' The best
explanation
I can give of the side
note is this.
note is this.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
= A not infrequent word-order in
Jonson. Cf. 4. 2. 22.
=1. 6. 18 a Niaise. = Gifford says that the side note 'could scarcely
come from Jonson; for it explains nothing. A niaise (or rather
an _eyas_, of which it is a corruption) is unquestionably a young hawk,
but the niaise of the poet is the French term for, "a simple, witless,
inexperienced gull", &c. The word is very common in our old
writers. '
The last statement is characteristic of Gifford. It would have been
well in this case if he had given some proof of his assertion. The
derivation _an eyas_ > _a nyas_ is probably incorrect. The _Centary
Dictionary_ gives '_Niaise_, _nyas_ (and corruptly _eyas_, by
misdivision of _a nias_).
' The best explanation I can give of the side
note is this. The glossator takes the meaning 'simpleton' for granted.
But Fitzdottrel has just said 'Laught at, sweet bird? ' In explanation
the side note is added. This, perhaps, does not help matters much and,
indeed, I am inclined to believe with Gifford that the side notes are
by another hand than Jonson's. See Introduction, pp. xiii, xvii.
=1. 6. 29, 30. When I ha' seene
All London in't, and London has seene mee. =
Gifford compares Pope:
Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too.
=1. 6. 31 Black-fryers Play-house. = This famous theatre was founded
by James Burbage in 1596-7.
Jonson. Cf. 4. 2. 22.
=1. 6. 18 a Niaise. = Gifford says that the side note 'could scarcely
come from Jonson; for it explains nothing. A niaise (or rather
an _eyas_, of which it is a corruption) is unquestionably a young hawk,
but the niaise of the poet is the French term for, "a simple, witless,
inexperienced gull", &c. The word is very common in our old
writers. '
The last statement is characteristic of Gifford. It would have been
well in this case if he had given some proof of his assertion. The
derivation _an eyas_ > _a nyas_ is probably incorrect. The _Centary
Dictionary_ gives '_Niaise_, _nyas_ (and corruptly _eyas_, by
misdivision of _a nias_).
' The best explanation I can give of the side
note is this. The glossator takes the meaning 'simpleton' for granted.
But Fitzdottrel has just said 'Laught at, sweet bird? ' In explanation
the side note is added. This, perhaps, does not help matters much and,
indeed, I am inclined to believe with Gifford that the side notes are
by another hand than Jonson's. See Introduction, pp. xiii, xvii.
=1. 6. 29, 30. When I ha' seene
All London in't, and London has seene mee. =
Gifford compares Pope:
Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too.
=1. 6. 31 Black-fryers Play-house. = This famous theatre was founded
by James Burbage in 1596-7.
