XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 46

LYSANDER

1.  C. R. Malcolm (SW7): Loved her dissolute French friend and caused some talk (her + anag. of ami (Fr) = Hermia, lover of L. in MND; ref. ‘Some talk of… L.’, song ‘The British Grenadiers’).

2.  Capt C. Tyers (Elstead): “But who is here? ——! On the ground!” Recce finished, perhaps (ref. MND II.2.100; aircraft).

3.  Mrs A. Buxton (Cardiff): On the ground said “Run through fire I will”: airborne did (ref. MND II.2.100-103; aircraft).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Her misdirected aim got him (her + anag. of aim = Hermia, lover of L. in MND).

M. A. Anderson (Bletchley): Dream lover was grounded, but put up his wings later (ref. MND II.2.100; aircraft).

D. Ashcroft (Fleetwood): Darnley’s mixed up in the plot of 24 June (anag.; midsummer night, ref. MND).

Mrs Baird (Aberdeen): “Proceed, moon” said this lover. Should he not have said otherwise “Lend rays for me”? (anag.; ref. MND V.1.262).

N. A. Breeze (SE23): Tough general who used to rend and slay (anag.; Spartan admiral).

F. A. Clark (Croydon): Fiddle and lyres! See, the conquering hero comes! (anag.; Spartan admiral).

J. Dangerfield (Peterborough): Some talk of, but the Darnleys have made, such a great name (anag.; ref. ‘Some talk of … L. … great names’, song ‘The British Grenadiers’).

C. E. Gates (Kettering): Possibly slyer and definitely less of a hero than a Grenadier (anag.; ref. ‘Some talk of … L.’, song The British Grenadiers).

P. A. Hall (Harpenden): In one particular dream his night seemed to be full of large dogs, and lyres out of tune (anag.; ref. MND I.1.144 ‘collied’ (i.e. full of collies)).

W. S. Holdsworth (Halifax): As a German A.A. gunner said “Thou art not by mine eye, ——, found” etc. (ref. MND III.2.180; L. target for German anti-aircraft).

R. Macleod (St. Andrews): Obs. plane, not comparable with a British bomber (ref. observer aircraft; ‘Some talk of … L. … none that can compare … to the British Grenadiers’, song).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): Ordered “Proceed moon,” Darnley’s ’plane crashed in Athens 404 B.C. (ref. MND V.1.262; anag.; aircraft; Spartan admiral).

Maj D. P. M. Michael (Newport): Distinguished Ancient Mariner, Bridegroom and Wedding-guest in a Dream (2 mngs.; ref. Spartan admiral and MND).

R. Postill (Jersey): R.A.F. type—not to be compared with a Grenadier (ref. aircraft; ‘Some talk of … L. … none that can compare … to the British Grenadiers’, song).

D. W. Reed (Birmingham): Spartan: has grit but no match for a grenadier (sand is in Lysander; ‘Some talk of … L. … none that can compare … to the British Grenadiers’, song).

Miss C. F. Sampson (Oldham): Work days disorganised through a broken railway line—enough to make one Spartan! (anag. of days LNER; ref. Spartan admiral, rail company).

Miss D. W. Taylor (W5): Old French Lil and ’er boy-friend, in a dream (lys (Fr. = lily) and ’er; ref. MND).

G. C. Turner (NW1): A marshal is wanted for L.N.E. yards (Spartan admiral; anag.; rail company).

Comments:—311 correct. Obidicut (cf. Hobbididance. Mahu, Modo and Flibbertigibbet—Lear IV.1) “scared” many a solver “out of his good wits”; the complaint of the player on the sleepy dealer’s right—“O bid! I cut”—was evidently not enough to put them on the right track. There were few mistakes elsewhere.
 
The best clues were a very even lot and choice was difficult: some of the H.C.s may reasonably consider themselves unlucky, and others ran these close. There seemed to be an unusual number of unfamiliar names in the entry, to whom X. extends a welcome. The number of those who have figured in the Honours List has now passed the 400 mark.