’——­do not count it holy
  To hurt by being just:  it is as lawful
  For we would count give much to as violent thefts,’ &c.”

With reference to these particulars, I should be glad if you would allow me to propose a reading which has not yet been suggested:—­

{63}

“O be persuaded; do not count it holy: 
To hurt, by being just, count it unlawful: 
For we would give, as much, to violent thefts,
And rob, in the behalf of charity.”

The meaning being, it is as unlawful to do hurt by being just, as it would be to give to a robbery, or to rob for a charity; to assist a bad cause by a good deed, or a good cause by a bad deed.

The word “count,” in its second occurrence, was inserted by the printer in the wrong line; when it is restored to its proper place, the passage presents but little difficulty.

JOHN TAYLOR.

* * * * *

BLACK IMAGES OF THE VIRGIN.

(Vol. ii., p. 510.)

Your correspondent, MR. HOLT WHITE, throws cut a suggestion relative to the origin of the black doll as a sign at old store shops, which is ingenious, but not very probable.  The images of black virgins are confined, I believe, to the south of Europe, with the exception of the celebrated shrine of Einsiedeln in Switzerland.  The origin of the colour appears to be oriental, as MR. W. surmises.  I send the following extract, in answer to his query on the subject.  It is a quotation from Grimm, in M. Michelet’s Introduction to Universal History; and, as your readers must be all familiar with the language of the gifted historian, I will not make the attempt to convey his brilliant style into another tongue.

“Une des idees qui reviennent le plus dans nos meistersinger, dit Grimm, c’est la comparaison de l’incarnation de Jesus Christ avec l’aurore d’un nouveau soleil.  Toute religion avait eu son soleil-dieu, et des le quatrieme siecle l’eglise occidentale celebre la naissance du Christ au jour ou le soleil remonte, au 25 Decembre, c’est-a-dire, au jour ou l’on celebrait la naissance du soleil invincible.  C’est un rapport evident avec le soleil-dieu Mithra.  On lit encore, dans nos poetes, que Jesus a sa naissance reposait sur le sein de Marie, comme un oiseau, qui, le soir, se refugie dans une fleur de nuit eclose au milieu de la mer.  Quel rapport remarquable avec le mythe de la naissance de Brama, enferme dans le lis des eaux, le lotus, jusqu’au jour ou la fleur fut ouverte par les rayons du soleil, c’est-a-dire, par Vischnou lui-meme, qui avait produit cette fleur.  Le Christ, le Nouveau-jour, est ne de la nuit, c’est-a-dire de Marie la Noire, dont les pied reposent sur la lune, et dont la tete est couronnee de planetes comme d’un brillant diademe. (Voyez les tableaux d’Albert Duerer.) Ainsi reparait, comme dans l’ancien culte, cette