Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts.

Ils n'employent les paroles que pour déguiser leurs pensées.

Voltaire, Dialogue xiv. Le Chapon et la Poularde.

When Harel wished to put a joke or witticism into circulation, he was in the habit of connecting it with some celebrated name, on the chance of reclaiming it if it took. Thus he assigned to Talleyrand in the Nain Jaune the phrase, “Speech was given to man to disguise his thoughts."

Fournier, L'Esprit dans l'Histoire. Where Nature's end of language is declined, And men talk only to conceal the mind.

Young, Love of Fame. Satire ii. Line 207.

The germ of this saying is to be found in Jeremy Taylor; South, Butler, Young, Lloyd, and Goldsmith have repeated it after him.

Beginning of the end.

Mr. Fournier asserts, on the written authority of Talleyrand's brother, that the only breviary used by the ex-bishop was L'Improvisateur Français, a compilation of anecdotes and bon-mots, in twenty-one duodecimo volumes.

Whenever a good thing was wandering about in search of a parent, he adopted it; amongst others, "C'est le commencement de la fin."

To shew our simple skill,

That is the true beginning of our end.

Shakespeare, Midsummer Night's Dream. Act v. Sc. I.

Defend me from my friends.

The French Ana assign to Maréchal Villars taking leave of Louis XIV. this aphorism, "Defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies."

But of all plagues, good Heaven, thy wrath can send, Save, save, oh save me from the candid friend! Canning, The New Morality.

Orthodoxy is my doxy, Heterodoxy is another man's doxy.

"I have heard frequent use," said the late Lord Sandwich, in a debate on the Test Laws, "of the words 'orthodoxy' and 'heterodoxy'; but I confess myself at a loss to know precisely what they mean." "Orthodoxy, my Lord,” said Bishop Warburton, in a whisper, orthodoxy is my doxy, heterodoxy is another man's doxy."

66

Priestley's Memoirs. Vol. i. p. 372.

No one is a hero to his valet.

This phrase is commonly attributed to Madame de Sévigné, but, on the authority of Madame Aisse, belongs to Madame Cornuel.

Lettres, édit. J. Ravenal. 1853.

Few men are admired by their servants.

Montaigne, Essais. Book iii. Ch. 11.

When Hermodotus in his poems described Antigonus as the son of Helios (the sun), “My valetde-chambre,” said he, “is not aware of this.”

Plutarch, De Iside et Osiride. Ch xxiv.

Greatest happiness of the greatest number.

Priestley was the first (unless it was Beccaria)1 who taught my lips to pronounce this sacred truth, that the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.

[blocks in formation]

Ridicule the test of truth.2

How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule?

Shaftesbury, Characteristicks. A Letter concerning
Enthusiasm. Sec. 2.

Truth, 't is supposed, may bear all lights; and one of those principal lights or natural mediums by which things are to be viewed, in order to a thorough recognition, is ridicule itself.

Ibid. Essay on the Freedom of Wit and Humour. Sec. 1.

'T was the saying of an ancient sage,3 that humour was the only test of gravity; and gravity, of humour. For a subject which would not bear raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious examination was certainly false wit. Ibid. Sec. v.

1 The expression is used by Beccaria in the introduction to his Essay on Crimes and Punishments.

2 We have, oftener than once, endeavoured to attach some meaning to that aphorism, vulgarly imputed to Shaftesbury, which, however, we can find nowhere in his works, that ridicule is the test of truth. - Carlyle, Miscellanies. Voltaire.

3 Gorgias Leontinus, apud Arist. Rhetor, lib. 3, cap. 18.

Even such is Time, that takes on trust
Our youth, our joyes, our all we have,
And pays us but with age and dust;
Who in the dark and silent grave,
When we have wandered all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days;

But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust.

Verses written by Sir Walter Raleigh the night be

fore his death. According to Oldys, they were found in his Bible.

Go, Soul, the body's guest,

Upon a thankless arrant;

Fear not to touch the best,

The truth shall be thy warrant ;

Go, since I needs must die,

And give the world the lie. The Lie.

This poem is traced in manuscript to the year 1593. It first appeared in print in Davison's Poetical Rhapsody, second edition, 1608. It has been assigned to various authors, but on Raleigh's side there is good evidence, besides the internal testimony, which appears to us irresistible. Two answers to it, written in Raleigh's lifetime, ascribe it to him; and two manuscript copies of the period of Elizabeth bear the title of "Sir Walter Rawleigh his Lie."

Chambers's Cyclopædia. Vol. i. p. 120.

Carpet knights.

As much valour is to be found in feasting as in fighting; and some of our city captains and carpet knights will make this good, and prove it.

Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy. Pt. i. Sec. 2,
Mem. 2, Subs. 2.

From Percy's Reliques.

My mind to me a kingdom is;1

1

Such perfect joy therein I find, As far exceeds all earthly bliss,

That God and Nature hath assigned.

Though much I want that most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

My mind to me a kingdom is. From Byrd's Psalmes,
Sonnets, &c., 1588.

He that had neyther been kithe nor kin

Might have seen a full fayre sight.

Guy of Gisborne.

Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone,

Wi' the auld moon in hir arme.

Sir Patrick Spens.2

Weep no more, lady, weep no more,

Thy sorrow is in vain ;

For violets plucked the sweetest showers

Will ne'er make grow again.

The Friar of Orders Gray.

Every white will have its black,
And every sweet its sour.

1 Mens regnum bona possidet.

Sir Carline.

Seneca, Thyestes, Act ii. Line 380.

My mind to me an empire is

While grace affordeth health.

Robert Southwell (1560-1595). Look Home.

2 I saw the new moon, late yestreen,

Wi' the auld moon in her arm.

From The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

« AnteriorContinuar »