But
Fitzdottrel
has just said 'Laught at, sweet bird?
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
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. The Burbages leased it to Henry Evans
for the performances of the Children of the Chapel, and the King's
Servants acted there after the departure of the children. In 1619
the Lord Mayor and the Council of London ordered its discontinuance,
but the players were able to keep it open on the plea that it was a
private house.
=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. The Burbages leased it to Henry Evans
for the performances of the Children of the Chapel, and the King's
Servants acted there after the departure of the children. In 1619
the Lord Mayor and the Council of London ordered its discontinuance,
but the players were able to keep it open on the plea that it was a
private house.
