Page images
PDF
EPUB

Pers. 3, 30.-Keep your finery for the mob, I know your nature, inside as well as out.

Such pageantry be to the people shown,

There boast thy horse's trappings and thy own;

I know thee to the bottom, from within

Thy shallow centre to thy utmost skin. (?)

98. Ad quæ noscenda iter ingredi, transmittere mare solemus, ea sub oculis posita negligimus: seu quia ita comparatum, ut proximorum incuriosi, longinqua sectemur: seu quod omnium rerum cupido languescit quum facilis occasio est. (L.) Plin. Sec. Ep. 8, 20, 1.

Foreign travel.

We generally cross the sea in order to gain a knowledge of things, neglecting all the while what is under our nose: either because it is part of human nature to be always seeking distant scenes, and to care little for what is near; or, because the greater the facility there is for gratifying a desire, the less is the advantage taken of it.

99. Ad quæstionem legis respondent judices, ad quæstionem facti respondent juratores. (L.) Law Max.-It is the business of the judge to instruct the jury in points of law, of the jury to decide on matters of fact.

100. Ad quod damnum. (L.) Law Term.-To what damage. A writ sued before granting certain liberties (such as the holding of a fair or market), which may be prejudicial to the king granting it, or the public. The sheriff is therefore directed to inquire what damage may possibly result from the grant in question.-Brand and Cox, Dict. of Science, etc.

101. Ad referendum. (L.)-To be referred, or to be left for future consideration.

102. Ad rem. (L.)-To the point, or purpose. As, e.g., Nihil ad rem. It is not to the point; it is beside the question. 103. Adscriptus glebæ. (L.)-Tied to the soil. Term used describing the status of the serf or slave, who, in feudal times, was attached to his lord's demesne, and went with it, like other chattels.

104. Adsit Regula, peccatis quæ pœnas irroget æquas;

Ne scutica dignum horribili sectere flagello.

(L.) Hor. S. 1, 3, 117.

Be just and mete to crime its condign pain;

Nor use the murd'rous lash where suits the cane.-Ed.

105. Adstrictus necessitate. (L.) Cic. N. D. 1, 7, 17.—Bound by necessity. Driven by the irresistible force of circumstances to the performance of any act.

106. Ad summos honores alios scientia juris, alios eloquentia, alios gloria militaris provexit; huic versatile ingenium sic pariter ad omnia fuit, ut natum ad id unum diceres, quodcunque ageret. (L.) Liv. 39, 40.

The Elder Cato.

Some men attain power by their great legal abilities, some by their eloquence, some by military achievements; but he was a person of such versatile talents, and so equally adapted for any and every pursuit, that let him be doing what he would, you would have said that it was the very thing that nature had intended him for.

107. Ad suum quemque æquum est quæstum esse callidum. (L.) Plaut. As. 1, 3, 34.-Every man is naturally alive to his own interests.

108. Ad tristem partem strenua est suspicio. (L.) Pub. Syr.? -One is keen to suspect quarters from which we have once received hurt.

109. Adulandi gens prudentissima laudat

Sermonem indocti, faciem deformis amici. (L.) Juv. 3, 86.

Flatterers.

A friend, the crafty flatt'ring race will praise; His talk tho' stupid, and tho' plain his face.-Ed. 110. Ad valorem. (L.)-According to the value.

Phrase used

in imposing duties on articles of merchandise, either at the import or export, when they are to pay so much ad valorem, or according to their value.

111. Adversa virtute repello. (L.)—I repel misfortune by virtue. Motto of Earl Londesborough.

112. Edificare in tuo proprio solo non licet quod alteri noceat. (L.) Law Max.-No one has a right to erect a new edifice on his ground, so as to prejudice what has long been enjoyed by another, as e.g., a new building, obscuring the light and air from a previously erected house.

113. Egrescitque medendo. (L.) Virg. A. 12, 46.—He destroys his health by the pains he takes to preserve it. The life of the valetudinarian.

[ocr errors]

Cf. the Italian epitaph of a person of this description: Stavo ben, ma per star meglio, sto qui,-"I was well; I would be better; and here I am (Spectator, 25). Cf. Celuy meurt tous les jours, qui languit en vivant. (Fr.) Pierrard Poullet (1595), La Charité.-He dies every day who lives a lingering life.

114. Ægritudinem laudare, unam rem maxime detestabilem,

quorum est tandem philosophorum? (L.) Cic. Tusc. 4, 25, 55.-Pray what sort of philosophy is it to praise melancholy, about the most detestable thing in the world?

115. Ægroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur. (L.) Prov. ap. Cic. Att. 9, 10, 3.—While a sick man has life, it is said that there is hope.

tantem.

116. Ægyptum quam mihi laudabas, Serviane charissime, totam didici levem pendulam et ad omnia famæ momenta voliGenus hominum seditiosissimum vanissimum injuriosissimum. (L.) Hadrian ap. Vop. Saturn. 8, p. 960 (Hist. August)..

Character of the Egyptians.

Dearest Servian,-In spite of your commendations lavished upon Egypt, I find the people to be as frivolous and untrustworthy as possible, and fluttering at every wave of rumour. They are the most revolutionary, excitable, and criminal race that can be imagined.

The character of the people seems to have undergone little change since the emperor wrote these lines 1800 years ago. 117. Emulatio æmulationem parit. (L.) Prov.-Emulation begets emulation. Nothing like competition.

