The origin of the “saffron bag”, is probably to be explained by the strong aromatic odour of saffron, and the high esteem in which it was once held as a medicine; though now it is used chiefly as a colouring ingredient and by certain elderly ladies, with antiquated notions, as a specific for “striking out” the measles in their grandchildren.

[Hebrew:  t. a.]

Milton’s “Penseroso" (Vol. ii, p. 153.).—­H.A.B. desires to understand the couplet—­

  “And love the high embower’d roof,
  With antique pillars massy proof.”

He is puzzled whether to consider “proof” an adjective belonging to “pillars,” or a substantive in apposition with it.  All the commentators seem to have passed the line without observation.  I am almost afraid to suggest that we should read “pillars’” in the genitive plural, “proof” being taken in the sense of established strength.

Before dismissing this conjecture, I have taken the pains to examine every one of the twenty-four other passages in which Milton has used the word “proof.”  I find that it occurs only four times as an adjective in all of which it is followed by something dependent upon it.  In three of than thus: 

      “——­not proof
  Against temptation.”—­Par.  L. ix. 298.

  “——­ proof ’gainst all assaults.”—­Ib. x. 88.

  “Proof against all temptation.”—­Par.  R. iv. 533.

In the fourth, which is a little different, thus: 

      “——­left some part
  Not proof enough such object to sustain.”
          Par.  L. viii. 5S5.

{346} As Milton, therefore, has in no other place used “proof” as an adjective without something attached to it, I feel assured that he did not use it as an adjective in the passage in question.

J.S.W.

Stockwell, Sept. 7.

Achilles and the Tortoise (Vol. ii., p. l54.).—­[Greek:  Idiotes] will find the paradox of “Achilles and the Tortoise” explained by Mr. Mansel of St. John’s College, Oxon, in a note to his late edition of Aldrich’s Logic (1849, p. 125.).  He there shows that the fallacy is a material one:  being a false assumption of the major premise, viz., that the sum of an infinite series is itself always infinite (whereas it may be finite).  Mansel refers to Plato, Parmenid. p. 128. [when will editors learn to specify the editions which they use?] Aristot. Soph.  Eleuctr. 10. 2. 33. 4., and Cousin, Nouveaux Fragments, Zenon d’Elee.

T.E.L.L.

Stepony Ale (Vol. ii., p. 267.).—­The extract from Chamberlayne certainly refers to ale brewed at Stepney. In Playford’s curious collection of old popular tunes, the English Dancing Master, 1721, is one called “Stepney Ale and Cakes;” and in the works of Tom Brown and Ned Ward, other allusions to the same are to be found.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.