Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

Μηδ ̓, ὅτε νηνεμίῃ ἐν ἀράχνια λεπτὰ φέρηται
Καὶ φλόγες αἰθύσσωσι μαραινομένοιο λύχνοιο,
*Η πῦρ αὔηται σποδιῇ καὶ ὑπεύδια λύχνα
Πιστεύειν χειμώνι· τί τοι λέγω ὅσσα πέλονται
Σήματ ̓ ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους· δὴ γὰρ καὶ ἀεικές τέφρη
Αὐτοῦ πηγνυμένῃ νιφετοῦ ἐπιτεκμήραιο
Καὶ λύχνῳ, χιόνος, κέγχροις ὅτ' ἐοικότα πάντη
Κύκλῳ σήματ ̓ ἔχῃ πυριλαμπὴς ἐγγύθι μύξα

[blocks in formation]

[Lucr. Rer. Nat. iv. 5.] Apud Claudianum : “Ingenti clamore grues æstiva relinquunt

Thracia, quum tepido permutant Strymona Nilo. [Claudian. Bel. Gild. cit. Bochart. 4.11.]

Olim in Jerem. scriptum est: Turtur et hirundo et grus custodierunt tempus adventus sui. [Jerem. viii. 7.] Grues ut Auseres et paucæ aliæ aves in figuris, seu literato ordine, per colum volant: Marking the tracts of air the clamorous cranes, &c. [Cit. å Bewick. Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 43.] Plura de grue vide in Bochart. Hierozoicon, sive de animalibus sacra scriptura, par. rr. lib. i. c. 11. et Gesner. Hist. Avium lib. iii.

(De grue).

305

301. Neque (crede tempestati) quando in ventorum tranquillitate araneæ graciles feruntur-Refert ad quendam aranearum morem; quo, ab hoc in illum locum feruntur; quasi volantes; fila sua eundo faciunt et post se trahunt. Miranuir physiologi quomodo aranem alarum expertes se per aera portare possint. Hoc tamen per quandam corporis inflationem facere creduntur. Aratus notat hoc, quum frequentius fit, prognosticum esse hyemis. Idem πολλὰ φερόμενα πνεῦμα ή χειρῶτα σημαίνει. Theophrastus sig. vent.Αράχνια [Theoph. Sign. Vent.] Nescio an araneas, quæ domos incolunt, an servavi sæpe prognosticum pluviæ sylvestres ante oculos habuit: obrepentibus; vein tamen hanc interex araneis super domorum parietes pretationem negat: referre videtur ad araneas in agris habitantes.

302-304. Aut quum flamme flagrent marcescentis lucerna, aut ignis lambat cinere et serena lucernæ; crede tempestati-Quid tibi dico que signa sunt hominibus?..

305-308. Siquidem vel vili cinere licet. Etiam per lucernam nivem ipsam concreto nivem, observes milio cum similes undique circumcirca notus habet condicans prope scribit: Τέφρα πηγνυμένη νιφετόν λύχνος ellychnium. Theophrastus sig. plu. εὐδίας ἡσυχαῖος καιόμενος, χειμώνα σημαί νει, καὶ ἐὰν χειμῶνος ὄντος μύχαι μέλαιναι ἐπιγένωνται, χειμώνα σημαίνει καὶ ἐὰν ὥσπερ κέγχροις πολλοῖς καταπλέων ή χει μερίσει, καὶ ἐὰν κύκλῳ περὶ τὸ λαμπρὸν ὦσιν εὐδίας οὔσης χιονικόν. [Theoph. Sign. Plur. Heins. Edit. p. 438.]

