160
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. 11. AUG. 19, 1916.
the \rchbishop of that see, and another mentions
the Irish trade in old clothes, stating that altogether
their merchandise, which consists of those same
together with wool, hides, and other small matters,
is auite different from the merchandise of other
lands. This charter (Nov. 22, 1363) is instructive
as illustrating English methods of dealing with
Ireland. Under May 28, 1389, are interesting
particulars of costly royal gifts, in the way of
vestments of cloth of gold with elaborate jewels
and images, to the shrine of Edward the Confessor ;
and there is also a notification of the gift at the
same shrine of a " solemn jewel " by Richard II.
to wit, a gold ring with a ruby in it, which the
King shall have the use of during his lifetime, except when he is without the realm, when H shall, during his absence, be fixed to the shrine. Is anything more known about this ring ?
Jacob and losep : a Middle-English Poem of the Thirteenth Century. Edited by Arthur S. Napier. (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 2s. 6d. net.) PROF. NAPIER tells us in his Introduction to this rather charming little book that he had almost finished preparing it when, in 1905, a German edition appeared (W. Heuser in " Bonner Beitrage zur Anglistik," Heft xvii.). We are glad that he has revised his first decision to lay his work aside. We do not suppose that English students will con- sult the "Bonner Beitrage," even where these are accessible, in preference to an English edition.
' lacob and losep,' as we have it, is a poem of 538 lines, of which the only text is in the Bodleian. A leaf of it is lost, which is the more to be regretted since it probably contained a version of the curious old story to be found in the ' Cursor Mundi ' about how the chaff from Joseph's threshing floated down the Nile to where Jacob was, anc 'how it was the sight of it that caused him to senc his sons up the Nile into Egypt for corn. ^" Ofte of J>is smal chaf ]>is brej>ren broujten horn, is the line that gives the clue to this.
The Introduction furnishes a summary of 1 contents, and comparisons between the story o Joseph as told here and as we have it in the Bible and in the ' Cursor Mundi.' The divergences are partly in the way of abbreviation, by omission 01 contraction, partly in the way of invention Here, for example, it is Pharaoh's wife, no Potiphar's, who falls in love with Joseph. 1 grammar, notes, and glossary are provided it seems superfluous to say they are thorough!} well done.
The poem itself is distinctly attractive, rises to no sublime heights ; but it is plain good story-telling of a simple, lively kind, after the convention to which the lapse of centuries has brought a charm that does not grow stale. There are one or two passages of pretty lyrical -description, as, for instance, Joseph's entry into Egypt ; many touches of real pathos, and once or twice a hint of epigram, as in the line, He wende to sechen his brej>ren, > soujte his fulle fon.
When lacob, at the end, hears that losep is still living there is a quaint and pleasant account of what he did : He cast away his crutch, his mantle he seized, he plaited his hair with a silken string, and he took his beaver (?) hat that was covered with pall. He now could fly, he said, like an eagle, .and he
rod singmde, such hit were a child.
When the brethren are stripping losep to cast
im into the pit, it is said,
Hi strupten of ]>e curtel, of swere > of chin, 4.nd we notice that "chin " is given in the glossary ,s having its ordinary modern meaning. Can hat be right ? Should it not be = chine, back ?
'reland in Fiction : a Guide to Irish Novels, Tales, Romances, and Folk-Lore. By Stephen J. Brown, S.J. (Dublin and London, Maunsel & Co., Is. 6d. net.)
FHE compiler of this work published six years ago A Reader's Guide to Irish Fiction,' which is now out of print. The book before us, though it covers
- he same ground, and has the same purpose, differs
rom the former one in that it deals with nearly double the number of works, is arranged on a new scheme, possesses a title and subject index, and supplies numerous biographical notes. The Ap- pendix of four sections is by no means the least useful part of the compilation, and for those who desire to make thorough acquaintance with Ireland the six classified lists especially will be a boon. The notes to the several novels pretend to no literary quality, being designed simply to state the general character of the book, and the topics with which it deals, for the information of the less experienced reader. If this is borne in mind it will be found that the comments not only, for the most part, are very cleverly calculated for their end, but also in a number of cases furnish a better guide in the matter of literary criticism than they profess to do. One or two modern authors, e.g., Somerville and Ross, are not, per- haps, rated quite so high as we should rate them ; and the merits of others, e.g., Katharine Tynan, seem somewhat over-emphasized. But this re- mark is not intended to qualify our general opinion that this volume embodies a piece of very useful work capably done.
The Athenaium now appearing monthly, arrange-
ments have been made whereby advertisements of
posts vacant and wanted, which it is desired to
publish weekly, may appear
weeks in ' N. & Q.'
in the intervening
to <E0msp0n0mts.
ON all communications must be written the name
and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately, nor can we advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means of disposing of them.
CORRESPONDENTS who send letters to be forwarded to other contributors should put on the top left- hand corner of their envelopes the number of the page of 'N. & Q.' to which their letters refer, so that the contributor may be readily identified.
EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to " The Editor of ' Notes and Queries ' " Adver- tisements and Business Letters to " The Pub- lishers " at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane. B.C.
SIR WILLOUGHBY MAYCOCK. Forwarded.
