Irish Jesuit Province
Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". VISource: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 25, No. 290 (Aug., 1897), pp. 440-441Published by: Irish Jesuit ProvinceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20499163 .
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( 440 )
CLAVIS ACROSTICA. A KEY TO " DPUBLIN ACROSTlICS."
VI. Perhaps the cracking of nuits is too hard work for vacation;
but at all events at this present writing J. W. A. is the only one
who has discovered that No. 9 is " Bill-hook," with the lights
bull-finch, indigo, Lothario, and luck, while No. 10 is " tippet," with
tap and ice the first two lights-but what is the third ? J. W. A.
says parrot; but have parrots such brilliant plumage that an acrostician might fairly indicate them by the egotistical exclamation, "1 Admire my Wing?" Mr. Reeves has given " port " as this
third light. There is something, it seems, floating about in good old crusted port which is called " bee's-wing," though Worcester's big Dictionary does not condesceaid to recognize it.
In reference to " Poor Rembrandt's last " in No. 7, J. W. A.
asks: " Would not Van Rhyn's absurd avarice and his consequent
discomfort account for the epithet ? "
Mr. Joseph Saidanha sends all the way from Bombay a correct
solution of June's acrostics. A new competitor, W. S. B.. has
solved No. 10 correctly, but he too has no acquaintance with bee's
wing and port. In leaving No. 11 and No. 12 to be revealed next month, we
rejoice that we have our manuscript key to fall back upon, if even
the ingenious and perspicacious J. W. A. should be baffled.
No. 11.
High-mettled ride we! yet we show 'tis true
The triumph of the most successful screw.
1 To find my first, go seek the realm of letters.
2 'Then seek the home of pleasure's rosy fetters.
3 The mournful requiem of a wounded bride.
4 The finless creatures of the foaming tide. B.
No. 12.
Where Ethiopia's banjo
A British audience cheers,
With waistcoat white, and riddle trite,
Behold! my first appears.
But join my first and second
In rustic lane and field
A cherished prize in boyhood's eyes
M1y first and second yield.
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Notes on New Books. 441
1 Oh! splendid friend, though nicknamed by the low,
Be ever friend of mine in weal or woe.
2 The moon shines bright, a maid from me descends,
And with an unknown lover leaves her friends.
3 The gold received for me the Jew retains,
Nor gives the squire a zecchin for his pains.
4 I trust I shan't my lady readers vex,
But one has said I'm seldom in your sex.
5 Yon massy portal that obstructs your course, Flies open for me though I use no force.
I.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.
1. Bards of the Gael and Gall. Examples of the Poetic Literature of
Erznn done into English after the MIetres and Mlodes of the Gael. By
George Sigerson M.D,, F.R.U.I., President of the National Literary Society of Ireland, Corresponding Member of La Societ6 d' Anthropo logie, La Societe Clinique and La Societe de Psychologie Psychologique
de Paris, etc. (London: Fisher Unwin, 1897). Price 10s. 6d.
This is by far the most important addition made for many a year to
our Irish Literature. The publisher has prodluced it in a very
attractive form, photogravure portrait of the blind Irish Bard, Carolan, faces the title page which we have transcribed in full, and in which by the way Gall and Gael mean stranger and native, Celt and Saxon or the original Irish and the English intruders. After a joint dedication to Sir C. G. Duffy and Dr. Douglas Hyde, and three
exquisitely appropriate mottoes from Ossian, Edmund Spenser, and
Wordsworth: a most appetising table of contents arranges some hundred and fifty translations of Irish Lyrics according to twelve
successive periods, beginning with the Milesian invaders. A learned and interesting introduction, which is greatly needed, gives information on a great many points in a very agreeable manner and is not a line
too long, although it occupies a hundred pag,es. Greatly needed also is the erudite appendix of sixty pages which supplements the occasional
notes appended to many of the poems. Incidentally Dr. Sigerson
claims for Ireland the glory of being the first to use rhyme and blank
VOL. XfV. No. 290 ,2
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