*Ανθρακι δὲ ζώοντι, χαλάζης, οππότε λαμπρὸς
Αὐτὸς ἐείδηται· μέσσῳ δὲ οἱ οὔτε λεπτὴ
Φαίνηται νεφέλη, πυρὸς ἔνδοθεν αἰθομένοιο.
Πρῖνοι δ' ού, καρποῖο καταχθέες, οὐδὲ μέλαιναι
Σχίνοι, ἀπείρητοι· πάντη δέ τε πολλὸς ἀλωεὺς
Αἰεὶ παπταίνει, μή οἱ θέρος ἐκ χερὸς ἔῤῥη
Πρῖνοι μὲν θαμινῆς ἀκύλου κατὰ μέτρον ἔχουσαι
Χειμῶνός κε λέγοιεν, ἐπὶ πλέον ἰσχύσοντος
Μηδὲ ἄδην ἔκπαγλα περιβρίθοιεν απάντη,
Τηλοτέρω δ' αὐχμοῖο συνασταχύοιεν αρουραι.
... Τριπλόα δὲ σχῖνος κυέει τρισσαὶ δέ γε αὔξαι
* Γίνονται καρποῖο· φέρει δέ τε σήμαθ' ἑκάστη
Εξείης ἀρότῳ καὶ γάρ τ' ἀροτήσιον ὥρην
Τριπλόα μείρονται, μέσσην, καὶ ἐπ' ἀμφότερ ̓ ἄκρα
1. Πρῶτος μὲν πρώτην ἄροσιν, μέσσος δέ τε μέσσην
Καρπὸς ἀπαγγέλλει, πυμάτην γέ μεν ἔσχατος ἄλλων.
Οντινα γὰρ κάλλιστα λοχαίη σχῖνος ἄρηται,
Κείνῳ γ ̓ ἐξ ἄλλων ἄροσις πολυλήϊος εἴη,
Τῷ δέ γ ̓ ἀφαυροτάτῳ ὀλίγη, μέσσῳ δέ τε μέσση.

6 809311. Prognosticum grandi DisCarbone autem ardente, grandinem, quando candens ipse videatur; sed in medio ipso velut tenuis appareat nebula igne intus candente. 312-316. Prognosticum duræ hyemis sumptum ex ilicibus et lentiscis valde fructiferosis.-Nec vero ilices, fructu onustæ, neque nigræ lentisci sine signo sunt. Passim autem frequens agricola continuo circumspicit, neque ei fuat æstase manu. Hices quidem frequentis glandis non parum ferentes, hye» mem certe haud leviter invalescens tem nunciare solent. Theophrase tus in Sign. Temp. Οι πρίνοι ἐὰν εὐκαρπῶσι, χειμώνες πολλοὶ σφόδρα γίνονται. Et paulo infra : Οἱ πρῖνοι ὅταν εὐκαρπῶν τσι σφόδρα ὡς μὲν τὰ πολλὰ χειμῶνα ἰσχυρὸν σημαίνουσιν. [Theoph. Sign. Temp. 317-327. Prognostica messis ex arborum fructificatione-Neque ni mis insolenter gravida funt unde quaque, sed magis procul a squalore spicisarva complentur, tribus vicibus vero lentiscus fœtificat, tria item incrementa fiunt fructus, fert autem indicium quodvis, ex ordine, aratio

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

310

315

320

$325

nis etenim arandi tempus trifariam dividunt, medium et utrimque extremum. Primus quidem primam arationem, medius vero mediam fructus denunciat, ultimam autem ultimus aliorum. Quem enim pulcherrime fœtificans lentiscus tulerit, illi præ aliis aratio frugifera existerit. Minutissimo vero modica, at medio media. Theophrastus scribit: @ τῆς σχοίνου καρπὸς σημαίνει τοὺς καρποὺς, ἔχει δὲ τρία μέρη, καὶ ἔστιν ὁ πρῶτος τοῦ πρώτου ἀρότου σημεῖον, ὁ β' τοῦ β', τοῦ γ' ὁ γ. καὶ ὡς ἂν τούτων κλίνη κάλλιστα καὶ γένηται ἀδρότατος οὕτως ἔξει καὶ ὁ κατὰ τοῦτον ἄροτος. [Theoph. Sign. Seren. Heins. edit. p. 440.] Geopon. me morat, Τρὶς δὲ καρπούς φασι φέρειν, [Geo pon. xi. 12. cit. Buhle. refert ad Salmas. de Homom. Hyl. iatr. c. viii. p. 8.] &c. Emulatur Virgilius po

tam nostrum :

"Contemplator item quum se nux
plurima silvis
Induit in florem et ramas curvabit
olentes.

Si superant fœtus pariter frumenta
sequentur."

[Virg. Geor. i. 187.]

