Cambridge, August 30. 1851.
[We are also indebted to T. LAWRENCE and BARTANUS for replying to
this Query. The latter adds, "The poem is given at length in the
History of the English Language prefixed to the 4to. edition of
Johnson's _Dictionary_."]
_Riddle_ (Vol. iv., p. 153).--The riddle (query _rebus_?) for the
solution of which your correspondent A. W. H. inquires, may be found
printed in vol. i. pp. 109, 110. of the poems of Dr. Byrom, well known
as the author of the "Pastoral," inserted with much commendation by
Addison in the 8th volume of the _Spectator_, and the supposed inventor
of the universal English short-hand. The author of the rebus seems to
have been then unknown (1765), and it is said to have been "commonly
ascribed to Lord Chesterfield." Whether this was asserted in jest, does
not appear: but Dr. Byrom, to whom application for a solution had been
made, in the course of his reply, given in his own peculiar style, has
the following passage, which may be a guide to those who may now seek to
arrive at the mystery:--
"Made for excuse, you see, upon the whole,
The too great number of words, that poll
For correspondency to ev'ry line;
And make the meant one tedious to divine:
But we suspect that other points ambiguous,
And eke unfair, contribute to fatigue us.
"For first, with due submission to our betters;
What antient city would have eighteen letters?
Or more?--for, in the latter lines, the clue
May have _one_ correspondent word or two:
Clue should have said, if only one occurr'd,
Not correspondent _words_ to each, but _word_.
"From some suspicions of a bite, we guess
The number of the letters to be less;
And, from expression of a certain cast,
Some joke, unequal to the pains at last:
Could you have said that all was right and clever,
We should have try'd more fortunate endeavour.
"_It should contain, should this same_ JEU DE MOTS,
_Clean-pointed turn, short, fair, and_ A PROPOS;
_Wit without straining; neatness without starch;
Hinted, tho' hid; and decent, tho' tis arch;
No vile idea should disgrace a rebus--_
SIC DICUNT MUSÆ, SIC EDICIT PHOEBUS."