EDUCATION. I spare no pains, neglect no means; in a word, I bid him look into the lives of all, as into a mirror, and thence draw from others an example for himself. "Do this." Syr. Good. Dem. "Fly that." Syr. Very good. Dem. "This deed is highly commendable." Dem. "That's reprehensible." EDUCATION. I perceive that the things which we do are silly: but what can one do? According to men's habits and dispositions, so one must yield to them. LAW. Grant her, then, freely what law else will claim. RESULT OF INDULGENCE. But this immoderate indulgence must assuredly produce some terrible misfortune in the end. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. The wolf i' th' fable. I AM A FRAIL MAN. Do you not remember that I am a frail human being? and therefore I have erred. TWO DOING THE SAME THING. When two persons do the self-same thing, it oftentimes falls out that in the one it is criminal, in the other it is not so,—not that the thing itself, is different, but he who does it. RULE OF LIFE CHANGED BY EXPERIENCE. Never did man lay down so wise a rule of life but fortune, age, experience made some change in it, and taught you that those things which you thought you knew you did not know; and the things which you deemed your chief perfections from experience you threw by. GENTLENESS. I have found by dear experience that there is nothing so advantageous for man as mildness and a forgiving disposition. So Zechariah vii. 9:— Show mercy and compassions every man to his brother." OLD MEN. It is the common failing of old men To be too much intent on worldly matters. TO FOIL A MAN AT HIS OWN WEAPONS. I foil him at his own weapons. MISFORTUNE. For when mischance befalls us, all the interval This is probably the origin of the phrase "errare huma-between its happening and our knowledge of it num est," which first appears in the "Antilucretius sive de may be esteemed clear gain. deo naturâ," a didactic poem of the Cardinal de Polignac (Paris, 1747). It is found in bk. v. l. 59. TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS. To kick against the pricks! PATIENCE. Whate'er chance brings, I will patiently endure. Alexis (Fr. Com. Gr. p. 753, M.) says: men stray. I, however, wish none of these, but would desire to have the glory of high fame." TO HARP ON THE SAME STRING. You are harping on the same string. GIVE PLACE TO YOUR BETTERS. I have found a ready paymaster, no sniveller: "For it is the part of a wise man to bear the buffets of for- give place then to your betters! tune with patience." And Hurdis says: "The noblest fortitude, is still to bear DISCONTENT. We are almost all of this disposition, that we are never satisfied with our own. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE. Fortune favors the brave. ALL ALIKE. De. See all alike! the whole gang hangs together: know one, and you know all. Ph. Nay, it is not so. De. One is in fault, the other is at hand to bear him out: when the other slips, he is ready; each in their turn. BORROWING EASILY SAID. Ge. It was not the reckoning, but money that was wanting. De. He might have borrowed. Ge. Have borrowed it! easily said. FLEECE THE SIMPLE. Because the net is not stretched to catch the hawk or kite, who do us wrong: it is laid for those who do us none at all. In them there is something to be got, in these it is mere labor lost. FIRST ATTACK. The first attack's the fiercest. PEDIGREE. WORDS TO THE WISE. A word to the wise. TWO STRINGS TO MY BOW. I think it better to have two strings to my bow. A HANGING MATTER. Nothing indeed remains for me but that I should hang myself. A TALE. Many a tale is spoilt in telling, Antipho. FORTUNE. How often Fortune blindly brings about KNAVERY. Knavery's now its own reward TIBULLUS. BORN ABOUT B.C. 59-DIED ABOUT B.C. 18. ALBIUS TIBULLUS was born about B.C. 59, of equestrian rank, but of his youth and education we know nothing. His property was situated at Pedum, between Tibur and Præneste, and, like many others, in consequence of the civil wars, he was deprived of a large portion of it. He accompanied his patron, Messala, when he was despatched by Augustus to suppress a formidable insurrection which had broken out in Aquitania, a If he had left behind him a property of some province of Gaul, and subsequently proceeded Euripides (Fr. Rhadam. 1) says:"Various are the inclinations of man: this one longs for high descent: to this other there is no such thought, but he wishes to be called the master of much wealth in his house: this other, who can speak nothing sensible, tries to persuade his neighbors with sheer shamelessness: some men seek of lovers without effect over land and sea, thanks base gain before what is honorable, in such various ways do to Jupiter; the father of the gods himself has de Fear not to swear; the winds carry the perjuries nied effect to what foolish lovers in their eager- feet. Such may I be, and may I with hoary locks ness have sworn. relate in my old age the deeds of earlier times. PASSAGE OF TIME. But if thou delayest, thou wilt be wrong: how swiftly time passes! the day moves not sluggishly nor goes back. How quickly the earth loses its gay colors! how quickly the white poplar its leafy honors! how slothfully lies the horse, which flew when young in the Olympic course, when it is unnerved by age! I have seen the youth, whom age has come upon, bewail the days he has passed in folly. Ye cruel gods! the serpent strips off his years and renews his youth: fate allows no delay to beauty. Apollo and Bacchus are the only gods that know no change: their locks are ever unfading. WINE. Bacchus causes country swains oppressed with cares to forget themselves in joys: Bacchus gives respite to the wretch's pains, though his legs be galled with rattling chains. Pindar (Fr. Incert. 