and usage; and so of other texts, here consigned to the same category, because expressed with a terse emphasis which makes them, while retaining their native stamp of sacred dignity, familiar in our mouths as household words. The plan adopted in these pages is identical with that pursued in the compiler's previous volumes. A text is taken, and in the illustrations, annotations, and applications which he proceeds to accumulate upon it and around it, (or, as the Dunciad might suggest, about it and about it,) he allows himself such latitude as sometimes seemingly to get out of his latitude altogether; such longitude as may be got out of that term, rather as a graphical than a geographical expression. As to what there may discoverably or conjecturally be of his own in this volume, as in foregoing ones, the proportion of that to borrowed capital is so infinitesimally small, that, on the score alike of quantity and of quality, for all practical purposes, whether of credit or debit, in the writer's balance of accounts, it had best be ignored altogether. The σTeρuoλóyos of the first motto on his titlepage might perhaps be worse rendered than by the Shakspearian phrase, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. But all who are in the least likely to become purchasers know him of old. They have taken his measure, nor has he outgrown it. And to them he may say, at once demonstratively, deferentially, and deprecatingly, in the German rendering of the second motto, (and a lexicon may throw a sinister side-light on the significance of adoλeoxíav, to any whose Greek is becoming, like Hamlet's starved steed adage, something musty,') Ihr kennet doch den Mann wohl, und was er sagt. A considerable number of subjects for which no space could be found in the present volume, stand over for future publication, whether in the form of a Second Series, or as a separate work. September, 1874. F. J. CONTENTS. PREFACE I. SAUL AMONG THE PROPHETS (I SAM. x. II, 12). Prophet in his own country-Robert Brown, Crabbe, Words- worth-Notes from Schiller, Trench, Helps, Lytton—Perils of Familiarity as breeding contempt—Thoughts of Sir H. Taylor, Lewes, T. Brown, etc.-Royalty made too cheap-Ne Sutor ultra Crepidam-Cobbler and Critic-Knowing one's capacity — Overstepping one's limits-Keeping to one's line of things— II. DAVID'S APPLICATION OF 'THE PROVERB OF THE AN- Vindictive Proverbs-Revenge is sweet-Its after-taste of bitterness-Debasing spirit of revenge-A costly luxury. III.-HEAVINESS FOR A NIGHT, JOY IN THE MORNING (PSALM Night at its darkest just before dawn-Next morning's cheery calm-The Two Voices. IV.-CAMP FESTIVITIES AND MARTIAL BRAG (1 KINGS XX. II; Donning and doffing harness-Victory presumptuously v-vii I-20 21-28 29-35 36-44 Spoiled by success-Cyrus, Pausanias, Pyrrhus, Sylla, Nero, Eloquence of mute malice—Shrug, hum, and ha—Significant VII.-SHOUTED OUT OF THE WORLD; OR, VALEDICTORY When the wicked perish-Post-mortem insultations: Alex- ander Jannæus, Tiberius, Herod Agrippa, Sejanus, Maximin, VIII. SECRETS BLABBED AND SECRETS KEPT (PROV. xi. 13). Alleged feminine incapacity for keeping of secrets-Exam- ples and exceptions from Shakspeare, Corneille, La Bruyère, Crabbe, Goldsmith, Manzoni, Hook, Colman, etc.-Approved good masters of secret-keeping: Locke, Pulteney, Cowper, Con- IX.-COUNSELLORS MANY, AND TOO MANY (PROV. xi. 14; In the Multitude of Counsellors is there safety ?—Whose safety?-Boards and Committees. Prudential proverbs-Surety for a stranger, and smarting for it-Bill transactions—Signing one's name to a bill, ‘a mere 61-68 69-87 87-93 94-103 XI.-BRUTE LIFE HELD IN RIGHTEOUS REGARD (PROV. xii. 10). The merciful man merciful to his beast-Seeing after one's steed-Sir Henry Lawrence and his grey Arab-Elie's destrier Heart-sickness of hope deferred-Columbus at Court-Mari- 124-135 XIII. THE HEART'S OWN SECRET OF BITTERNESS (PROV. xiv. Incommunicable sorrow: illustrations from Keble, Chateau- briand, Jackson, Dallas, H. Reed, George Eliot, Charlotte 136-141 |