—— Rectory, Hereford.
Will you permit me to observe that the proper word is locusts? For I remember when I was at Constantinople in the year 1809, that passing through the fruit and vegetable bazaar, I observed some dried fruits, resembling a large French bean pod; they appeared dry, and were of a brown colour. I inquired the name of "the fruit;" I was told they were "locusts." I was struck with the name, for I remembered the passage in the New Testament, and I could not reconcile my mind to St. John living upon locusts (the insects) and wild honey. I immediately tasted some of the fruit, and found it sweet and good, something similar to the date, but not so good, although nutritious. I was thus instantly convinced of the possibility of St. John living upon "locusts and wild honey" in the desert. I have related to you this fact as it occurred to me. The locust tree must be well known amongst horticulturists. I do not pretend to enter into the question whether the translation is right or wrong, as I am no "scollard," as the old woman said.
J. BL.
There is in Malta, the north of Africa, and Syria, a tree called the locust tree; it bears a pod resembling the bean, and affords in those countries food for both man and horse, which I have no doubt in my own mind is the locust of the New Testament. If your correspondent feels curious on the subject, I would search the bottom of my portmanteau, and perhaps might be able to forward him a specimen.
J. W.
Relative to the meaning of Ἀκρίδες in Matt. iii., I beg to refer your correspondent Βορέας to the note in Dr. Burton's Gr. Test., where he will find reference to the authors who have discussed the question.
DX.
THE SOUL'S ERRAND.
(Vol. iv., p. 274.)
This beautiful little poem is assigned by Bishop Percy to Sir Walter Raleigh, by whom it is said to have been written the night before his execution; this assertion is, however, proved to be unfounded, from the fact that Raleigh was not executed until 1618, and the poem in question was printed in the second edition of Francis Davidson's Poetical Rhapsody, in 1608. "It is nevertheless possible," observes Sir Harris Nicolas (Introduction to Poetical Rhapsody, p. ci.), "that it was written by Raleigh the night before he expected to have been executed at Winchester, November, 1603, a circumstance which is perfectly reconcileable to dates, and in some degree accounts for the tradition alluded to." This ground must be now abandoned, as it is certain that MS. copies of the poem exist of a still earlier date. Malone had a MS. copy of it dated 1595 (Shakspeare by Boswell, vol. ii. p. 579.); Brydges speaks of one in the British Museum dated 1596 (Lee Priory edit. of Raleigh's Works, vol. viii. p. 725.); and Campbell says, "it can be traced to a MS. of a date as early as 1593" (Specimens, p. 57. second edit.).
"The Soul's Errand" is found in the folio edition of Joshua Sylvester's Works, and also in the poems of Lord Pembroke. Ritson, whose authority merits some attention, peremptorily attributes it to Francis Davison. "The Answer to the Lye," he observes, "usually ascribed to Raleigh, and pretended to have been written the night before his execution, was in fact by Francis Davison" (Bib. Poet. p. 308.).