[These lines are by Christopher Anstey, Esq., and will be found in
his _New Bath Guide_, letter xiv., where "Miss Prudence B-n-r-d
informs Lady Betty that she has been elected to Methodism by a
Vision." This metrical epistle consists of five more verses, to
which the author has subjoined a Latin translation. See Anstey's
_Works_, p. 82. 4to. 1808. Only Vol. I. of Walsh's translation of
_The Comedies of Aristophanes_ has been published.]
_Story of Ginevra._--Mr. Rogers, in his beautiful poem of _Italy_, has a
story which is headed "Ginevra," and which he lays the scene of at
Modena. It narrates that a young bride on the day of her wedding, to
entertain her young friends, proposes that they should amuse themselves
at "hide-and-seek;" and thinking to conceal herself where her companions
could not discover her, bethought herself of an old oaken chest in the
garret of the house. The lid of this chest unfortunately had a clasp
lock, which occasioned her to be completely enshrined; and not being
discovered at the time, she must have perished miserably. Many years
after, upon pulling the house down the chest was forced open, and the
skeleton of the unfortunate lady was, to the consternation of all
present, brought to light.
Mr. Rogers, in a note, says, "I believe this story to be founded on
fact, though I cannot tell when and where it happened;" and adds, "many
old houses _in this country_ lay claim to it."
I should be much obliged to any reader of the "N. & Q." to point out any
old seat in England where the above is stated to have happened; if there
be any memorial or legend concerning it, or any particulars relating to
it.
[--> F.]
P.S. I have, some years ago, read the counterpart of this story in
_French_, when the bride proposes _jouer au cache-cache_, with exactly
the same melancholy result, but I have not any recollection in what
work.
[Two versions of the dramatic narrative of "Ginevra, the Lady
buried alive," are given by Collet in his _Relics of Literature_,
p. 186., in neither of which is there any notice of the
hide-and-seek game, or of the chest with the clasp-lock. The
French account is extracted from the _Causes Célèbres_; and the
Italian, which differs in some particulars, from a work by
Dominico Maria Manni.]
_Play of "Pompey the Great."_--Can any of your readers inform me where
the entire translation of this play, from the French of Corneille into
English, is to be found?--the first act only, which was translated by
Waller, being found in some editions of his works. Also, whether I am
right in supposing that this play contains a scene where the dead body
of Pompey is discovered on the seashore, and a passage discussing what
tomb should be erected to his honour, in deprecation of any monument at
all, and ending with: "The eternal substance of his greatness; to that I
leave him."