Warmington.
_"Cane Decane," &c._ (Vol. v., p. 440).--I cannot inform your correspondent
who was the author of the punning couplet--
"Cane Decane, canis; sed ne cane, cane Decane,
De cane, de canis, cane Decane, cane."
But I think that he has injured the spirit of the original in his "_free_
translation."
_Decanus_ means a "Dean," not a Deacon: and the word _canis_, which is both
masculine and _feminine_, was often used by the poets in a _metaphorical_
sense. It seems to me that the author was alluding to some aged _dignitary_
of his day, who had been in the habit of singing songs upon _the ladies_. I
therefore submit to you my _more free_ translation:
1.
"Dean Hoare!
You sung, of yore,
O'er and o'er,
Molly ashore.
2.
Now, shut the door;
And of such lore
Sing no more,
Dean Hoare!"