Birmingham.
"_Hip, hip, hurrah!_" (Vol. viii., pp. 88. 323.).-- SIR J. EMERSON TENNENT,
in answering MR. BRENT'S observation at p. 88., seems to have been fighting
a shadow. Upon reference to Mr. Chappell's _Collection_, vol. ii. p. 38.,
quoted by MR. BRENT, it appears that a note by Dr. Burney, in a copy of
Hawkins's _History of Music_, in the British Museum, is the authority for
the reading:
"Hang up all the poor _hep_ drinkers,
Cries old Sim, the King of skinkers."
In the folio edition of Ben Jonson's _Works_, published by Thomas Hodgkin,
London, 1692, in which the "Leges Convivales" are I believe for the first
time printed, the verses over the door of the Apollo are given, and the
couplet runs:
"Hang up all the poor _hop_ drinkers,
Cries Old Sym, the King of skinkers."
Probably Mr. Chappell misread Dr. Burney's MS. note: at all events MR.
BRENT'S ingenious suggestion is without foundation.