In the mean-while, fubfcriptions are taken in at all
the most eminent bookfellers in London and Weft-
minfter; of whom may be learnt all further particu-
lars relative to this arduous and important under-
taking.

SPEC IME N.

Higgledy-piggledyConglomeration and confufion.
Hurly-burly-Extreme tumult and uproar.

Scribble-fcrabble-Pages of inanity.

See-faw-Alternate preponderation.
Tittle-tattle-Futile converfation.

Mum-chance-Mental torpidity.

Fee! Fau! Fum!-Gigantic intonations.

Arfy-varly

Topfy-turvy }

An inverfion of capitals and funda-
mentals.

Hobble-de-boy-Adolescence, between the period of
puberty and virility.

Tit for Tat-Adequate retaliation.
Shilly-fbally-Hesitation and irresolution.
Willy-nilly-The execution of an act maugre the con-
fent of another.
Dingle-dangle-Aerial fufpenfion.

Hurry-fcurry-Inordinate precipitation.

Ridd'emeree-An ænigmatic exordium.

Ding-dong-Tintinnabulory chimes, ufed metapho-
rically to fignify dispatch and vehemence.

Tag-rag The loweit Plebeians. See base-born, and
fcum of the earth.

Riff-raff }

Nincompoop - } Afinine wretches.

Ninnyhammer

Hocus pocus-Pfeudo-necromancy.

femminy-cremminy!-An emafcnlate obteftation. Rigmarole-Difcourfe, incoherent and rhapsodical. Zig-zag-Tranfverse angles.

Crinkum-crankum-Lines of irregularity and involution.

Helter Skelter-quafi hilariter & celeriter, fignifying motion of equal jocundity and velocity.

Hodge-podge-A culinary mixture of heterogeneous ingredients, applied metaphorically to all difcordant combinations.

Philological difquifitions are but ill adapted to the readers of a fugacious paper. Having, therefore, already given a fufficient indication of my purpose to the philofopher, the academic, and the fcholar, I fhall at prefent add no further interpretations; but in order to convince the learned of the neceffity and importance of the work announced to them, I fhall fomewhat enlarge the catalogue of terms that demand explication; which, like bafe metal among legitimate coin, have, by long usage, become current in our language; and without which the commerce of the world, or even the traffic of letters, can with difficulty be maintained either with profit or delectation. To explain them may be fome glory: it would

N 3

would be more fubftantial fame to contribute to

CATALOGUE.

their extirpation.

Wishy-washy,

Mefs-medley,

Fiddle-faddle,

Slap-dafh,

Slap-bang,

Hum drum,

Harum-fcarum,

Rantum fcantum,

Pit-pat,

Chit-chat,

Hoddy-doddy,

Niddy-noddy,
Huff bluff,

Tory-rory,
Whisky-frisky,
Snickerfnee,

Tuzzy-muzzy,
Gimminy-gomminy,

Wig-wam,
Flim-flam,
Namby-pamby,
Hob or Nob,
Bamboozle,

Hurdy-gurdy,

Prittle-prattle,

Hoity-toity,

Tip-top,

Hubble-bubble,

Hamptdy-dumptdy,

Hugger-mugger,

Hum-ftrum,
Diddle-daddle,

It is easy, from this fpecimen, to fuppofe extenfion and amplification. Printed authorities will be

fubjoined

fubjoined as vouchers, for the existence of every term and word that fhall be cited, and its various fignifications, where there are more than one, pruperly explained. He who writes the dictionary of any tongue, may be confidered as labouring in a coal mine; but he who collects the refufe of a language, claims more than ordinary commiferation, and may be faid to fift the cinders.

LEXIPHANES.

A PERSIAN SONG,“

TRANSLATED BY SIR WILLIAM JONES.

SWEET maid, if thou wouldst charm my fight,

And bid thefe arms thy neck infold;

That rofy cheek, that lily hand
Would give thy poet more delight
Than all Bocara's vaunted gold,
Than all the gems of Samarcand.

*

Boy, let yon liquid ruby flow,
And bid thy penfive heart be glad.
Whate'er the frowning zealots fay,
Tell them their Eden cannot show
A stream so clear as Roenabad,

A bow'r fo fweet as Mofellay.

* A meleed ruby is a common periphrafis for wine in the Perfian poetry. See Hafez, Ode 22.

Oh! when thefe fair, perfidious maids,
Whofe eyes our fecret haunts infeft,
Their dear deftructive charms display,
Each glance my tender breaft invades,
And robs my wounded foul of rest,
As Tartars feize their deftin'd prey.

In vain with love our bofoms glow;
Can all our tears, can all our fighs,
New luftre to thofe charms impart ?
Can cheeks where living rofes blow,

Where nature fpreads her richest dyes,
Require the borrow'd glofs of art?

Speak not of fate-ah! change the theme,
And talk of odours, talk of wine,

Talk of the flow'rs that round us bloom.
"Tis all a cloud, 'tis all a dream;

To love and joy thy thoughts confine,
Nor hope to pierce the facred gloom.

Beauty has fuch refistless pow'r,
That ev'n the chafte Egyptian dame *
Sigh'd for the blooming Hebrew boy :
For her how fatal was the hour,
When to the banks of Nilus came,
A youth fo lovely and fo coy!
Zeleikha, Potiphar's wife.

† Jofeph:

But