Notes and Queries, Number 26, April 27, 1850 | Page 8

the grey eastern sky With its blended hues of saffron and lake," &c.
I have always understood them to be Dr. Aikin's, but latterly that has been contradicted.
Buriensis.
_William Godwin._--Can any of your correspondents tell me where I can find an account of the leading events of the life of William Godwin, author of _Caleb Williams, St. Leon, Mandeville_ &c., or any reference to his last hours? His sentiments, political and religious, are said to have been peculiar.
N. Woodbridge, April 15.
_Regimental Badges._--When were the regimental badges granted to the first nine infantry corps of the line, and under what circumstances were they so granted?
J.C. London, April 15. 1850.
_Mother of Thomas à Becket._--The well-known romantic legend of the origin of this lady has been introduced into the _Pictorial History of England_, on the authority of "Brompton in X. Scriptores." And on the same page (552. vol. i.) is a pictorial representation of the "Baptism of the Mother of Becket, from the Royal MS. 2 B. vii."
Now, Lord Campbell, in his _Lives of the Chancellors_, repudiates the story in toto; but without assigning any other reason for doing so, than an inference from the silence of Becket himself and his secretary, Fitzstephen, on the point.
Can any of the learned gentlemen, whose distinguished names adorn your valuable pages, direct an humble student to the fountain of truth, for the settlement of this _verata questio_?
W. Franks Mathews. Kidderminster, April 7. 1850.
_Swords worn in public._--Can any of your correspondents say when swords ceased to be worn as an article of ordinary dress, and whether the practice was abolished by act of parliament, or that they gradually went out of fashion.
J.D.A. April 17. 1850.
_Emblem and National Motto of Ireland._--How long has the harp been the emblem, and _Erin-go-bragh_ the national motto of Ireland? To this I give another query,--What is the national motto of England?
E.M.B.
_Latin Distich and Translation._--Who were the authors of the following Latin Distich, and its English translation?
"Mittitur in disco mihi piscis ab archiepisco-- --Po non ponatur, quia potus non mihi datur." "I had sent me a fish in a great dish by the archbish-- --Hop is not here, for he gave me no beer."
E.M.B.
_Verbum Gr?cum._--Who was the author of
"Like the _verbum Gr?cum_ Spermagoraiolekitholukanopolides, Words that should only be said upon holidays, When one has nothing else to do."
The _verbum Gr?cum_ itself is in Aristophanes' _Lysistrata_, 457.
E.M.B.
_Pope Felix._--Who is "Pope Felix," mentioned in ?lfric's _Homily on the Birthday of St. Gregory_? ?lfric, in speaking of the ancestors of St. Gregory, states that "Felix se eawfaesta papa waes his fifta faeder,"--"Felix the pious pope was his fifth father," (i.e. great grandfather's grandfather).
E.M.B. April 15. 1850.
"_Where England's Monarch," and "I'd preach as though._"--Will any of your subscribers have the kindness to inform me who was the author of the lines
"Where England's monarch all uncovered sat And Bradshaw bullied in a broad-brimm'd hat."
And also of these, quoted by Henry Martyn as "well-known:"
"I'd preach as though I ne'er should preach again, I'd preach as dying unto dying men."
H.G. Milford, April 15. 1850. {416}
_Latin Epigram._--I should be much obliged to any of your readers who can inform me who was the author and what is the date of the following epigram. The peculiarity of it, your readers will observe, consists in the fact, that while read directly it contains a strong compliment; yet it is capable of being read backwards, still forming the same description of verse, but conveying a perfect reverse of the compliment:--
"Laus tua, non tua fraus; virtus non copia rerum, Scandere te fecit hoc decus eximium, Pauperibus tua das; nunquam stat janua clausa; Fundere res qu?ris, nec tua multiplicas. Conditio tua sit stabilis! non tempore parvo Vivere te faciat hic Deus omnipotens."
When reversed, it reads thus:--
"Omnipotens Deus hic faciat te vivere parvo Tempore! Non stabilis sit tua conditio. Multiplicas tua, nec qu?ris res fundere; clausa Janua stat, nunquam das tua pauperibus. Eximium decus hoc fecit te scandere rerum Copia, non virtus; fraus tua, non tua laus."
Any additional information would much oblige.
O. April 15. 1850.
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REPLIES.
GRAY'S ALCAIC ODE.
Circumstances enable me to give a reply, which I believe will be found correct, to the inquiry of "C.B." in p. 382. of your 24th Number, "Whether Gray's celebrated Latin Ode is actually to be found entered at the Grande Chartreuse?" The fact is, that the French Revolution--that whirlwind which swept from the earth all that came within its reach and seemed elevated enough to offer opposition--spared not the poor monks of the Chartreuse. A rabble from Grenoble and other places, attacked the monastery; burnt, plundered, or destroyed their books, papers, and property, and dispersed the inmates; while the buildings were left standing, not from motives of respect, but because they would have been troublesome and laborious to pull down, and were not sufficiently combustible to burn.
In travelling on