"Morganatic, a., applied to the marriage in which a gift in the morning is to stand in lieu of dowry, or of all right of inheritance, that might otherwise fall to the issue."
This, however, is inconsistent with the definition of nocturne, mystérieux, for the gift in lieu of dowry would have nothing of mystery in it.
Will some of your correspondents afford, if they can, any reasonable explanation which justifies the application of the word to inferior or left-handed marriages?
G.
[Will our correspondent accept the following as a satisfactory reply?]
Morganatic Marriage (Vol. ii, p. 72.).—The fairy Morgana was married to a mortal. Is not this a sufficient explanation of the term morganatic being applied to marriages where the parties are of unequal rank?
S.S.
Gospel of Distaffs.—Can any reader say where a copy of the Gospel of Distaffs may be accessible? It was printed by Wynkyn de Worde, and Sir E. Brydges, who describes it, says a complete copy was in Mr. Heber's library. A few leaves are found in Bagford's Collection, Harleian MS. 5919., which only raises the desire to see the whole. Dibdin's Ames' Typography, vol. ii. p. 232., has an account of it.
W. Bell.