Οὕτως δ ̓ ἀνθερικὸς τριχθὰ σκίλλης ὑπεραρθῇς στο
Σήματ ̓ ἐπιφράσσασθαι ὁμοίνον ἀμήτοιο.
Οσσα δ ̓ ἐπὶ σχίνου ἀρότηρ ἐπιφράσσατο καρπῷ
Τόσσα καὶ ἐν σκίλλης τεκμαίρεται ἄνθεν λευκῳ.
Αὐτὰρ ὅτε σφήκες μετ ̓ ὀπώρινον ἤλιθα πολλοὶ
Πάντη βεβρίθωσι, καὶ ἑσπερίων προπάροιθεν
Πληϊάδων, εἴποι τις επερχόμενον χειμώνα,
Οἷος ἐπὶ σφήκεσσιν ἑλίσσεται αὐτίκα δῖνος.
Θήλειαι δὲ σύες, θήλεια δὲ μῆλα, καὶ αἶγες,
̔́Οπποτ ̓ ἀναστρωφῶσιν ὀχῆς τὰ δέ γ' ἄῤῥενα πάντα,
Δεξάμεναι πάλιν αὖτις ἀναβλήδην ὀχέωνται,
Αὐτῷ καὶ σφήκεσσι μέγαν χειμῶνα λέγοιεν.

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

ETYMOLOGICAL RESEARCHES.

PERMIT me to obtrude on your attention a few remarks, on a subject not uninteresting, I presume, to the readers of the Classical Journal.

- I would not be understood as wishing in the least degree to detract from the merit and learning of the eminent writers, whose names I may have occasion to mention; or as endeavouring to ridicule the science of Etymology. Yet, some

Cf. Nicand. Ther. 396. 438. et Plin:
Hist. Nat. xviii. 25.

328-331. Sic etiam fos trifariam scilla quum superetur; signo similis messis advertitur. Quæcumque vero in lentisci fructu arator observavesit, eadem etiam in scillæ fore albo deprehendit,

332335. Sed quum vespæ Autumni tempore glomeratim multa passim constipatæ fuerint, etiam vespertinas ante Pleiades, dixerit quis subsecuturam hyemem, qualis in vespis conglomeratim itidem turbo. Apud Theophrastum est: Ἔστι δὲ σημεῖον χειμώνων μεγάλων καὶ ὄμε βρων, καὶ ὅταν γίνωνται ἐν τῷ μετοπώρῳ πολλοὶ σφήκες. [Theoph. Sign. Temp.] 336-339. Prognosticum hyemis

e suibus, ovibus, et capris-Fœminæ etiam sues, foeminæ oves capreque quum redeant e pastui, maribas omnibus admissis, rursus mutuo cueant.

Theophrastus memorat: Καὶ ὅταν ὀχέωσι πρόβατα ἢ αἶγες χειμώνος μακροῦ σημεῖον. [Theoph. Sign. Pluv.] Et inter signa tempestatis paullo inferius: Πρόβατα ἐὰν πρωὶ ὀχεῦνται πρωτον χειμῶνα σημαίνουσι. [Theoph. Siga. Temp.] Ælian. in Hist. Anim. habet: Κοιμώμεναι δὲ ἀθρότει καὶ αἴγες τὰ αὐτὰ ὁμολόγουσιν· ὕες δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἀθροίσμασι φαινόμεναι ὑετοῦ φύγην διδάσκουσιν· ἄρνες δὲ ἄρα καὶ ἔριφοι ἀλλήλοις ἐμπηδῶντές τε καὶ ὑποσκιρτώντες φαίδραν ἡμέραν ὁμολογοῦσι. [Elian. Hist. Anim. vii. 8.] Plinio, Pecora exultantia, et indecora lascivia ludentia eandem significant. p.

[ocr errors]

passages have occurred to my notice, which seem to betray inconsistencies, and to convey ideas somewhat ludicrous, to the mind of one who can abstract the plain sense from the learned lumber which bedecks their appearance.

