Piscator ictus sapiet. A fisherman, putting his hand hastily into his net, was wounded by the thorns on the backs of some of the fish; being thus caught, he said, I shall now become wiser: which is said to have given rise to the adage. "Bought wit," we say, "is best;" it will certainly be more likely to be remembered, than that which is obtained without suffering some kind of loss or inconvenience. Hence also we say, once bought, is worth twice taught." "El hombre mancebo, perdiendo gana seso," by losses and disappointment young men acquire knowledge. Manus manum fricat. " wit "Una mano lava la otra." "One good turn deserves another." But this phrase is more commonly applied where two persons bespatter each other with fulsome and undeserved compliments. "Scratch my breech, and I will claw your elbow." Ne sus Minervam. Persons pretending to instruct those who are qualified to be their masters, or to inform others C 2 others in matters of which they are themselves ignorant, fall under the censure of this adage; their conduct being as ridiculous as would be that of a sow who should presume to attempt to teach wisdom. Our clowns, not very delicately, tell you, "not to teach your grandames to suck eggs," for, "à bove majori discit arare minor," the young ox learns to plow from the elder, not the elder from the young, and "El Diablo saba mucho," the Spaniards say, "porque es viejo," the devil knows a great deal, for he is old. Invità Minervâ. Cutting against the grain. When any one attempts what he is totally unqualified for, he may be said to be labouring without the assistance of Minerva, the reputed goddess of wisdom, "naturâ repugnante, against "Quam quisque nôrit artem, in hâc se exerceat," let every one confine himself to the art in which he has been instructed, or which he has particularly studied. "In casa del Moro no hables Algaravia." Do not nature. speak speak Arabic in the house of a Moor, lest, instead of gaining credit, you only expose your ignorance. Ne Sutor ultra crepidam. "The shoemaker should not go beyond his last." Men should not attempt what they are neither by education nor genius qualified to perform, nor discourse on matters they do not understand; they will be listened to with no more attention than would be given to a blind man discoursing on colours. "Cada qual hablé en lo que sabe," let every one talk of what he understands. A shoemaker having suggested to Apelles an error in the form of a shoe he had painted, the artist, readily taking the hint, altered the picture in that part. But when the same shoemaker was proceeding to recommend alterations in the form and disposition of the limbs of the figure, he received the rebuke, which thence became proverbial, "The shoemaker should not meddle beyond his last." "Defienda me Dios de my." God defend me from myself, the Spaniards say, make me to know what is my proper state and condition. Par Pari referre. "Tal por tal," like for like, or "One good turn deserves another." If this has in all ages been esteemed a duty, in our commerce with persons who are indifferent to us, we are in a particular manner called upon to observe it, in our conduct to our parents, and to make the best return in our power, for their care in nourishing and supporting us in our infancy; for imbuing our minds with good principles; for cultivating and improving our understandings, and thereby enabling us to support ourselves in a mature age, and to fill with credit that rank, or situation in life, in which we may happen to be placed. The vine dresser, whom King Henry the Fourth of France is said to have met with in his rambles, seems to have understood and practised this duty, in a meritorious manner. Having said, he earned forty sous a day, the king demanded in what manner he disposed of the money. He divided divided his earnings, he told the monarch, into four parts. With the first he nourished himself; with the second he paid his debts; the third he laid out at interest, and the fourth he threw away. This not being intelligible, the king desired an explanation. You observe, Sir, says the man, that I begin with applying the first part to my own maintenance, with the second I support my parents who nourished me, when I was incapable of supporting myself, and so pay my debt of gratitude; with the third I maintain my children, who may at some future time be called upon to return the like service to me; this part therefore is laid out at interest; the fourth is paid in taxes, which, though intended for the service of the king, is principally swallowed up by the collectors, and therefore may be said to be thrown away." Something similar to the reasoning of this good man, is contained in the following enigmatical epitaph, which was inscribed on the tombstone of Robert of Doncaster. "What I gave, that I have; What I spent, that I had; |