2nd s. No 48., Nov. 29. '56.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



431 



passage in which Arvalan complains that his dis- 

 embodied spirit is exposed to heat and cold. It is : 



" So Milton and the Sibyl 

 To earth's extremities thrust forth 

 With portals open to the north, 

 And windows where the poisonous rain 

 Plashes and drips thro' every pane ; 

 Built by Niehdager's murky hands, 

 By Deadman's pool the palace stands. 

 The shore is strew'd with adder's teeth, 

 Half-frozen eddies spin beneath. 

 Floating their prey to Niehdag's curs. 

 Assassins, cheats, adulterers, 

 Their hateful bodies every one. 

 Picked by these monsters to the bone, 

 While their uncoated souls are sped 

 To the grim chambers of the dead." 



Can any of your readers refer me to the sibyl- 

 line verses in the original, or to the rest of the 

 translation ? F- M. S. 



Reading. 



Clans of Scotland. — Can any of the readers of 

 " N. & Q." put me into the way of obtainino; some^ 

 information respecting the clans and families of 

 Scotland, and also inform me which is the best 

 source to look to for a good account of Scotland 

 in the tenth century ? M'^ C. 



" The Ghost Walks." — Can any of your corre- 

 spondents inform me of the origin of the stage 

 slang for the salaries being paid, namely, "The 

 ghost walks." I have been quite unable to pro- 

 cure any information on the subject. D. 



Philosophers alluded to ly Dr. Johnson. — Who 

 are Dr. Johnson's authorities for the following : 



" It is said by modern philosophers, that not only the 

 great globes of matter are thinly scattered through the 

 universe, but the hardest bodies are so porous, that if all 

 matter were compressed to perfect solidity, it might be 

 contained in a cube of a few feet." 



T. E. N. 



Dialects. — 



" His Lordship then proceeded to review the state of 

 literature about that period, showing, from the literature 

 of both countries, produced during the reign of Elizabeth, 

 that there was then no difference in the dialects of Eng- 

 land and Scotland. He said, our English friends will 

 think I am encouraging, not nationality, but a narrow 

 spirit, when I speak a word in favour of the Scotch dialect. 

 We cannot speak broad Scotch now. England is the 

 larger country of the two, and must rule us in that re- 

 spect. But I 'mean to say, that in the reign of Elizabeth 

 there was not much distinction of dialects. It does not 

 appear when the present pronunciation of the English 

 language came into fashion." — Times Report, 



The above is an extract from a speech delivered 

 by the Lord Advocate of Scotland, at the Falkirk 

 School of Arts, on the 29th ultimo. I shall be 

 obliged by you, or any of your learned readers, 

 giving me a reference to any authority in support 

 of the Lord Advocate's statement, that, in the 



reign of Elizabeth, the dialects of England and 

 Scotland were identical. But what does his Lord-, 

 ship mean by dialect f Does he contend that at 

 the period alluded to, all classes, high and low, 

 spoke one dialect? and what was that dialect, 

 Scotch or English ? Fba. Mewburn. 



Larchfield, Darlington. 



Arms of Sparrow Families. — Cbux (Oxon) 

 will be glad of the armorial bearings of the family 

 of Sparrow, or Sparrowe, of Bishton, co. Staff. ; 

 also Sparrow of Eylam, or Ham, co. Derby. 

 1750, et seq. 



C. C. Coll., Oxon. 



" Delia Opinione, Regina del Mondo.^^ — In 

 Thoughts on Religion, by Pascal (edit. Edin. 1751, 

 p. 105.), he says : 



" Opinion is the universal disposer of things ; this 

 makes beauty and justice and happiness, and these make 

 all that is excellent upon earth. I would gladly see an 

 Italian piece, of which I know only the title, but such a 

 title as is worth many whole books, Delia opinione, regina 

 del mondo. If it has nothing in it worse than this title I 

 subscribe to it heartily, unseen." 



Can the work to which the distinguished 

 author refers now be produced, and what more 

 particulars respecting it ? G. N. 



" Call me not pale, hut /air."— Who is the au- 

 thor of the above line, and where is it to be found ? 



C. S. G. T. 



Edinburgh. 



The Brittox, a street In Devizes, Wiltshire, so 

 named. What is the derivation or meaning of 

 this ? . R. H. B. 



Bath. 



Southej/s Portugal. — I should be glad to know 

 if there is any hope that the literary executors of 

 the late Robert Southey will publish that part of 

 his "History of Portugal" which he left completed. 

 Mr. Warter (Notes to Southey s Letters, i. 96.) 

 states the MSS. to extend to a quarto volume. 



W. M. M. 



Prideaux Carew MS. — Has the Prideaux Ca- 

 rew MS., frequently referred to by Polwhele, in 

 his History of Cornwall, ever been published ? If 

 not, can it be consulted at any library, or is it 

 still in the hands of a private individual ? 



A Half Coknish Man. 



" PuUfor Prime.'' — What is the meaning of this 

 phrase, which occurs in the following passages : 



" Piece-meal he gets lands, and spends as much time 

 Wringing each acre, as maids pulling prime." 



Donne, Sat. ii. 86. 

 " Shepherds are honest people let them sing; 

 Riddle who list, for me, and pull for Prime." 



Herbert's poem, " Jordan."' 



J. X. 



