Don Juan_, says that this
was adopted from the following passage in Dante's _Purgatory_, canto viii.:

---- "si ode squilla di lontano
Che paja 'l giorno pianger che si muore."

And it is worthy of notice that this passage corresponds with the first
line of Giannini's translation of the Elegy, as quoted by J.F.M.:--

"Piange la squilla 'l giorno, che si muore."

I must add, however, that long before Lord Byron thought of writing _Don
Juan_, Mr. Cary, in his excellent translation of the Italian poet, had
noticed this plagiarism in Gray; and what is more, had shown that the
principal thought, the "giorno che si muore," was borrowed by Dante from
Statius's

"Jam moriente die."

HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia, West Indies, Nov. 1850.

[The preceding communication was accompanied by several others, and by
the following gratifying letter, which we print as a fresh proof that
our paper is fulfilling the object for which it was instituted, namely,
that of promoting literary intercourse between men of letters
throughout the world and that it is as favourably received by our
fellow countrymen abroad, as it has been by those who are enabled to
receive it wet from the press:--

"Owing to the difficulty of procuring the early numbers of 'NOTES AND
QUERIES,' especially at this distance from Britain, I have been
compelled to wait for its publication in a collected form. I am now in
possession of the first volume, and beg leave to offer you a few Notes
which have occurred to me on perusing its contents. I am fully sensible
of the disadvantage of corresponding with you from so remote a corner
of the globe, and am prepared to find some of my remarks anticipated by
other correspondents nearer home; but having deeply suffered from the
literary isolation consequent upon a residence of twenty-one years in
this country, I shall gladly submit to any disadvantage which shall not
involve a total exclusion from the means of inter-communication so
opportunely afforded by your excellent periodical.

"HENRY H. BREEN."]

* * * * *

THE NINEVEH MONUMENTS AND MILTON'S NATIVITY ODE ILLUSTRATED FROM LUCIAN.

Layard in his _Nineveh_, vol. ii., p. 471., in his description of "the
sacred emblems carried by the priests," says, they are principally the
fruit or cone of the pine.

"... and the square utensil which, as I have a