"ANYWHEN" AND "SELDOM-WHEN:" UNOBSERVED INSTANCES OF SHAKSPEARE'S USE OF THE LATTER.
(Vol. vii., p. 38.)
Mr. Fraser's remark about the word anywhen has brought to my mind two passages in Shakspeare which have been always hitherto rendered obscure by wrong printing and wrong pointing. The first occurs in Measure for Measure, Act IV. Sc. 2., where the Duke says:
"This is a gentle provost: seldom-when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men."
Here the compound word, signifying rarely, not often, has been always printed as two words; and Mr. Collier, following others, has even placed a comma between seldom and when.
The other passage occurs in the Second Part of King Henry IV., Act IV. Sc. 4.; where Worcester endeavours to persuade the king that Prince Henry will leave his wild courses. King Henry replies:
"'Tis seldom-when the bee doth leave her comb
In the dead carrion."
Here also the editors have always printed it as two words; and, as before, Mr. Collier here repeats the comma.
That the word was current with our ancestors, is certain; and I have no doubt that other instances of it may be found. We have a similar compound in Chaucer's Knight's Tale, v. 7958.:
"I me rejoyced of my lyberté,
That selden-tyme is founde in mariage."
Palsgrave, too, in his Eclaircissement de la Langue Françoise, 1530, has—
"Seldom-what, Gueres souvent."
Seldom-when, as far as my experience goes, seems to have passed out of use where archaisms still linger; but anywhen may be heard any day and every day in Surrey and Sussex. Those who would learn the rationale of these words will do well to consult Dr. Richardson's most excellent Dictionary, under the words An, Any, When, and Seldom.
This is at least a step towards Mr. Fraser's wish of seeing anywhen legitimatised; for what superior claim had seldom-when to be enshrined and immortalised in the pages of the poet of the world?
S. W. Singer.
Manor Place, South Lambeth.