tom of
noting the date of a great event by chronograms, see "N. & Q.," Vol.
v., p. 585.]

{12}

_Explanation of the Word "Miser."_--Can any of your readers explain how and
when _miser_ came to get the meaning of an avaricious hoarding man? In
Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, II. l. 8., it is used in its nearly primary
sense of "wretch:"

"Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble _miser's_ sake."

Again, _Faerie Queene_, II. 3. 8.:

"The _miser_ threw himself, as an offall,
Straight at his foot in base humility."

In Milton's _Comus_, which was written about fifty years after the first
three books of the _Faerie Queene,_ the present signification of the word
is complete:

"You may as well spread out the unsunn'd heaps
Of _miser's_ treasure by an outlaw's den,
And tell me it is safe, as bid one hope
Danger will sink on opportunity," &c.

J. D. GARDNER.

Bottisham.

[The modern restricted use of the word _miser_ is subsequent to
Shakspeare's time for in Part I. _King Henry VI._, Act V. Sc. 4.,

"Decrepit _miser_! base ignoble wretch!"

Steevens says has no relation to avarice, but simply means a
_miserable_ creature. So in the interlude of _Jacob and Esau_, 1568:

"But as for these _misers_ within my father's tent."

Again, in Lord Stirling's tragedy of _Croesus_, 1604:

"Or think'st thou me of judgement too remiss,
A _miser_ that in miserie remains."

Otway, however, in his _Orphan_, published in 1680, uses it for a
covetous person:

"Though she be dearer to my soul than rest
To weary pilgrims, or to _misers_ gold,
Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget thee."

So also does Pope:

"No silver saints by dying _misers_ given,
Here brib'd the rage of ill-requited heaven."

_"Acis and Galatea."_--Is there any good evidence in support of the
commonly received opinion that the words to Handel's _Acis and Galatea_
were written by Gay? Hawkins merely states that they "are said to have been
written by Mr. Gay." I have no copy of Burney at hand to refer to; but I
find the same statement repeated by various other musical historians,
without, however, any authority being given for it. The words in question
are not to be found among the _Poems on several Occasions_, by Mr. John
Gay, published in 1767 by Tonson and others. Have they ever been included
in any collective edition of his works?

G. T.

Reading.