To the name of Bryant we cannot refer, without a feeling of admiration and reverence, for talents so conspicuous, employed in a cause so worthy and noble. Far be it from me to presume against the authority of so profound a scholar, and so excellent a man. But when we read such a passage as the following, we are compelled to suspect the writer of dosing over his pen, while we must acquit the critic of so evident an incoherence:

12

"COHEN, which seems among the Egyptian and other Ammonians to have been pronounced Cahen, and Chan, signified a Priest; also a Lord or Prince."-Ancient Mythology, i. 48. Compare this with what follows:-"It was also expressed Con, as we may infer from the title of the Egyptian Hercules." Τον Ηρακλήν φησὶ κατὰ τὴν Αἰγυπτίων διάλεκτον ΚΩΝΑ λέγεσθαι. It seems also to have been a title of the true God, who by Moses is styled Konah, P."

2

The passage in Genesis, to which the learned author refers,

where all ברוך אברם לאל עליון קנה שמים וארע:,is as follows

must perceive that TP the Benoni form of P to possess, is essentially different from the substantive form of to minister: but which Mr. B. has unaccountably confounded

The word is indeed transferred into other languages;' as Mr. Bryant seems to hint.-And the connexion between the offices of priest and king is referred to by the poet.

Rex Anius, rex idem hominum, Phœbique sacerdos.' En, iii. 80. a great officer in a king's court, from his duty of ministering in civil affairs. See 2 Sam. viii. 18. (compare 1 Chron. xviii. 17.) 2 Sam. xx. 26. 1 Kings, iv. 5. Job xii. 19.23 And to the union of the sacerdotal and regal characters, the Tartar Khan, and German Koning, whence is derived the English King, may probably be traced.+

So the word is used in Holy Writ f

[ocr errors]

But that the title Cohen, Con or Konah, as derived from Cohen , was ever applied to the true God, is by no means clear. The passage in question seems to evidence the contrary, since P is proved to have a very different sense, implying

: Etymologicum Magnum, Κυνάδης Ποσειδῶν ̓Αθηνῇσιν ἐτιμᾶτο. Hesychius. 2 Genesis c. 14. v. 19. Ibid. i. 50. 3 Parkhurst. 4 Faber.

possession; whereas the title of Cohen, being derived from 1, has the sense of ministering or serving a Deity; au attribute utterly inapplicable in the remotest degree to the living and true God.

It is not my wish to disturb the ashes of the dead, or to attempt any depreciation of the profound erudition possessed by these learned writers; but I may here be allowed to notice a few instances of a similar nature; inconsistencies produced, I conceive, by too servile an attention to sound, and too great a neglect of genuine Etymology. The cases are not exactly parallel, since Mr. Bryant's manifest inadvertence is much more excusable: the others being too generally at variance, rather with probability and reason, than with the systems of their respective authors. Mr. Bryant himself mentions a notable case of idle etymological trifling.

"We are much indebted," says that profound scholar, “to the learned Father Theophilus of Antioch: he had great knowledge, but could not help giving way to this epidemical weakness. He mentions Noah as the same as Deucalion, which name was given him from calling people to righteousness: he used to say deûte, xaλeï úμãç ó beos and from hence, it seems, he was called Deucalion. Ad Autoł. i. 3." Ancient Mythol. i. 164. note.

From the venerable Jacob Bryant, the transition is easy fo the name of Faber, whose truly valuable and learned writings afford numberless cases of curious derivation. He observes→→

"In the Icelandic language the letter T is denominated Tyr, or the bull. (D'Ancarville, Researches sur l'Orig. des Arts de la Grèce, lib. ii. c. 2. ap. Vallancey.) The reason no doubt was, because it was the compound symbol of Noah and the Ark; or in other words, of the Bull Apis sailing, as he is represented in the Bombine Table, in the Baris of Isis." Fa ber's Cabiri, ii. 392. note.

A less recondite conceit has traced some of our mountains to the classic names of Ancient Greece: and an author submits to his readers a conjecture on the derivation of the word Wrynose, which is traced to Ougavós!" Skiddaw probably owes its origin to the Greek Exía, for shadows, clouds, and darkness, rest upon it."" Descriptive Tour to the Lakes, p. 56. note.

Will the blue-stocking ladies of the present day pardon me when I advert to an ancient etymology, which refers the origin of Eve's cognomen to a Hebrew root signifying her loquacity! They shall have the passage in full

"Cur autem dicta fuit ? Ridicule Rabbinorum aliqui id nominis a derivant, quod in Piel significare vel indicare

« PoprzedniaDalej »