(30.) "Antiquitas Sæculi Juventus Mundi."—The discussion in your pages (Vol. ii., pp. 218. 350. 395. 466.) of the origin of this phrase has so distinctly assumed a bibliographical aspect, that I feel justified on the present occasion in inquiring from your various correspondents whether, while they have been citing Bacon and Bruno, Whewell and Hallam, they have lost sight of the beautiful language of the author of the Second Book of Esdras (chap. xiv. 10.)?
"The world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old."
"Sæculum perdidit juventutem suam, et tempora appropinquant senescere."—Biblia, ed. Paris, 1523.
R.G.
Minor Queries.
Rab. Surdam, Meaning of.—The eccentric but clever and learned William Nicol, one of the masters of the High School of Edinburgh, and noted as the friend of Burns, was the son of a poor man, a tailor, in the village of Ecclefechan, in Dumfriesshire. He erected, over the grave of his parents, in Hoddam churchyard, a throuch stone, or altar-formed tomb, bearing the words
"RAB. SURDAM."
Query the meaning of these mystical characters?
Edinensis.