Lucasta [35]
divisions marked on them. A yard of ale is even now a well understood term: nor is the custom itself out of date, since in some parts of the country one is asked to take, not a glass, but A YARD. The ell was of course, strictly speaking, a larger measure than a yard; but it was often employed as a mere synonyme or equivalent. Thus, in MAROCCUS EXTATICUS, 1595, Bankes says:-- "Measure, Marocco, nay, nay, they that take up commodities make no difference for measure between a Flemish elle and an English yard."
<35.2> In the new edition of Nares (1859), this very passage is quoted to illustrate the meaning of the word, which is defined rather vaguely to be A CASK. Obviously the word signifies something of the kind, but the explanation does not at all satisfy me. I suspect that a flute OF CANARY was so called from the cask having several vent-holes, in the same way that the French call a lamprey FLEUTE D'ALEMAN from the fish having little holes in the upper part of its body.
<35.3> Forsyth, in his ANTIQUARY'S PORTFOLIO, 1825, mentions certain "glutton-feasts," which used formerly to be celebrated periodically in honour of the Virgin; perhaps the pasties used on these occasions were thence christened PASTIES-MARY.
<35.4> Venison pies or pasties were the most favourite dish in this country in former times; innumerable illustrations might be furnished of the high esteem in which this description of viand was held by our ancestors, who regarded it as a thoroughly English luxury. The anonymous author of HORAE SUBSECIVAE, 1620, p. 38 (this volume is supposed to have been written by Giles Brydges, Lord Chandos), describes an affected Englishman who has been travelling on the Continent, as "sweating at the sight of a pasty of venison," and as "swearing that the only delicacies be mushrooms, or CAVIARE, or snayles."
"The full-cram'd dishes made the table crack, Gammons of bacon, brawn, and what was chief, King in all feasts, a tall Sir Loyne of BEEF, Fat venison pasties smoaking, 'tis no fable, Swans in their broath came swimming to the table."-- Poems of Ben Johnson Junior, by W. S. 1672, p. 3.
<35.5> An allusion to the scantiness of forks. "And when your justice of peace is knuckle-deep in goose, you may without disparagement to your blood, though you have a lady to your mother, fall very manfully to your woodcocks."-- Decker's GULS HORN BOOK, 1609, ed. Nott, p. 121.
"Hodge. Forks! what be they? Mar. The laudable use of forks, Brought into custom here, as they are in Italy, To the sparing of napkins--" Jonson's THE DEVIL IS AN ASS, act. v. scene 4.
"Lovell. Your hand, good sir. Greedy. This is a lord, and some think this a favour; But I had rather have my hand in my dumpling." Massinger's NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS, 1633.
<35.6> The sirloin of beef.
<35.7> Rotterdam.
<35.8> AMADIS DE GAULE. The translation of this romance by Anthony Munday and two or three others, whose assistance he obtained, made it popular in England, although, perhaps with the exception of the portion executed by Munday himself, the performance is beneath criticism.
TO ELLINDA. VPON HIS LATE RECOVERY. A PARADOX.
I. How I grieve that I am well! All my health was in my sicknes, Go then, Destiny, and tell, Very death is in this quicknes.
II. Such a fate rules over me, That I glory when I languish, And do blesse the remedy, That doth feed, not quench my anguish.
III. 'Twas a gentle warmth that ceas'd In the vizard of a feavor; But I feare now I am eas'd All the flames, since I must leave her.
IV. Joyes, though witherd, circled me, When unto her voice inured Like those who, by harmony, Only can be throughly cured.
V. Sweet, sure, was that malady, Whilst the pleasant angel hover'd, Which ceasing they are all, as I, Angry that they are recover'd.
<35.2> In the new edition of Nares (1859), this very passage is quoted to illustrate the meaning of the word, which is defined rather vaguely to be A CASK. Obviously the word signifies something of the kind, but the explanation does not at all satisfy me. I suspect that a flute OF CANARY was so called from the cask having several vent-holes, in the same way that the French call a lamprey FLEUTE D'ALEMAN from the fish having little holes in the upper part of its body.
<35.3> Forsyth, in his ANTIQUARY'S PORTFOLIO, 1825, mentions certain "glutton-feasts," which used formerly to be celebrated periodically in honour of the Virgin; perhaps the pasties used on these occasions were thence christened PASTIES-MARY.
<35.4> Venison pies or pasties were the most favourite dish in this country in former times; innumerable illustrations might be furnished of the high esteem in which this description of viand was held by our ancestors, who regarded it as a thoroughly English luxury. The anonymous author of HORAE SUBSECIVAE, 1620, p. 38 (this volume is supposed to have been written by Giles Brydges, Lord Chandos), describes an affected Englishman who has been travelling on the Continent, as "sweating at the sight of a pasty of venison," and as "swearing that the only delicacies be mushrooms, or CAVIARE, or snayles."
"The full-cram'd dishes made the table crack, Gammons of bacon, brawn, and what was chief, King in all feasts, a tall Sir Loyne of BEEF, Fat venison pasties smoaking, 'tis no fable, Swans in their broath came swimming to the table."-- Poems of Ben Johnson Junior, by W. S. 1672, p. 3.
<35.5> An allusion to the scantiness of forks. "And when your justice of peace is knuckle-deep in goose, you may without disparagement to your blood, though you have a lady to your mother, fall very manfully to your woodcocks."-- Decker's GULS HORN BOOK, 1609, ed. Nott, p. 121.
"Hodge. Forks! what be they? Mar. The laudable use of forks, Brought into custom here, as they are in Italy, To the sparing of napkins--" Jonson's THE DEVIL IS AN ASS, act. v. scene 4.
"Lovell. Your hand, good sir. Greedy. This is a lord, and some think this a favour; But I had rather have my hand in my dumpling." Massinger's NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS, 1633.
<35.6> The sirloin of beef.
<35.7> Rotterdam.
<35.8> AMADIS DE GAULE. The translation of this romance by Anthony Munday and two or three others, whose assistance he obtained, made it popular in England, although, perhaps with the exception of the portion executed by Munday himself, the performance is beneath criticism.
TO ELLINDA. VPON HIS LATE RECOVERY. A PARADOX.
I. How I grieve that I am well! All my health was in my sicknes, Go then, Destiny, and tell, Very death is in this quicknes.
II. Such a fate rules over me, That I glory when I languish, And do blesse the remedy, That doth feed, not quench my anguish.
III. 'Twas a gentle warmth that ceas'd In the vizard of a feavor; But I feare now I am eas'd All the flames, since I must leave her.
IV. Joyes, though witherd, circled me, When unto her voice inured Like those who, by harmony, Only can be throughly cured.
V. Sweet, sure, was that malady, Whilst the pleasant angel hover'd, Which ceasing they are all, as I, Angry that they are recover'd.