Quæ rosa mirantes tam nova mutat aquas?
Numen (convivæ) præsens agnoscite numen—
Vidit et erubuit nympha pudica Deum."
I presume this epigram is Crashaw's poem to which Campbell refers; but query. Until I saw the note in "N. & Q.," I supposed that the celebrated line—
"Lympha pudica Deum vidit et erubuit."
was the happy ex tempore produce of Dryden's early genius, when a boy, at Westminster School. If the epigram which I have copied is the original, the last line is surely much improved by the (traditional) line which Campbell has recorded. Surely lympha is preferable to nympha; and surely the order of the word erubuit ending the line is the best.
F. W. J.
Spurious Edition of Baily's "Annuities" (Vol. iv., p. 19.).—In the place just referred to, I pointed out how to distinguish the spurious editions, among other marks, by the title-page. I looked at a copy on a stall a few days ago, and found that the title-page has been changed. Those who have reprinted it have chosen the old title-page, which stood in the work before two volumes were made of it.
A. De Morgan.
"Illustrium Poetarum Flores."—On leaving London I thought of bringing with me two or three pocket classics; unfortunately, in looking for them, I picked up Illustrium Poetarum Flores per Octavianum Mirandulam olim Collecti, &c., Londini, 1651, and brought that little book with me instead; and, upon looking into it, I find it the worst printed book I ever saw; and I send you this Note as to it, as a warning against so disgraceful a publication. Such a work, if well executed and properly printed, would be a very pleasant companion in a vacation ramble.