must be read by their Greek
names, so must also the B--better written [Greek: B]--be read by its
Greek name [Greek: Baeta], or by Neo-Greek pronunciation _vita_. With
this meaning the line is given in the work of Etienne Tabourot 'Les
Bizarrures du Seigneur des Accords,' which is said to have appeared
first in 1572 or 1582, in Chap. ii. on 'rebus par lettres.' I only know
the passage by a quotation in an interesting work by Johannes Ochmann
'Zur Kentniss der Rebus,' Oppeln, 1861, p. 18. I have also found our
rebus in a German novel entitled 'The Wonderful Life of the Merry
Hazard,' Cosmopoli, 1706. In this book, p. 282, it is related that a
priest wrote as a souvenir in Hazard's album:--

'Nella [Greek: phd]. [Greek: phnr] la [Greek: B].
As an assurance of his heart
That knows no joking
It said' ... ...

And further (p. 283):--'Hazard knew not what to make of these mere Greek
letters and spent several days in fruitless thoughts, until the priest
let him understand that he was only to pronounce them, then he would
hear from the sounds that it was Italian and meant: Nella fidelta finiro
la vita.' This is the solution of the various hypotheses that have been
set up about the meaning of 'la B.'"

Vol. IV.--_Everie Woman in her Humor_.

P. 312 "_Phy_. Boy!--_Sleepe wayward thoughts_." The words "sleepe
wayward thoughts" are from a song in Dowland's _First Book of Songs or
Airs of four parts_, 1597. In Oliphant's _Musa Madrigalesca_ the song is
given thus:--

"Sleep, wayward thoughts, and rest you with my love;
Let not my love be with my love displeased;
Touch not, proud hands, lest you her anger move,
But pine you with my longings long diseased.
Thus, while she sleeps, I sorrow for her sake;
So sleeps my love--and yet my love doth wake.

But, oh! the fury of my restless fear,
The hidden anguish of my chaste desires;
The glories and the beauties that appear
Between her brows, near Cupid's closed fires!
Sleep, dainty love, while I sigh for thy sake;
So sleeps my love,--and yet my love doth wake."

P.335. "_For I did but kisse her_."--Mr. Ebsworth kindly informs me that
these words are from a song (No. 19) in _The First Booke of Songs and
Ayres_ (1601?) composed by Robert Jones. The song runs:--

"My Mistris sings no other song
But stil complains I did her wrong.
Beleeue her not, it was not so,
I did but kiss her and let her g