Dublin.
_"Annoy" used as a Noun_ (Vol. ii., p. 139.).--Your correspondent CH. will
find three good instances of the use of the word _annoy_ as a noun (in
addition to the lines cited by him from Wordsworth) by Queen Elizabeth,
George Gascoigne, and Mr. Keble:
"The doubt of future woes exiles my present joy,
And wit me warns to shun such snares as threaten mine _annoy_."
See Ellis' _Specimens of Early English Poets_, ii. p. 136.
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"And as they more esteeme that merth
Than dread the night's _annoy_,
So must we deeme our dayes on erth
But hell to heauenly joye."
_Good morrowe_; see Farr's _Select Poetry, &c._, p. 38.
"High heaven, in mercy to your sad _annoy_,
Still greets you with glad tidings of immortal joy."
_Christian year_, "Christmas Day."