Straw Necklaces (Vol. i., p. 4., &c.).—May not these be possibly only Spenser's "rings of rushes," mentioned by him among other fragile ornaments for the head and neck?
"Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize
With gaudy girlonds, or fresh flowrets dight
About her necke, or rings of rushes plight."
F. Q. lib. ii. canto vi. st. 7.
Ache.
The Nine of Diamonds, called the Curse of Scotland (Vol. i., pp. 61., 90.).—The following explanation is given in a Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1785; an ignoble authority, it must be admitted:—
"Diamonds imply royalty, being ornaments to the imperial crown, and every ninth King of Scotland has been observed for many ages to be a tyrant, and a curse to that country."
J. H. M.
"Cum Grano Salis" (Vol. iii., pp. 88. 153.).—I venture to suggest, that in this phrase the allusion is to a rich and unctuous morsel, which, when assisted by a little salt, will be tolerated by the stomach, otherwise will be rejected. In the same way an extravagant statement, when taken with a slight qualification (cum grano salis) will be tolerated by the mind. I should wish to be informed what writer first uses this phrase in a metaphorical sense—not, I conceive, any classical author.