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Harp

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The arms of Ireland. According to tradition, one of the early kings of Ireland was named David, and this king took for arms the harp of Israel’s sweet Psalmist. Probably the harp is altogether a blunder, arising from the triangle invented in the reign of John to distinguish his Irish coins from the English. The reason why a triangle was chosen may have been in allusion to St. Patrick’s explanation of the Trinity, or more likely to signify that he was king of England, Ireland, and France. Henry VIII. was the first to assume the harp positive as the Irish device, and James I. to place it in the third quarter of the royal achievement of Great Britain.

To harp for ever on the same string. To be for ever teasing one about the same subject. There is a Latin proverb, Eandem cantilēnam recinĕre. I once heard a man with a clarionet play the first half of “In my cottage near a wood” for more than an hour, without cessation or change. It was in a crowded market place, and the annoyance became at last so unbearable that he collected a rich harvest to move on.

Still harping on my daughter.”—Shakespeare: Hamlet, ii. 1.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Harmonia’s Necklace
Harmonia’s Robe
Harness
Harness Cask
Harness Prize (University of Cambridge)
Haro
Harold the Dauntless
Harold’s Stones
Haroot and Maroot
Haroun al Raschid
Harp
Harpagon (A)
Harpalice
Harpe
Harpies
Harpocrates
Harridan
Harrier
Harrington
Harris
Harry (To) = to harass