SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 95

Report by R. J. P. Hewison A prize of 13 was offered for a macaronic New Year carol.

Spenser is sometimes called the poet's poet ; this proved to be a competitor's competition. The select entry included almost all the old hands, and few others. Perhaps that is why the rules were better observed than usual. Only three carols had to be disqualified as being in one language throughout: one, by Walter Percival, was all in Latin, but that made it no more macaronic ; and his trouble in providing a highly calligraphic musical setting did not offset some false quantities in his verses. There was only one Chrispnas carol, and that was very macaronic indeed, being in English, French and Italian.

Latin, very naturally, was the most favoured second language. French came next. P. I. Price was the only competitor to offer Greek (with Latin) but his versification was shaky. Among the languages not offered were High and Low Dutch, Spanish and (I am glad to say) Esperanto, Volapuk and Doublespeak.

There are two schools of macaronics—the sandwich, in which the second language is incorporated by whole lines • and the trifle, in which the two elements are fully integrated. The latter, as giving more scope for fun, was the more popular. Allan M. Laing, for instance, began rumbustiously with:

"Sing hey, sing ho, with vox cum roarum: New Year's here with jink et forum: Sursum corda, hic hoc horum, Vita brevis est."

Guy- Innes opened well with:

" Roll out the barrel ! Up, Jenkins, and carol, Et, tout ce qu'il y a de plus chic, Faites fan farronade en votre gladdest apparel Whether McIntosh, Ponsonby-Rmes or O'Farrell, Ecossais, on Cockney ou Mick!"

but the rest was rather less easy and accomplished.

- In the sandwich mode, H. A. C. Evans composed a nice thumping drinking song, beginning: "Sing we now in rousing chorus Haec est anni novitas.

Floor the sconces set before us, Nam in vino suavitas."

which made good use of the strong trochaic tread of mediaeval Latin stressed verse.

The first prize, of £2, goes to C. 'P. Driver for a Charming piece in the traditional carol manner which combined genuine feeling with respect for the vales. Second prizes of £1 10s..- each to J. A. C. Morrison for a good strong essay in the integrated-cum- dog style, and to L. B. Walsh Atkins, the idgeduitas of whose second stanza more than atoned for the weakness of line five of his first.

FIRST PRIZE (C. P. Denita)

Solo Pure as virgin is the year, Clothed in white the days appear; Full As on earth the snow is laid,

Virginis- memoria.

May the new-born year be made Tua, Jesu, gloria.

Solo Let the bare but hopeful bough Death and Resurrection show ;

Full May its sap awake, and may

Laus perennis arborum Reach on every New Year's Day Virginen et Puerum.

Full Come then, Everyman, and sing

Deo Del Filio, Who is our immortal king :

Sit nobis praesidio. -

SECOND PRIZES

(J. A. C. MORRISON)

0 lectores Spectatoris, Novus annus at your door is. May it felix be to you, Annus mine nine five two.

Novus annus salutanilus, Also, bachelors, saltandus : Leap year 'tis, when maidens woo, Annus mule nine five two.

Now all sorrows forgetentur, Let a dark man primus enter. Hogmanemus cum risu, Annus mule nine five two.

Eja, lads and pretty lasses, Ter cheerentes, raise your glasses. Nunc bibendum bumper°, New Year nineteen fifty two.

(L. fs. WALSH ATKINS) Hail to thee, 0 Year that's New 1: Lude lude sing cuccoo- Scilicet when spring is come- Ludum ludum sing cuccum. In the meantime, 0, no mo Ave (hail) or nix (or snow). Valetudinario Ludo ludo* sing cucco.

Year that's Dew, 0 hail to thee( Bludi bludi sig cucci.

Codab habeo id dose : Fludos fludos sig cuccos.

Coala brevis, dod sub womb ; Dought to eat is id the forub Save a sball his cockalorub. Dabd' id obile. Sig cuccorub.

* Valetudinario ludo' ludo : I am not feeling very well again—thank goodness for the N.H.S. Besides the weather, there is the pernovennial question whether I can continue to afford a manservant. Meanwhile I divert myself and my children with a simple game of skill and hazard. I have just lost twopence.

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