Arun.
The Hippopotamus (Vol. iii., p. 181.).—Your correspondent Mr. E. S. Taylor will find in Vol. ii, p. 458, an example of the word ἱπποπόταμος cited from Lucian, a writer anterior both to Horapollo and Damascius. In the same page is a reference to the story of the wickedness of the hippopotamus in Plutarch; so that Horapollo and Damascius, doubtless, borrowed from a common source, or repeated a current fable, to be found in many writings then extant.
L.
Tu Autem (Vol. iii., p. 265).—The words "Tu autem, Domine, miserere nostri," "But Thou, O Lord! have mercy upon us," were originally a form of prayer used by the preacher at the end of his discourse, as a supplication for pardon for any sinful pride or vainglory, into which he might have been betrayed in addressing his congregation. Hence the words "tu autem," as Pegge properly says, came to denote a hint to the reader to leave off.
The custom is still in constant use among the members of the cathedral church of Durham. At the public dinners given by the canons, in what is there called "hospitality residence," one of the choristers comes in after dinner, dressed in his official costume, and, taking his station behind the canon in residence, reads, in the manner which is now well known as intoning, eight verses of the 119th Psalm, first saying, "Here beginneth the —— part of the 119th Psalm."
When the eight verses are concluded, the canon turns round to the chorister, saying "tu autem," giving him a shilling; to which the chorister replies, "Domine miserere nostri," and retires.
The explanation of the words, as originally employed, is given by Rupertus De Divinis Officiis, lib. i. c. xiv.:
DE "TU AUTEM DOMINE."
"Quodque in fine dicit, 'Tu autem Domine miserere nostri,' hoc innuit, ne ipsum quidem bonum officium prædicandi sine alicujus vel levis culpæ pulvere possa pagi. Nam, ut ait B. Augustinus, 'Verbum prædicationis securiùs auditur quàm dicitur. Prædicator quippe cùm benè dicere se sentit, difficile nimis est ut non quantulumcunque spiritu elationis tangat; et quia quasi per terram ambulat et pedes ejus pulvere sordidantur, idcirco misericordiâ Dei indiget, ut in hâc parte lavetur, etiamsi mundus sit totus.'"
From this explanation it is plain, that the Monk of St. Albans, writing to the abbot—
"Si vis, veniam; Sin autem, tu autem,"