Read Ebook: The sexagenarian; or the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2) by Beloe William Rennell Thomas Editor

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OF TWO NOTABLE VOLUMES.

When this same eccentric work was drawing very near to its conclusion, it was objected by a friend, that something more explanatory of the contents of each chapter than the motto prefixed, appeared to be necessary.

The Sexagenarian had himself already done this in numerous instances; the Editor has supplied the rest, and the reader will be at no loss to distinguish the hand of the master from the humble one of the copyist.

A Tale of a Tub.

A Tendency to the Rhapsodical; or, Much ado about Nothing.

A Friend in need is a Friend indeed, yet nothing but what might very well have happened.

Introduction to a rough Diamond, and experience for almost the first time of a rude trial.

View of Terra Incognita--Abuses, absurdities, irregularities there prevalent.

Proves that Montaigne was probably in the right, when he observed, that "there should be some restraint of law against foolish and impertinent scribblers, as well as against vagabonds and idle persons."

Of High Folks and Low Folks--Rich People and Poor People--with certain facts which demonstrate that splendid talents and profound knowledge are not limited to rank or station.

Variety--as is the gardener such is the garden. A wicked woman and an evil. Is three halfpence worse than the evil.

'Tis true 'tis pity, pity 'tis, 'tis true.

First appearance of a really great man.

Sapiens, sibique imperiosus Quem neque pauperies, neque mors, neque vincula terrent, Responsare cupidinibus, contemnere honores. Fortis et in seipso totus teres atque rotundus Externi ne quid valeat per leve morari In quem manca ruit semper Fortuna.

Great merit greatly rewarded.

'Tis a rare fortune but of inestimable solace, to have a worthy man, one of a sound judgment, and of manners conformable to your own, who takes delight to be in your company.

Shakespeare's words true--

There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune.

Brings to mind honest Joe Miller. A Bishop in one of his visitations noticed a fine healthy chubby boy playing in the church-yard. His Lordship chucked him under the chin, and asked him of what trade he should like to be. A Bishop, replied the boy. A very good trade, returned the Bishop, provided you can set up for yourself, when you are out of your time.

Introduction to a physician, to whom what Cicero, in one of his letters to Atticus, has observed of his favourite physician Alexion, may be truly applied by all who knew him. Cicero is communicating to his friend the news of Alexion's death.

O factum male de Alexione! Incredibile est quant? me molesti? affecerit, nec mehercule ex ea parte maxime quod plerique mecum: ad quem igitur te medicum conferes? Quid mihi jam medico? aut si opus est tanta inopia est? Amorem erga me, humanitatem suavitatemque desidero.

Treats of a certain personage who despised the good old proverb,

Nunquam enim tacuisse nocet, nocet esse locutum.

In other words,

If a word be worth one shekel, silence is worth two.

Professes to be unintelligible to the Editor. The author might have in mind a saying of the Jews:

Thy secret is thy prisoner; if thou let it go, thou art a prisoner to it.

Silly enough--First Love soon cured.

The cheese was soft, and the hook would not stick in it; a proof of the adage, that

Prosperity is very hard to bear.

The good effects of method exemplified, with a serious warning against being entangled in law-suits, which "catch flies, and let hornets go free."

The misery of one false step--a modern Messalina.--"She first made love in private as is the common use, but bringing her business about with too much ease, she soon scorned that way, and presently fell to making open love."

Concessa pudet ire via.--Least said soonest mended.--Early prejudices not easily forsaken.

A very interesting and amiable character-- Who would not sing for Lycidas?

Fortune's favours not always ill bestowed.

Soepius Pol ipse fingit fortunam sibi.

A very whimsical, but most improbable collection of "Supposes."

"If he be Caesar, let him boldly think himself the greatest captain in the world."

"Presumption is divided into two parts: the one in setting too great a value upon ourselves, and the other in setting too little a value upon others."

The reader is introduced to a phoenomenon of a very different kind from the Comet which blazed and scorched in the last chapter.

A Blue Stocking Dame of the very highest order, yclept Huniades.--"Her humour as fantastic as her diet. Nothing that is English must come near her. All her delight is in foreign impertinencies. She's for any thing that comes from beyond sea. She must have some decayed persons of quality about her, for the Commons of England are the strangest creatures."

A young gentleman born to nothing, Forty marks a-year, which I call nothing, Enough now to buy a Barony. Present him with a chair, The best attendance--the best drink--sometimes Two glasses of Canary-- The purest air, and the sharpest knife.

Proves the old Erasmian adage--Mus non uni fidit antro.

The world is a school of inquisition. It is not who shall carry the ring, but who shall run the best courses.

A new path opened in the pilgrimage of life--Beggars must not be choosers--rather rhapsodical in parts. An old saw exemplified, "Chi ha amor nel petto ha le sprone ne i franchi." Aliter.

He who has love in his breast has spurs in his side.

The tear my Laura sheds is true, For seldom shall she hear a tale So sad, so tender, and so true.

Fox-hunting parsons not always coarse, rude, or illiterate. Men of elegant birth, education, and accomplishments, not always polished in their manners, or attractive in their outward appearance.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear, Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness in the desert air.

Miles Romane, AEgyptum cave, say the Sybilline books. There are who apply the phrase to Pompey alone, who lost his life by trusting himself in Egypt. Its better interpretation seems to be, that the effeminacy and luxury of this enervating country was likely to prove pernicious to the Roman veterans, accustomed to hard fare, and rigid discipline; and in this sense, may be applied to the arrival for the first time of any inexperienced young man in the English metropolis.

A new Dramatis Persona introduced upon the stage, who in his time subsequently proved the Roscius of his day. No preternatural appearances marked the infancy of Porson, though it is told of Roscius, that when in his cradle, his nurse discovered a serpent twined round his bosom, which of course induced the Haruspices to foretell, nihil illo puero clarius, nihil nobilius fere.

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