Minuit Præsentia Famam.

Intimacy lessens fame. Authors, like kings, will be most likely to excite a high opinion of their capacities by being seldom seen, or only by select persons; too familiar an intercourse. with the world breaks the charm which the fame of their works had perhaps raised; they are found to be mere mortals, and often with a larger portion of folly than falls to the lot of even ordinary men. "How it comes to pass," Montaigne says, "I know not, and yet it is certainly so, there is as much vanity and weakness of judgment in those who possess the greatest abilities, who take upon them learned callings and bookish employments, as in any other sort of men whatever; either because more is expected and required from them, and that common defects. are inexcusable in them; or truly because the opinion they have of their own learning makes them more bold to expose and lay themselves too open, by which they lose and betray themselves." "A prophet," we are

told,

old, "is not without honour save in his own country," where he is intimately known, and where he may be oppressed, and his fame injured by the errors of his kindred as well as by his own. "Is not this the son of the carpenter Joseph?" was said of our Saviour, with the view of lessening him in the estimation of the people, when they could find nothing in his character to which blame could be attached.

Quod quis Culpá suâ contraxit, majus Malum, or, Bis interimitur qui suis Armis perit.

The evil which has been occasioned by our own error or misconduct presseth most severely and is taken the most heavily; the sting and remorse of the mind accusing itself doubling the adversity: on the contrary, that which is occasioned by the treachery or malevolence of others has its alleviation; partly perhaps from the mind's being diverted from contemplating it intensely by searching means of avenging it, or simply pleasing itself

with the expectation, that it will not pass unpunished. Remorse," as Dr. Smith observes in his Theory of Moral Sentiments, "is the most painful sentiment that can embitter the human bosom. Any ordinary pitch of fortitude may bear up tolerably well under those calamities, in the procurement of which we ourselves have had no hand; but when our own follies or crimes have made us miserable, to bear up with manly firmness, and at the same time to have a proper sense of our misconduct, is a glorious effort of self-command."

"Of all the numerous ills that hurt our peace,

That press the soul, or wring the mind with anguish,
Beyond comparison the worst are those

That to our follies or our guilt we owe."

But the Stoics demand from us more intrepidity; they tell us, and with reason, methinks, that we should not complain of, or sink under those misfortunes which we have brought upon ourselves; "Ferre ea molestissimè homines non debent, quæ ipsorum culpâ contracta sunt."

Clavam extorquere Herculi.

Would you attempt to wrest his club from the hands of Hercules? may be said to any one undertaking what is much beyond his capacity to perform. Such was anciently the reverence paid to Homer, that to imitate his verses was thought to be as difficult as to take by force his club from Hercules, or the thunderbolt from the hands of Jupiter. The adage may also be applied to any one entering into a contest with persons superior to him in fortune and power. You may as well take a bear by the tooth." "He that meddleth with strife that doth not belong to him, is like one that taketh a mad dog by the ear."

Tacitus pasci si posset.

If he had eaten quietly what he had ob tained; if he had not boasted of his good fortune, before he was completely in possession of it, he might have enjoyed it unmolested ; but by proclaiming it he has stirred up rivals

for

for the situation, with whom he will find it difficult to contend, and who may probably supplant him. The idea is taken from the fable of the stag who had escaped the hunters and eluded their search by concealing himself among the vines, but thinking himself safe, he began to browse upon the leaves; the hunters, led to the place by the noise and by the motion of the boughs, took and killed him. Or from the crow, who, overcome by the flattery of the fox, attempting to sing, let fall the cheese that he held in his mouth, which the fox seized upon and devoured. "Can't you fare well," we say, "without crying roast meat?"

Cedro digna Locutus.

A speech deserving to be embalmed, to be preserved to the latest period of time.

be written in letters of gold.'

"An erit qui velle recuset

Os populi meruisse? et cedro digna locutus

Linquere,"

"Who lives, we ask, insensible to praise,

"To

Deserves, and yet neglects, the proffer'd bays?

Who