Whate'er I undertake, I can't effect; A DEFORMED MAN. Merc. iii. 4. 53. Canum, varum, ventriosum, bucculentum, breviculum, BAD NEIGHBOURS. Aliquid mali esse propter vicinum malum. OPPOSITE PATHS. Merc. v. 2. 32. Si hunc item properes, ut istuc properas, facias rectius. Direct your haste This way, instead of that you now pursue, Works up the billows to a foam. This way! NO TRICKS ON TRAVELLERS. Erras, me decipere haud potes. MEN OF RANK. Merc. v. 4. 8. Qui bono sunt genere nati, si sunt ingenio malo, PLINIUS MAJOR THE PAST. H. N. ii. 7. Deus nullum habet in præterita jus præterquam oblivionis. God has no power over the past, except that of oblivion. THE ABSENT. Absentes tinnitu aurium præsentire sermones de se receptum est. It was believed that the absent were aware when they were spoken of by the tingling of their ears. PLINIUS MINOR LITERARY STUDIES. Ipse te in alto isto pinguique secessu studiis adseris? Hoc sit negotium tuum, hoc otium; hic labor, hæc quies: in his vigiliæ, in his etiam somnus reponatur. Effinge aliquid et excude, quod sit perpetuo tuum: nam reliqua rerum tuarum post te alium atque alium dominum sortientur; hoc numquam desinet esse, si semel cœperit, tuum. Devote yourself in this calm and undisturbed recess entirely to pleasures of the studious kind. Let these employ your idle as well as serious hours: let them be at once your business and amusement; the subject of your waking and even sleeping thoughts; produce something that shall be really and for ever your own. Áll your other possessions will pass from one master to another; this alone, when once yours, will remain yours for ever. REWARD OF VIRTUE. i. 8. Præterea meminimus quanto majore animo honestatis fructus in conscientiâ, quam in famâ, reponatur. Sequi enim gloria, non appeti, debet: nec, si casu aliquo non sequatur, idcirco, quod gloriam meruit, minus pulchrum est. I am very sensible how much nobler it is to place the reward of virtue in the silent approbation of one's own breast, than in the applause of the world. Fame ought to be the consequence, not the motive, of our actions; and though it should happen not to attend the worthy deed, yet it is by no means the less meritorious for having missed the applause it deserved. CENSORIOUSNESS. Homines enim, quum rem destruere non possunt, jactationem ejus incessunt. Ita si silenda feceris, factum ipsum; si laudanda, quod non sileas ipse, culpatur. Such is the disposition of mankind, if they cannot blast an action, they will censure the vanity; and whether you do what does not deserve particular notice, or set forth yourself what does, either way you incur reproach. SOLITUDE. Mecum tantum et cum libellis loquor. O rectam sinceramque vitam! o dulce otium, honestumque, ac pæne omni negotio pulchrius! o mare! o littus, verum secretumque Μουσεῖον! quam multa invenitis! quam multa dictatis ! I converse only with myself and my books. True and genuine life! pleasing and honourable repose! More, perhaps, to be desired than employment of any kind. Thou solemn sea and solitary shore, best and most retired scene for contemplation, with how many noble thoughts have ye inspired me! DOUBT. i. 18. Si tutius putas illud cautissimi cujusque præceptum, quod dubitas, ne feceris. QUALITIES OF HEART. iii. 3. Vita hominum altos recessus magnasque latebras habet. The qualities of the heart are more concealed, and out of the reach of common observation. FAVOUR REFUSED CANCELS ALL YOU HAVE CONFERRED. iii. 4. Nam quamlibet sæpe obligati, si quid unum neges, hoc solum meminerunt, quod negatum est. For such is the disposition of mankind, that the favour you refuse cancels all you have conferred; and, though you oblige them ever so often, they will forget a thousand compliances, and yet remember a single denial. SENSE OF INJURY. iii. 9. Plerumque dolor etiam venustos facit. A strong sense of injury often gives a certain poignancy to the expression of one's feelings. PARTIALITY. Etenim tum maxime favor et ambitio dominatur, quum sub aliquâ specie severitatis delitescere potest. For partiality never exerts itself with more success than when it is concealed under the specious appearance of severity. THE BALLOT. Quæ nunc immodico favore corrupta, ad tacita suffragia, quasi ad remedium, decucurrerunt; quod interim plane remedium fuit; erat enim novum et subitum. Sed vereor ne procedente tempore ex ipso remedio vitia nascantur: est enim periculum ne tacitis suffragiis impudentia irrepat. Nam quotocuique eadem honestatis cura secreto, quæ palam? Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur. Corruption having abused this wise institution of our ancestors, we were obliged to have recourse to the way of balloting, as the most probable remedy for the evil. The method being new and immediately put in practice, it answered the present purpose very well; but I am afraid, in process of time, it will introduce new inconveniences, as this manner of balloting seems to afford a sort of screen to injustice and partiality. For how few are there who preserve the same delicacy of conduct in secret, as when exposed to the view of the world. The truth is, the generality of mankind revere Fame more than Conscience. MODESTY. Recta ingenia debilitat verecundia, perversa confirmat audacia. Modesty is apt to check the exertions of genius, whilst confidence animates and excites the activity of little minds. GENIUS THE GIFT OF HEAVEN. iv. 8. Sed nimirum quæ sunt in manu hominum, ea et mihi et multis contigerunt: illud vero ut adipisci arduum, sic etiam sperare nimium est, quod dari non nisi a diis potest. Honours, as they are in the disposal of man, may be conferred on me and on many others; but genius is an attainment much too arduous for my powers, and is the gift alone of Heaven. MEN FOND OF PRAISE EVEN FROM INFERIORS. iv. 12. Omnes enim, qui gloriâ famâque ducuntur, mirum in modum assensio et laus, a minoribus etiam profecta, delectat. Those, who are actuated by a sense of fame, are fond of praise, even though it comes from their inferiors. DISEASES IN THE STATE. iv. 22. Utque in corporibus, sic in imperio, gravissimus est morbus, qui a capite diffunditur. It is in the body politic, as in the natural, those disorders are most dangerous that flow from the head. TO NAME THE MAN. Dixi omnia, quum hominem nominavi. After I have named the man, I need say no more. |
