Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851 | Page 6

It is not a difficult book to
be met with, but the price varies considerably according to the state of
the plates.
H. F.
Mr. Gough's Translation of the History of the Bible (Vol. iii., p.
100.).--A friend has furnished me with the following extract from the
Manuel du Libraire of M. J. C. Brunet in reply to my inquiry who was
the author of the original history. It is taken from tom. i. p. 544.
"Histoire du V. et du N. Testament (par Dav. Martin), enrichie de plus
de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp.), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol. gr. in fol."
M. Brunet informs us that copies of these volumes are valued by the
state of the plates; one of which, in the Apocalypse, having been
broken, was mended with nails, which marked the impression, and
gave the distinction of copies before or with the nails.
As there can be no doubt but that most booksellers take in your useful
publication, one of them may be induced to inform the undersigned if
he has a copy for sale, and the price.
J. M. GUTCH.
Worcester.
* * * * *

Minor Notes.
Origin of Harlequins.--In a note to his translation of Priscus' "History
of the Embassy sent to Attila by Theodosius the Younger" (Hist. Civiliz.
app. iii. vol. ii. p. 430., Bogue's edit. European Library), M. Guizot
remarks, alluding to the appearance of Zercho, a Moor, at Attila's feast:
"Is it not singular to find an harlequin at the court of Attila? Yet such is
the origin of these buffoons. The colour of the black slaves, the
strangeness of their face and manners, caused them to be sought after as
excellent ministers of mirth; to complete the singularity, Zercho asks
his wife at the hands of Attila, closely paralleling Harlequin demanding
Columbine."
Is this account of the origin of Harlequins generally acquiesced in? I
should be obliged by any early notice of the character of Harlequin, and
his introduction on the English or any foreign stage.
E. L. N.
Monosyllables.--Among the many correspondents who have sent you
specimens of monosyllabic poetry, I have seen no one who has quoted
this very singular passage from Phineas Fletcher's Purple Island. It is
far more striking than anything you have yet inserted on this subject.
Canto I. Stanza 7. "New light new love, new love new life hath bred; A
life that lives by love, and loves by light; A love to Him to whom all
loves are wed; A light to whom the sun is darkest night: Eye's light,
heart's love, soul's only life He is; Life, soul, love, heart, light, eye, and
all are His; He eye, light, heart, love, soul; He all my joy and bliss."
In seventy words only one of more than a syllable; the alliteration in
the second line is likewise noticeable.
H. A. B.
Trin. Col., Cambridge.

The Breeches, or Geneva Bible (Vol. iii, p. 17.).--I have before me a
copy of Christopher Barkar's edition of the "Breeches" Bible, 1576,
small folio, in which, on the fly-leaf, is the following interesting note in
the handwriting of the late Francis Douce:--
"It is generally conceived that the peculiarity, 'and they sewed fig tree
leaves together, and made themselves breeches,' belongs exclusively to
this Bible, but it is a mistake. The Saxon version of Ælfric has, {166}
'and sewed fig-leaves, and worked them WEED-BREECH, or cloaths
for the breech.' Wicliffe also translates 'and maden hem breechis;' and
it is singular that Littleton, in his excellent Dictionary, explains
perizomata, the word used in the Vulgate, by breeches. In the
manuscript French translation of Petrus Comestor's Commentary on the
Bible, made by Guiars des Moulins in the 13th century, we have
'Couvertures tout autres-sint comme unnes petites braies.'"
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
Etymology of Mushroom.--In the sixteenth century this word appears
generally to have been spelt Mushrump. Nares, in his valuable Glossary,
gives an instance from Marlow's play of Edward the Second, 1598; but
there is an earlier example in Robert Southwell's Spirituall Poems,
1595:
"He that high growth on cedars did bestow, Gave also lowly
mushrumps leave to growe."
It is also spelt Mushrump in Cockeram's Dictionary, 1632. These
instances may possibly lead to a correct etymology of the word.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
Curious Fact in Natural History.--There is in the Brazils a popular
superstition to this effect. There is a tree called Japécarga, which is said
to grow out of the body of the insect called Cigara. This is a very large
tree, and the Cigara is an insect which makes an incessant chirping on
the tree, and, as the saying goes, chirps till it bursts. When the insect
dies, the tree is said to grow out of it, the roots growing down the legs.

My explanation is this: The insect