bram = bosom
non-recorded variant of 'barm', etc., transposition of vowel-
consonant poss. influenced by 'breast'; cf. northern variants, 'brist,
birst'
bigning = inhabiting, from 'big', verb
Date sent: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 15:59:23 EDT
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From: Lisa Celovsky <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Suffolk University
Subject: sonnet puzzle
To: [log in to unmask]
Puzzle lovers:
Does anyone have a guess as to what "Bram bigning" (line 7 of the
following sonnet) might mean? It is likely an error introduced in
type-setting, but any guesses as to original intent?
The sonnet is #39 from *Emaricdulfe* (1595) by E. C. I am posting this
query for a friend who is supervising a student preparing an edition of
this sequence for a thesis project. You may reply to me offlist:
[log in to unmask]
Many thanks in advance.
Image of honour, Vertues first borne childe,
Natures faire painted stage, Fames brightest face,
Syren that neuer with thy tongue beguild,
Sibill more wife then Cumas Sibill was,
When learnings sun with more resplendent gleames,
Shall with immortall flowres of poesie,
Bred by the vertue of Bram bigning beames
Deck my inuention for thy dignitie:
With heauenly hymnes thy more the heavenly parts
Ile deifie, thy name commands such dutie,
Though many heads of poisest poets arts
Are insufficient to expresse thy beautie,
Thy name, thy honour, and lovues puritie,
With Stanzas, Layes and Hymnes Ile stellify.
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Lisa Celovsky
Department of English
Suffolk University
41 Temple Street
Boston, MA 02114
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