9 th 8. V. FEB. 3, 1900.]
NOTES AND QUERIES.
99
fication of the body is not due to a belief that the
corpse so treated would live again, but in order that
within the carcase thus preserved the spiritual
body may germinate. It is impossible for us to
present any idea of Dr. Budge's assertions and con-
jectures. It is obvious that the notions which were
entertained by English poets Butler and Herbert
were as wrong as were before them those of Juvenal
in regard to the multiplicity of the deities and of
the workmen who are
said to Have made the gods they after prayed to.
Milton seems, however, to have understood the sufferings and the transformations of Osiris ; and the account by Plutarch of Isis and Osiris, whereon, presumably, Milton drew, though the result in part of imagination and misinformation, is of genuine value. How. while the Egyptian religion is mono- theistic, it yet included countless gods we must leave Dr. Budge to explain.
The book on Egyptian magic will probably interest a larger number of readers. That Egypt has long been regarded as the home of magic students of the Bible are well aware. So early as the fourth dynasty the working of magic was among the Egyptians a recognized art ; and it is all but impossible, Dr. Budge thinks, to imagine a time in Egypt when they had not such knowledge. Their control of black magic and of white magic seems to have been equal. To them is due the belief in black powder, by means of which the transmutation of metals was accomplished. To them we owe many quaint and fantastic beliefs which prevail and are practised to this day. Take the idea of the Egyptian magician that it was possible to transmit " to the figure of any man, or woman, or animal, or living creature, the soul of the being which it represented, and its qualities and attributes." From this sprang the practice of setting before a fire the figure of a man, commemorated by Rossetti in ' Sister Helen,' and by other poets. Practices of the kind linger in Italy, and even in England. A heart stuck full of pins was discovered in a chimney of an old house at Staplegrove, and even more recently the melting of a waxen image of a man was followed by the immediate death of the victim. Such, absurd as it may seem, was the avowal of a distinguished writer, who failed to perceive that if what he said was true concerning an action for which he accepted the responsibility he was open to the charge of murder. We are not mentioning this either as a joke or with any belief. The statement was made more than once in our hearing, and may now be read in the life of the writer in question. In aiding to popularize Egyp- tian lore Dr. Budge, who is known to be one of the highest of authorities, is rendering a genuine service. His books may be warmly commended to all whom the study of Egyptology attracts.
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D, Edited
by Temple Scott. Vol. VIII. (Bell & Sons.) SUCCESSIVE volumes of Temple Scott's edition of Swift appear in irregular order, the latest volume comprising ' Gullivers Travels,' edited by Mr. G. Ravenscroft Dennis, B.A. For the use of the worker the present edition will oust all others. It adopts and incorporates all the alterations and additions in the large-paper copy of the first edition of 'Gulliver' belonging to Swift's friend Ford, and due to Swift himself. All the facts concerning this
copy, now in the Forster Collection, South Kensing-
ton, are given in the introduction, which, from
a literary and bibliographical point of view, is
excellent. No attempt at a complete commentary
is, fortunately, made, the few notes being, it is
hoped, adequate to the elucidation of allusions.
Swift, like his predecessor Rabelais, has been the
subject of far too much comment, and the reader of
one, as of the other, will do well to pay little heed
to historical illustrations. These are occasionally,
in Swift's case, of use to the imperfectly informed
reader. More often they are insignificant, trouble-
some, or misleading. The latest editor seems to
share our opinion. On one occasion he says, apropos
of attempted explanations, " Neither of these
conjectures is very satisfactory, and it is more
probable that Swift had no particular incident in
mind, but was attracted by the absurdity of
a solemn refutation of so ludicrous a scandal."
Again, though he ventures to say that "the
Queen of Brobdingnag is probably intended to
represent the Princess of Wales " those
commentators ! he finds himself compelled
to add, " The King, however, bears little
resemblance to the Prince, who was afterwards
George II." A reperusal of 'Gulliver' convinces
one that, witty as it is, it is almost the saddest
book in the world. In a letter to Pope, quoted in
the introduction, Swift says, "The chief end I
propose to myself in all my labours is to vex the
world rather than divert it, and if I could compass
that design without hurting my own person or
fortune, I would be the most indefatigable writer
you have ever seen." And again, "I have ever
hated all nations, professions, and communities."
Well might Coleridge say that Swift was " the soul
of Rabelais habitans in sicco"
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Nutt.) THIS Middle-English Arthurian romance, " retold in Modern Prose, with Introduction and Notes, by Jessie L. Weston," is the first of Mr. Nutrs attractive series of Arthurian romances unrepre- sented in Malory's ' Morte d'Arthur.' It consists of a prose rendering of a supposedly unique MS. of the fourteenth century in the Cottonian Collection in the British Museum. It tells in agreeable lan- guage a strange story of the " typical English hero," as Miss Weston calls Sir Gawain. and shows him a very loyal, pure, and constant knight. Curious pictures of society in the period dealt with are given, and the tale will commend itself to the folk-lorist and the poet. We have read few of these Arthurian legends with more pleasure, and commend warmly Mr. Nutt's charming series, the appearance of which is attractive. The designs by M. M. Craw- ford constitute a distinct enhancement of delight.
Wimborne Minster and Christchurch Priory Bv
the Rev. Thomas Perkins, M.A. (Bell & Sons.) WE own to a little apprehension lest the useful, convenient, and ^ excellent "Cathedral Series" of Messrs. Bell & Sons should have come to a close with the death of its editor, Mr. Gleeson White, whose share in the undertaking is visible in the cover as well as in the contents. Our fears are set at rest by the appearance of the present volume which, without belonging to the series itself, con- stitutes one of the companion volumes which already comprise ' Beverley Minster' and 'St. Martin's Church, Canterbury.' Few of our English
