Tollington Villa, Hornsey.
[We are glad to hear that such a Guide is preparing by Mr.
Dixon, whose knowledge of the locality peculiarly fits him for
the work he has undertaken.]
_Sir Thomas Herbert's Memoirs_ (Vol. ii., p. 140.).--The information MR.
GATTY wishes for, he will find in Dr. Bliss's edition of the _Athenæ_,
vol. iv. p. 18. He will perform an acceptable service to historical
inquirers, if he will collate the printed memoir with the MS. in the
possession of his friend, and give to the world such passages, if any,
as have not been hitherto published.
[Greek: Delta].
_Alarum_ (Vol. ii., pp. 151. 183.).--There can be no doubt that the word
_alarm_ (originally French) comes from the warning war-cry _à l'arme_.
So all the French philologists agree; and the modern variance of _aux
armes_ does not invalidate so plain an etymology. When CH. admits that
there can be no doubt that _alarm_ and _alarum_ are identical, it seems
to one that _cadit questio_,--that all his doubts and queries are
answered. I will add, however, that it appears that in the words'
original sense of an _awakening cry_, Shakspeare generally, if not
always, spelled it _alarum_. Thus--
"Ring the _alarum_ bell!"--_Macbeth_.
"--Murder
"_Alarum'd_ by his sentinel the wolf."
_Macbeth_.
"When she speaks, is it not an _alarum_ to love?"
_Othello_.
"But when he saw my _best-alarum'd_ spirits roused
to the encounter."--_Lear_.
In all these cases _alarum_ means incitement, not _alarm_ in the
secondary or metaphorical sense of the word, which has now become the
ordinary one. In truth, the meanings, though of identical origin, have
become almost contradictions: for instance, in the passage from
_Othello_, an "alarum to love"--incitement to love--is nearly the
reverse of what an "alarm to love" would be taken to mean.