Notes and Queries, Number 84, June 7, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. — John Shaqi
Notes and Queries, Number 84, June 7, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 84, June 7, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
I will now, with your permission, call attention to what I consider an
oversight of enquirers into this subject. The conditions required, as
your correspondent well states, are "that the word adopted shall be (1)
suitable to the reputed character of Angelo; (2) an appropriate epithet
to the word 'guards;' (3) of the proper metre in both places; and (4)
similar in appearance to the word 'prenzie.'" Now, it does not appear to
have been considered that this similarity was to be sought in
manuscript, and not in print; or, if considered, that much more radical
errors arise from illegible manuscripts than the critics have allowed
for. In his "Introductory Notice," Mr. Knight says the word (_prenzie_)
"appears to have been inserted by the printer in despair of deciphering
the author's manuscript." Yet in his note to the text he has printed it,
together with three suggested emendations, as though he would call
attention to the comparative similarity in print. But if, as all have
hitherto assumed, the printer had read the first three or four letters
correctly, is it not most probable that the context, with the word
recurring within four lines, would have set him right? And his having
twice inserted a word having no apparent meaning, is it not as probable
that he was misled at the very beginning of the word by some careless
combination of letters presenting accidentally the same appearance in
the two instances? Having thus shown that the search for the true word
may have been too restricted, I will proceed to make a final suggestion.
When Claudio exclaims in surprise--
"The ( ) Angelo!"
it is quite clear that the epithet which has to be supplied is one in
total contrast to the character just given of him by Isabella. What is
this character?
"This _outward-sainted_ deputy,--
Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew,
As falcon doth the fowl,--_is yet a devil;
His filth within being cast, he would appear
A pond as deep as hell_."
To this it appears to me Claudio would naturally exclaim:
"The _saintly_ Angelo!"
and Isabella, as naturally following up the contrast, would continue--
"O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,
The _damned'st body to invest and cover_
In _saintly guards_!"
My acquaintance with the handwriting of the age is very limited, but I
have no doubt there are possible scrawls in which _saintlie_ might be
made to look like _prenzie_. If any one knows a better word, let him
propose it; only I beg leave to warn him against _pious_, which I have
already tried, and for various reasons rejected.
SAMUEL HICKSON.
St. John's Wood, May 24. 1851.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account