Brompton
30 April 1867
My dear Sir,
The turn of war-politics is cheering, though I confess to a malicious half-inclination to see France and Prussia knock each other about. But it is much better as it is likely to be – Bowles <1> is still at the museum, but I am getting too infirm to help much; a ride to the museum makes me unfit to do any thing for the day.
I have been looking over the last sheets of your Glossary, <2> and will ask leave to criticize, with the best intentions. Myself I invite criticism, being satisfied that the result is sure to be good.
No 84 azlis I make “radically” from <Arabic?> Ashal is uncertain; at least the lexicographers differ. –
85. izrubu is difficult. It occurs only once in the Bible Job.vi.17. Our version has “wax warm.” the Vulgate “fuerint dissipate” The Septuagint I do not understand. The Syriac language has the meaning coarctavit, but I do not find it in any Hebrew Lexicon but the little Leopold’s. <3> Hincks <4> insisted on “redden” I give it up. No 90 I have always agreed with your Abdistarte. In p. 39 you have some doubt about Nukimmut it occurs too often to be anything but the name of something divine, perhaps some divinity. Oppert <5> says le dieu de Nukimamut. I have always read <cuneiform> as prince or lord, and I think phonetically nun or rub, it is <cuneiform> in 7 II. 26 and <cuneiform> in Tigl 128.
Your 97, should be maru, not baru ba is always <cuneiform> or <cuneiform> in these sheets see <cuneiform> 58-60 I know it is marusu there but we also see a aplusu for “a son” I do not know why su was added. All the words (verbs) with <cuneiform> which you quote are from sakan, “to effect” as in <cuneiform> In p.41 <cuneiform>, is isakan iskunnu in p 42
(printer’s error in last line but one p 42 each for each.)
Under No 99 <cuneiform> is the very to have as shown by Hincks, “they had rest.”
I think <cuneiform> of No 104 is usually an adjective meaning sharp. The sound I believe to be rum. I have not looked at it very carefully.
No 105, <cuneiform> I have considered as you have, “favourable or lucky.” I have quoted ךגמ as my evidence; I do not know how I made such a blunder, but I suppose it was intended for <hebrew>
Can you find any analogous word for sepu <cuneiform> the foot? I have not found any though the meaning is sure.
I have written to the last moment and can only apologize for such a slovenly letter by alleging haste.
Yours faithfully
Edwin Norris
H. F. Talbot Esq&c &c &c
Notes:
1. <bowler? or a different bowles?>
2. WHFT, ‘Contributions towards a Glossary of the Assyrian language’ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, n.s. v.4, 1870, pp.1–80
3. <cit>
4. Rev Edward Hincks (1792–1866), Irish Egyptologist & Orientalist
5. Prof Julius Oppert (1825–1905), German Assyriologist, active in Paris