Poems are like a painting: some close by, That gives us pleasure for a single view, And this, ten times repeated, still is new.-Francis. 5136. Ut plerique solent, naso suspendis adunco Ignotos. (L.) Hor. S. 1, 6, 5.-As is the common way, you turn up your nose at those you don't know. 5137. Ut prosim. (L.)—That I may be of service. Motto of Lord Foley. 5138. Utque alios industria, ita hunc ignavia ad famam protulerat. (L.) Tac. A. 16, 18.—Most men gain advancement by their industry; but this one had attained celebrity by his innate indolence. Said of C. Petronius, a friend of Nero, and victim of Tigellinus. 5139. Ut queant laxis Resonare fibris Mira gestorum Famuli tuorum Solve polluti Labii reatum Sancte Iohannes. (L.) Johannes Diaconus. -That thy servants may be able to sing thy marvellous acts to the loosened strings, absolve them, Saint John, from the guilt of polluted lips. Medieval Sapphic verse of a hymn to S. John the Baptist, in which the names of the notes in the musical gamut may be traced in the syllables italicised above, Ut (Do), Re, Mi, etc.; the Si, or seventh note, being formed out of the initials of the two last words of the stanza. The verse, as long ago as the 11th cent., was used by Guido of Arezzo in teaching singing, the structure of the melody exhibiting, at the beginning of each phrase, a gradual ascent of six successive tones, and thereby helping to fix the sounds of these tones in the memory. The melody, with its literal notation indicated over the words, runs as follows: See Kiesewetter, R. G., Guido von Arrezzo, Sein Leben und Werken, 5140. Ut quimus, aiunt; quando ut volumus non licet. (L.) Ter. And. 4, 6, 10.-We must do as we can (as they say) when we can't do as we would. 5141. Ut quis ex longinquo revenerat, miracula narrabant. (L.) Tac. A. 2, 24.—According as each of them had returned from distant parts, they had marvellous tales to narrate. Traveller's tales. 5142. Ut quocunque paratus. (L.)—That I may be prepared for every emergency. Motto of the Earl of Cavan. 5143. Ut ridentibus arrident, ita flentibus adflent Humani vultus: si vis me flere, dolendum est (L.) Hor. A. P. 101. Smiles are contagious: so are tears; to see No, no, good Peleus; set the example, pray, And weep yourself, then weep perhaps I may.-Conington. Cf. Churchill, Rosciad, 861: But spite of all the criticising elves Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves. 5144. Utrum horum mavis accipe. (L.) -Choose which of the two you prefer. 5145. Utrumque enim vitium est, et omnibus credere et nulli. (L.) Sen. Ep. 3.—It is equally wrong to confide in all, and in none. Cf. Πίστεις δ ̓ ἄρα ὁμῶς καὶ ἀπιστίαι ὤλεσαν avopas. (Gr.) Hes. Op. 370.-Trust and mistrust have both equally proved the ruin of men. 5146. Ut sæpe summa ingenia in occulto latent. (L.) Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 62.-How often is the greatest genius buried in obscurity. Cf. "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,” etc.—Gray. 5147. Ut sementem feceris, ita et metes. (L.) Prov. Cic. de Or. 2, 65, 261.—As you have sown, so shall you reap. As you have made your bed, so must you lie. 5148. Ut supra. (L.)—As above. passage in a book, etc. Referring to any preceding 5149. Ut sylvæ foliis pronos mutantur in annos, Prima cadunt; ita verborum vetus interit ætas, As woodland leaves change with the changing year, And those coined later live and have their day. 5150. Ut tu fortunam sic nos te, Celse, feremus. (L.) Hor. Ep. 1, 8, 17.—As you carry your good fortune, so, Celsus, shall we bear with you. 5151. Uxorem, Posthume, ducis? Dic, qua Tisiphone, quibus exagitare colubris. (L.) Juv. 6, 28. What! Posthumus, take a wife? What Fury drest 5152. Uxorem quare locupletem ducere nolim Quæritis? Uxori nubere nolo meæ. (L.) Mart. 8, 12, 1. I'd rather not be henpecked all my life.-Ed. Lit., I'd rather not be my wife's wife. I won't have a wife to whom I am to play second fiddle. V. 5153. Vache ne sait ce que vaut sa queue jusqu'à-ce-qu'elle l'ait perdue. (Fr.) Prov.-The cow doesn't know the value of her tail until she has lost it. 5154. Vade mecum. (L.)-Go with me. Manuals, pocket-books of reference (companions) are so termed. 