118. Emulus atque imitator studiorum ac laborum. (L.) Cf. Cic. Marc. 1, 2.—The rival and imitator of the studies and labours of another.

119. Aendern und bessern sind zwei. (G.) Prov.-To change and to better are two different things.

120. Æquabiliter et diligenter.

Motto of Lord Truro.

(L.)—Equitably and diligently.

121. Æquâ lege necessitas Sortitur insignes et imos;

Omne capax movet urna nomen. (L.) Hor. C. 3, 1, 15.

Even-handed Fate

Hath but one law for small and great:

That ample urn holds all men's names.-Calverley.

122. Æquam memento rebus in arduis

Servare mentem, non secus in bonis

Ab insolenti temperatam Lætitia. (L.) Hor. C. 2, 3, 1.

An equal mind, when storms o'ercloud
Maintain, nor 'neath a brighter sky

Let pleasure make your heart too proud.―Conington.

The first line was written by the Constable Montmorency (16th cent.) over his castle gate, and eventually gave, from its initial word, the name to the castle itself-quam, corrupted in course of time to Ecouen.

123. Equanimiter. (L.) With equanimity. (L.) With equanimity. Motto of Lord

Suffield.

124. qua tellus Pauperi recluditur

Regumque pueris.

Earth removes the impartial sod

(L.) Hor. C. 2, 18, 32.

Alike for beggar and for monarch's child.—Conington.

125. Æquat munia comparis. (L.) Cf. Hor. C. 2, 5, 2.—She discharges the duties of a partner. Motto of the Order

of St Catherine (Russia), instituted by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of his consort, Catherine I.

126. Equitas enim lucet per se: dubitatio cogitationem significat injuriæ. (L.) Cic. Off. 1, 9, 30.-Integrity shines by

its own light, while hesitancy suggests the idea of wrongful action.

127. Æquo animo. (L.)—With equanimity.

Penrhyn.

Motto of Lord

128. Æquum est Peccatis veniam poscentem reddere rursus.

(L.) Hor. S. 1, 3, 74.

It is but just and right that they who claim
Themselves forgiveness should extend the same.-Ed.

129. Æra nitent usu; vestis bona quærit haberi ;

Canescunt turpi tecta relicta situ. (L.) Ov. Am. 1, 8, 51. Brass shines with use; good clothes, unworn, grow old;

And empty houses whiten soon with mould.-Ed.

130. Ærugo animi, rubigo ingenii. (L.)

Sen.-The rust of the mind is the blight of genius. Cf. Rubigo animorum. Sen. Ep. 95, 36.

131. Estuat ingens Imo in corde pudor, mixtoque insania luctu, Et Furiis agitatus amor, et conscia virtus.

Fierce boils in every vein
Indignant shame and passion blind,
The tempest of a lover's mind,

The soldier's high disdain.-Conington. 132. Ætatem Priami Nestorisque

Longam qui putat esse, Martiane,
Multum decipitur falliturque.
Non est vivere, sed valere, vita.

Health not long life.

The man to whom old Priam's years
Or Nestor's a long life appears,
Mistaken is and much deceived:
Health, not long life, is life indeed.-Ed.

(L.) Virg. 12, 666.

(L.) Mart. 6, 70, 12.

133. Etatis cujusque notandi sunt tibi mores. (L.) Hor. A. P. 156. You must note the manners peculiar to each age of human life. Addressed to the poet who aspired to draw the various characters of men as they are seen in the world. 134. Æternum inter se discordant. (L.) Ter. And. 3, 3, 43. They are eternally at variance.

[ocr errors]

135. Ævo rarissima nostro Simplicitas. (L.) Ov. A. A. 1, 241. —Simplicity, a very rare thing in our days.

Most rare is now our old simplicity.-Dryden.

Motto of Spectator 269, on Sir Roger de Coverly in
Gray's Inn Walks.

136. Affirmatim. (L.)-In the affirmative.

137. Afflata est numine quando

Jam propiore Dei. (L.) Virg. A. 6, 50.-When she (the Sibyll) is inspired by the closer presence of the Deity. Hence the divine afflatus (inspiration) of poets. Cf. Nemo igitur vir magnus sine aliquo afflatu divino unquam fuit. Cic. N. D. 2, 66, 167.-There has never been a really great man who had not some divine inspiration in him.

138. Afflavit Deus et dissipantur. (L.)-God sent forth his breath, and they are scattered. Legend of medal struck in commemoration of the destruction of the Spanish Armada.

139. A fin. (Fr.)-To the end.

Motto of the earl of Airlie.

140. A fonte puro pura defluit aqua. (L.) Prov.-Clear water flows from a pure spring.

141. A force de peindre le diable sur les murs, il finit par apparaître en personne. (Fr.) Prov.-If you will go on painting the devil on the walls, it will end by his appearing in person. It is one way to hasten disasters to be always talking of them.

142. A fortiori. (L.)—With greater reason; all the more. If one glass of beer disturbs your digestion, a fortiori two glasses will do so.

143. A Gadibus usque auroram. to the dawn (the East).

144. Age, libertate Decembri,

(L.)-From Cadiz (the West) Motto of South Sea Company.

Quando ita majores voluerunt, utere. (L.) Hor. S. 2, 7, 4.
Christmas comes but once a year.

Well, since our wise forefathers so ordained,
Enjoy December's licence unrestrained.

During the Saturnalia (the Roman Christmas) the slaves were
allowed an unwonted freedom, treating their masters as equals,
and being at liberty to speak without restraint. The line is ap-

« PreviousContinue »