Sneezing.—Concerning sneezing, it is a curious circumstance that if any one should sneeze in company in North Germany, those present will say, "Your good health;" in Vienna, gentlemen in a café will take off their hats, and say, "God be with you" and in Ireland Paddy will say, "God bless your honour," or "Long life to your honour." I understand that in Italy and Spain similar expressions are used and I think I remember
hearing, that in Bengal the natives make a "salam" on these occasions.
There is also, I believe, a popular idea among some of sneezing having some connexion with Satanic agency; and I lately met with a case where a peculiar odour was invariably distinguishable by two sisters, on a certain individual violently sneezing.
I shall be very much obliged if any of your readers can furnish me with any facts, theories, or popular ideas upon this subject.
Medicus.
Spenser's "Fairy Queen."—Allow me to employ an interval of leisure, after a visit to the remains of Kilcolman Castle, in inquiring whether any of your Irish readers can afford information respecting the existence of the long missing books of the Fairy Queen? Mrs. Hall, in her work on Ireland (vol. i. pp. 93, 94.), says that—
"More than mere rumour exists for believing that the lost books have been preserved, and that the MS. was in the possession of a Captain Garrett Nagle within the last forty years."
W. L. N.
Buttevant, co. Cork.
Poema del Cid.—Is there any edition of the Poema del Cid besides the one published by Sanchez (Poesias Castellanas anteriores al siglo XV.), and reprinted by Ochoa, and appended likewise to an edition of Ochoa's Tesoro de los Romanceros, &c., published at Barcelona in 1840? I shall feel obliged by being referred to an edition in a detached form, with glossary and notes, if such there be.