Minor Notes.
_Les Anguilles de Melun._--"Les anguilles de Melun crient avant qu'on
les écorche" is a well-known proverb in that town; and as some of your
readers may be curious to learn the circumstances in which it
originated, I send them to you for "NOTES AND QUERIES."
According to the traditions of the Church, Saint Bartholomew was flayed
alive, and his skin rolled up and tied to his back. When the religious
dramas, called _Mysteries_, came into vogue, this martyrdom was
represented on the stage at Melun, and the character of the saint was
personated by one _Languille_. In the course of the performance, the
executioner, armed with a knife, made his appearance; and as he
proceeded to counterfeit the operation of flaying, Languille became
terrified and uttered the most piteous cries, to the great amusement of
the spectators. The audience thereupon exclaimed, "Languille crie avant
qu'on l'écorche;" and hence the "jeu de mots," and the proverb.