5155. Væ victis! (L.) Liv. 5, 48, 9.-So much the worse for, or Woe to, the conquered! Exclamation of Brennus on throwing his shield into the balance as a make-weight, when settling the price of peace with Rome. 5156. Vaillant et veillant. (Fr.)-Valiant and vigilant. Viscount Cardwell. 5157. Valeant mendacia vatum. (L.) Ov. F. 6, 253.-Away with the lies of poets! 5158. Valeat quantum valere potest. (L.)—Let it have its due weight. Take it for what it is worth. Said of any statement, plea, or argument. 5159. Valeat res ludicra, si me Palma negata macrum, donata reducit opimum. (L.) Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 180. Nay, I forswear the drama, if to win Or lose the prize can make me plump or thin.-Conington. 5160. Valet anchora virtus. (L.)-Virtue is a sure anchor. Motto of Lord Gardner. 5161. Valet ima summis Mutare, et insignem attenuat Deus, Obscura promens. (L.) Hor. C. 1, 34, 12. God's hand can change the low estate And raise it to a height: He can abase the proudly great And lift th' obscure to light.-Tate and Brady. 5162. Val meglio piegarsi che rompersi. (It.) Prov.-It is better to submit than to lose all. 5163. Val piu un asino vivo che un dottore morto. (It.) Prov. -A live ass is better than a dead doctor. 5164. Vana quoque ad veros accessit fama timores, Irrupitque animos populi, clademque futuram Intulit. (L.) Luc. 1, 469.-Vague rumours contributed to increase the fears actually existing, and possessed the people's imagination, announcing the approach of coming disaster. 5165. Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas. (L.) Vulg. Eccles. 1, 2.-Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 5166. Vare, redde legiones! (L.) Suet. Aug. 23.-Varus, give me back my legions! Exclamation of Augustus Cæsar on hearing of the defeat of his troops under Varus by the German General, Arminius. 5167. Vectigalia nervos esse reipublicæ. (L.) Cic. Manil. 7, 17. -Taxes are the sinews of the state. 5168. Vedi Napoli, e poi muori. then die. (It.) Prov.-See Naples and 5169. Vehemens in utramque partem, Menedeme, es nimis, Aut largitate nimia, aut parsimonia. (L.) Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 31.-You run into extremes both ways, Menedemus, either too lavish, or else too niggardly. 5170. Vel cæco appareat. (L.) Prov.-Even a blind man could see that. 5171. Vel capillus habet umbram suam. (L.) Pub. Syr. Even a hair casts its shadow. A straw will show which way the wind blows. 5172. Vel exuviæ triumphant. (L.)-Even the spoils triumph. Motto of the 2d Regiment of the Line. 5173. Vel iniquissimam pacem justissimo bello ante ferrem. (L.) Cic. Fam. 6, 6, 5.—I would prefer even the most unfavourable peace to the justest war that ever was waged. 5174. Vellem in amicitia sic erraremus, et isti Errori nomen virtus posuisset honestum. (L.) Hor. S. 1, 3, 41. Would that in friendship we transgressed the same, The poet alludes to the partiality of lovers, and wishes 5175. Vellem nescire literas ! (L.) Sen. Clem. 2, 1.—I wish I had never learnt to read or write! Exclamation of Nero when required to sign the death-warrant of two robbers. 5176. Velocius ac citius nos Corrumpunt vitiorum exempla domestica, magnis Corrupts most quickly: such suggestions come 5177. Velocius quam asparagi coquantur. (L.) Prov. Suet. Aug. 87.-Quicker than you can cook asparagus. Quoted by Augustus Cæsar. 5178. Velut ægri somnia, vanæ Finguntur species, ut nec pes nec caput uni Reddatur formæ. (L.) Hor. A. P. 7.—Like sick men's dreams, when shadowy images appear, and neither head nor feet fit their respective forms. Said of a badly composed work, without connection, and with a confusion of images. 5179. Veluti in speculum. (L.)-As if in a looking-glass. The drama should exhibit the manners of men veluti in speculum, and hold the mirror up to nature. 5180. Vendere fumos, or fumum. (L.) Cf. Mart. 4, 5, 7.—To sell smoke. To make empty promises. 5181. Veniam necessitati dari. (L.) Cic. Off. 2, 16, 56.-Pardon is granted to necessity. 5182. Veni Creator Spiritus. (L.)—Come Creator Spirit. Opening words of a very ancient hymn to the Holy Ghost, sung at Whitsuntide, ordinations, and other occasions. |