61) says something to the same effect:When the wearying cares of men fly from their breasts, and we all alike sail in the sea of gold-abounding plenty to a false shore: the poor become rich, the rich abound still more, with their minds under the influence of wine." BE DILIGENT IN YOUTH. But thou, while the summer of life is in bloom, enjoy it, it passes away with rapid step. So Ecclesiastes (xi. 6):— "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." DECEIT. Ah wretch! even though one may be able at first to conceal his perjuries, yet Punishment creeps on, though late, with noiseless step. DECEIT. When thou art preparing to commit a sin, think not that thou wilt conceal it; there is a God that forbids crimes to be hidden. Plutarch (Dem. 42) says: "There is nothing so becoming a king as just dealing." Deuteronomy (xvi. 19):— "Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous." 1 Peter ii. 1: DEATH. What madness is it to summon gloomy death by wars? It is always impending and advancing secretly with noiseless step. In the regions below there are no corn-fields, no clustering vines, but fierce Cerberus and the filthy ferryman of the stygian waters. PEACE. Meanwhile may Peace cultivate the fields. It was auspicious Peace that first instructed the oxen to draw the crooked plough. It was Peace that planted the vines and gave juice to the grapes, that the paternal jar may furnish wine to cheer the son. In piping times of Peace the rake and the plough ply with diligence, while rust eats into the gloomy arms of the fierce soldiers in darkness. Aristophanes (Fr. Com. Gr. I. p. 284 M.) says:— "A. The faithful nurse, housekeeper, co-operator, guardian, daughter, sister of Peace, the friend of all men, all these names are used by me. B. What is your name? A. What? Agriculture." AN EPITAPH. And at departure he will say, "Mayest thou rest soundly and quietly, and may the light turf lie easy on thy bones." HAPPY FAMILY. Warmed by wine, he will kindle heaps of light straw and leap across the sacred flames; the mother will bring forward her children, and the child, seizing his father by the ears, will snatch kisses. And the grandsire will delight to watch his little grandchild, and in his old age will lisp words to the boy. HOPE. I would long ere this have quenched my sorrows in death, had not flattering hope cherished life, and always whispered that to-morrow would be happier day. It is hope that cheers the peasant, hope that intrusts the seed to the furrows to be returned with abundant interest. It is hope that catches birds with gins, fishes with the rod, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hy- when the bait has conceal'd the slender hook. How much more wise the man who, surrounded by his children, spends his old age in some small cottage! He tends the sheep, his son the lambs; while his wife prepares warm water for his weary to the ungovernable. FORCED LAUGHTER. Ah, me! how difficult it is to imitate false mirth; how difficult to mimic cheerfulness with a sad heart: a smile suits not well a countenance that belies it; nor do drunken words sound well from an anxious mind. WOES OF ANOTHER. Happy thou who canst learn to guard against thy own ills by observing those of another. PERJURIES OF LOVERS. Though she shall boldly swear by her eyes, by Juno and her Venus, there is nothing in it: Jupiter laughs at the perjuries of lovers, and throws them idly to the winds. A LOVER'S PRAYER. How could I, blest with thee, long nights employ? THE WILL FOR THE DEED. Let the will be taken for the deed, nor refuse the gift of my humble muse. VARRO. BORN B.C. 116-DIED B.C. 28. M. TERENTIUS VARRO, the most learned of the Romans, was born B.c. 116, being ten years younger than Cicero. He received his early education from L. Ælius Stilo Præconinus, who was fond of antiquarian pursuits, and from him no doubt he imbibed his literary tastes, which makes St. Augustine remark, "That he had read so much that it is astonishing he should have found time to write anything, and he wrote so much that it is difficult to believe that any one could find time to read all that he had written." In what way he rose in the service of the State has not been handed down to us, but he was employed in the wars against the pirates and Mithridates. He was attached to the party of the senate, and shared its fortunes at the battle of Pharsalia, B.C. 48. He submitted to the clemency of the conqueror, and was received into favor by Cæsar, though not before Antony had plundered and destroyed his villa, with all his books, at Casinum, which Cicero bitterly laments. He was proscribed in the second triumvirate, though he was more lucky than Cicero, as he contrived to conceal himself till he had secured the favor of Augustus. From this time he devoted himself to the seclusion of literary life, and employed himself in composing works, which amounted at last to four hundred and ninety books. They are nearly all lost. THAT MAN OUGHT TO BE COGNOSCED. He who overlooks a healthy spot for the site of his house is mad, and ought to be handed over to the care of his relations and friends. GOD MADE THE COUNTRY, MAN THE TOWN. Nor is it surprising, because it is Providence that has given us the country and the art of man that has built the cities. Cowper ("The Task," 1. 