On palindromes

On palindromes.
(Vol vii., p. 178. &c.)

Several of your correspondents have offered Notes upon these singular compositions, and Agricola de Monte adduces

"ΝΙΨΟΝ ΑΝΟΜΗΜΑΤΑ, ΜΗ ΜΟΝΑΝ ΟΨΙΝ"

as an example. As neither he nor Mr. Ellacombe give it as found out of this country, allow me to say that it was to be seen on a benitier in the church of Notre Dame at Paris. If it were not for the substitution of the adjective ΜΟΝΑΝ for the adverb ΜΟΝΟΝ, the line would be one of the best specimens of the recurrent order.

I notice that a correspondent (Vol. vii., p. 336.) describes the Palindrome as being universally sotadic. Now, this term was only intended to apply to the early samples of this fanciful species of verse in Latin, the production Sotades, a Roman poet, 250 B.C. The lines given by Bœoticus (Vol. vi., p. 209.),

"Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor?"

owe their authorship to his degraded Muse, and many others which would but pollute your pages.

The hexameter "Sacrum pingue," &c. given by Ω. Φ. (Vol. vi., p. 36.), is to be found in Misson's Voyage to Italy, copied from an old cloister wall of Santa Maria Novella at Florence. These ingenious verses are Leoline, and it is noted that "the sacrifice of Cain was not a living victim."

I have seen it stated that the English language affords but one specimen of the palindrome, while the Latin and Greek have many. The late Dr. Winter Hamilton, the author of Nugæ Literariæ, gives this solitary line, which at the best is awkwardly fashioned:

"Lewd did I live & evil did I dwel."

Is any other known?

Some years since I fell in with that which, after all, is the most wonderful effort of the kind; at least I can conceive of nothing at all equal to it.

It is to be found in a poem called Ποίημα Καρκινεκὸν, written in ancient Greek by a modern Greek called Ambrosius, printed in Vienna in 1802, and dedicated to the Emperor Alexander. It contains 455 lines, every one of which is literal palindrome.

I have some hesitation in giving even a quotation; and yet, notwithstanding the forced character of some of the lines, your readers will not fail to admire the classic elegance of this remarkable composition.

"Εὖ Ἐλισάβετ, Ἄλλα τ' ἐβασίλευε.
Ἔλαβε τὰ κακὰ, καὶ ἄκακα κατέβαλε.
Ἀρετὰ πήγασε δὲ σᾶ γῆ πατέρα.
Σώματι σῶ φένε φένε φῶς ἰταμῶς.
Σὺ δὴ Ἥρως οἷος ὦ Ῥῶς οἷος ὥρη ἡδύς:
Νοὶ σὺ λαῷ ἀλαῷ ἀλύσιον.
Νέμε ἤθη λαῷ τῷ ἀληθῆ ἔμεν.
Σὺ ἔσο ἔθνει ἐκεῖ ἔνθεος εὖς.
Ὧ Ῥῶς ἔλε τί σὺ λυσιτελὲς ὤρω.
Ἀλλὰ τὰ ἐν νῷ βάλε, λαβῶν νέα τ' ἄλλα
Σωτὴρ σὺ ἔσο ὦ ἔλεε θέε λεῶ, ὃς εὖς ῥητῶς
Σὸν ἅδε σωτῆρα ἰδιὰ ῥητῶς ἐδανὸς."

Charles Reed.

Paternoster Row.

Footnote 2:(return)

Leo was a poet of the twelfth century.

Here is a Palindrome that surrounds a figure of the sun in the mosaic pavement of Sa. Maria del Fiori at Florence:

"En giro torte sol ciclos et rotor igne."

Could any of your correspondents translate this enigmatical line?

Mosaffur.

E. I. Club.

Notes and Queries, Number 213, November 26, 1853

Photo: Pixabay/GDJ 

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