May I take the present opportunity of inquiring through your truly useful columns, when Mr. Fennell's work on the natural history of Shakspeare, advertised some few years since, is likely to appear?
Archibald Fraser.
Woodford.
"Vanitatem observare" (Vol. ix., pp. 247. 311.).—The quotation of R. H. G. is no more to be found in the Canons of Laodicea than in those of Ancyra. Indeed the passage has more the appearance of a recommendation, certainly excellent, than of any grave decree of a council. It can hardly be supposed to bear any other meaning than that Christian females ought not to indulge vanity, or take occasion to be vain of their works in wool, spun or woven; but to refer all their talent to the Almighty, who gives to them the skill and ability to work. Here is evidently an allusion to the skill and wisdom given to Beseleel and Ooliab:
"Both of them hath he instructed with wisdom, to do ... tapestry and embroidery in blue and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and to weave all things, and to invent all things."—Exod. xxxv. 35.
And Christian women are reminded that all their skill in such work is the gift of God. The learned Benedictine Rupertus has a comment upon this passage of Exodus, so apposite that its substance may appropriately conclude this Note:
"Disce hinc, artes omnes, etiam mechanicas, esse dona Dei, saltem naturalia, neque in iis ut suis, suaque industria inventis aut partis, homini gloriandum esse (q. d. vanitatem observare), sed illas Deo adscribendas, ab eoque petendas, et in ejus obsequium expendendas esse."
F. C. Husenbeth, D.D.
The passage which your correspondent R. H. G. quotes from the Council of Ancyra, A.D. 314, is not to be found in the canons of that Council, which are printed in their original Greek, with several Latin translations, in Labbe's Concilia, vol. ii. p. 513. The meaning of the sentence does not seem very abstruse; but before any suggestion is made for its interpretation, it will be desirable to ascertain to what Council it belongs.
L.