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Notes and Queries, Number 40, August 3, 1850 by Various
page 58 of 69 (84%)
me of either the authorship or the answer of the following:

"Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt--
Sooth! 'twas a fearful day!
The Rufflers of the camp and court
Had little time to pray.
'Tis said Sir Hilary utter'd there
Two syllables, by way of prayer--
The first to all the young and proud
Who'll see to-morrow's sun;
The next, with its cold and quiet cloud,
To those who'll meet a dewy shroud
Before to-day's is gone:
And both together to all bright eyes,
That weep when a warrior nobly dies."

I quote from recollection, so perhaps have omitted part, but believe it
to be pretty correct. I heard it at the same time as the one quoted in
No. 31., and believe both to be hoaxes, as no answer I have heard
(including that given in No. 35.) can be considered satisfactory. The
former charade was attributed at the time to the late Archbishop of
Canterbury, and it was reported that a reward of 100l. was promised for
the correct answer, and I know that a clergyman sent him an answer with
that belief. Among the answers suggested was "Tapir," taken in its
various significations, which I think was as near the mark as "Church,"
as given in No. 35.

I have never heard any answer suggested to Sir Hilary's dissyllabic
prayer.

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