable, amount of literary references, quoting Borrow at Snowdon, and Tennyson at Bala. The poet, we now know, wrote one of the most beautiful cantos of ' In Mempriam ' with reference to Bar- mouth. The golf links at Harlech (the best in Wales) are duly referred to, but nothing is said of the similar attractions under Aberdovey. At both places sailing is a delightful sport worth special note. The illustrations are capital, including pictures of Tal-y-lyn and the beautiful tower of Wrexham Church.
MESSRS. ROUTLEDGE are keeping us well sup- plied with additions to their "New Universal Library." The latest issues include Ruskin's Sesame and Lilies and Poetry of Architecture; Martineau's Endeavours after the Christian Life, five sermons full of good matter well expressed ; and Jane Eyre, which needs no commendation, and enjoys, apparently, an almost universal reappear- ance in libraries of reprints. Mess_rs. Routledge are showing admirable enterprise in this series, which should suit every customer who cares for books at all, for he has an abundant store of good things to choose from.