745) has appropriated this idea:"God made the country, and man made the town." Cowley ("The Garden," Essay v.): "God the first garden made, and the first city Cain." And Bacon (" Essays," "_" Of Gardens "): "God Almighty first planted a garder.." "HE WHO RUNS MAY READ." Thou hast read what I have written, I may say, running and playing. Habakkuk ii. 2, says: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." THE CHILD. For the midwife delivers the child, the nurse brings it up, the attendant slave forms its manners, and the master teaches it. EVERY FAMILY OUGHT TO WORSHIP GOD. As a state ought to acknowledge God in its public capacity, so ought each individual family. So Joshua xxiv. 15: "As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord." VIRGIL. BORN B.C. 70-DIED B.C. 19. P: VIRGILIUS MARO was born on the 18th of October B.C. 70, at Andes, a small village near Mantua in Cisalpine Gaul. His father had a small estate which he cultivated; his mother's name was Maia. Virgil was educated at Cremona and Mediolanum (Milan), and is said to have studied subsequently at Naples under Parthenius, a native of Bithynia. It is evident from his writings that he had received a learned education, but his health was feeble, and he did not attempt to rise to eminence by any of those means by which a Roman earned distinction. After the defeat of Brutus and Cassius, B.C. 42, the inhabitants of the north of Italy were deprived of their property that the victorious soldiery might be provided with land, and among others Virgil suffered. Through the intervention, however, of his friends at Rome, his property was restored, and the first eclogue is supposed to have been written to commemorate his gratitude to Augustus. When Augustus was returning from Samos, where he had For my eightieth year warns me to pack up my spent the winter of B.C. 20, he met Virgil at Athbaggage before I leave life. ens. It is said that the poet had intended to make TO PACK UP OUR BAGGAGE AT END OF LIFE. a tour of Greece, but he accompanied the emperor tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their to Megara and thence to Italy. His health, which blossoms; now the year assumes its gayest attire. had been long declining, was now completely So Shakespeare ("Winter's Tale," act iv. sc. 3) says:-broken down, and he died soon after his arrival at "O Proserpina, Brundisium, on the 22d September B.C. 19. His remains were transferred to Naples, which had been his favorite residence, and placed on the road from Naples to Puteoli, where his tomb is still shown. EXILE. We are leaving our country and its sweet fields. "But yet it is a sad life to leave the fields of our native country." So Shakespeare ("Richard II.," act i. sc. 3) says:— ENVY. For my part I have no feeling of envy at your fortune; I rather am surprised at your luck. COMPARISONS. Thus I knew that whelps were like to their sires, kids to their mothers; so I used to compare great things with small. BRITAIN. And Britons wholly separated from the rest of the world. CIVIL DISCORD. Shall some barbarian plant and sow these fields ? See to what a state civil discord has brought wretched citizens! COUNTRY LIFE. This night, at least, you might remain with me on the green leaves; we have plenty of excellent apples, soft chestnuts, with curds and cream; see, too, the curling smoke is rising from the cottages, and the lofty mountains are throwing out their lengthening shadows. TRUST NOT TO BEAUTY. Though he was black and thou art heavenly fair, O fair boy, trust not too much to thy beauty. EACH FOLLOWS HIS OWN PLEASURE. For the flowers now that, frightened, thou lett'st fall That come before the swallow dares, and take "So forth issued the seasons of the year: First lusty spring all dight in leaves of flowers, BAD TASTE. Let him who does not hate Bavius love thy verses, Mævius; and let him join foxes in the yoke and milk he-goats. THE SECRET SNAKE. Ye boys, who are gathering flowers, and lowgrowing flowers, fly hence, a cold snake is lurking among the grass. DECISION DIFFICULT. It does not belong to us to settle such a mighty dispute. РОЕТ. O divine poet, thy poetry is as charming to our ear as sleep to the weary swain, as to the feverish traveller the crystal stream with which he quenches his thirst. Theocritus (Idyl. viii. 77) says to the same effect:"Sweet is it in summer to sleep in the open air beside running water." POET'S FAME. While the boar delights in the mountain tops, the fish in the rivers, while the bees feed on thyme, so long will the glory of thy name and thy praise remain. TO SEEM IS ENOUGH. Loose me, boys; it is enough that you have Alexis, thou art chased by Corydon; every one seemed able to overpower me. pursues his own pleasure. The ash is the fairest tree in the woods, the pine in the gardens, the poplar by the brooks, the And now every field is clothed with grass, every fir on the high mountains; but, O fair Lycidas, if 1 |