In strict law, Sir, the profession may in courts of Momus be held bound by the act of the respectable but unlucky St. Evona; but in equity, let me respectfully claim release, for Evona was a churchman.
A TEMPLAR.
[We gladly insert our correspondent's "claim to release," but doubt whether he can establish it; inasmuch as St. Ivo or Evona, canonized on account of his great rectitude and profound knowledge both of civil and canon law, was both lawyer and churchman, like the CLERICUS so recently discussed in our columns; and clearly sought for and obtained his patron saint in his legal character.]
Muffins and Crumpets, &c.—Not being quite satisfied with the etymology of "muffin," in p. 205., though brought by Urquhart from Phoenicia and the Pillars of Hercules, I am desirous of seeking additional illustration. Some fancy that "coffee" was known to Athenæus, and that he saw it clearly in the "black broth" of the Lacedæmonian youth. In the same agreeable manner we are referred to that instructive and entertaining writer for the corresponding luxury of "muffins." Maphula, we are told, was one of those kinds of bread named as such by Athenæus; that is to say, "a cake baked on a hearth or griddle." If we need go so far, why not fetch our muffins from Memphis, which is Môph in Hebrew? (See Hosea, ix. 6.) It is, perhaps, mou-pain, in old French, soft bread, easily converted into mouffin. So "crumpet" may be a corruption of crumpâte a paste made of fine flour, slightly baked. The only difficulty would then be in the first syllable, concerning, which the ingenuity of your various correspondents, Mr. Editor, may be exercised to some effect. Is it connected with the use of the crimping irons in producing these delicacies?
HYPOMAGIRUS.
Oxford.
Dulcarnon.—Dulcarnon is one of those words in Chaucer which Tyrwhitt professes that he does not understand. It occurs in Trolius and Creseide, book iii. 931.933. Creseide says:—
"I am, til God me better minde sende,
At Dulcarnon, right at my witt'is ende.
Quod Pandarus ye nece, wol ye here,