to induce him to desist: these failing, he gave him a small piece of money, all, he told the boy, he could spare; at the same time he shewed him a more wealthy person, who was coming that way, and advised him to throw stones at him, from whom he might expect a much larger reward. The boy followed his advice, but the rich man, instead of intreating, or bribing him to desist, ordered his servants to take him before a magistrate, by whom he was severely punished." Socrates, indeed, seemed to be of a different opinion, when he said, "If an ass kicks me, shall I strike him again?" but this forbearance must not be carried too far, for, according to the Italian proverb, "Che pecora si fa, il lupo la mangia," and the French, "Qui se fait brebis, le loup le mange," that is, he that makes himself a sheep, shall be eaten by the wolf. If a strange dog, going along the street, claps his tail between his legs, and runs away, every cur will snap at him; but, if he turns upon them, and gives a counter snarl, they will let him go on without further molestation.

Ansam

Ansam quærere.

Seeking a handle or opportunity for breaking an agreement into which any one may have improvidently entered, or an occasion for quarrelling; and to persons of a litigious disposition, very trifling causes will afford handle sufficient for the purpose. The phrase is used by us in as many ways, as it was formerly among the Romans. You know the temper of the man, be careful that you give him no handle, no ground for cavilling, though that may be difficult, as a man so disposed, will make a handle of any thing. "When we have determined to beat a dog, the first hedge we come to will furnish us with a stick for the purpose."

Oleum et operam perdere.

Losing both oil and labour, which those were said to do, who had employed much time, labour, study, and expense, in endeavouring to attain an object, without being able to effect their purpose. Those who contended at the public games among the an

cients,

cients, were used to anoint their limbs with oil, previous to their entering on the contest; if they were conquered therefore they lost both oil and labour; as those did who failed in the acquisition of knowledge, their researches being principally carried on by the light of a lamp; whence the adage, which the following story may serve further to illustrate: "A man having a suit at law, sent to the judge as a present a vessel of oil; his antagonist, that he might be even with him, sent a well fatted pig, which turned the scale in his favour and gained him the cause: the first man complaining and reminding the judge of the present he had sent him; true, said the judge, but a great hog burst into the room. and overturned the vessel, and so both the oil and labour were lost."

Mortuum flagellas.

It is flogging a dead man, or one who regards your censures as little as do the dead, may be said to any one reproving a person

who

who is incorrigibly wicked, and who has lost all sense of shame or decency: or by persons charged with the commission of crimes of which they know themselves to be innocent.

Nocumentum, Documentum.

"Trouble teaches." Adopted probably for its jingle, like "harm watch, harm catch;" and many more in our language, and like them containing an useful precept. The sense is, that it is the part of wisdom or prudence to profit by our mischances: those who have been plundered by servants or defrauded by bad customers, become more cautious in securing their property, and in inquiring more diligently into the character of the persons to whom they give credit, that they are not wasteful and extravagant spendthrifts, inattentive to business, or persons of depraved morals. A merchant who had suffered much in this way determined at length that he would give no credit, he therefore put out a sign representing a fire in which were a number of account

books

books burning; when any one wanted credit, he told them it was impossible he could give it, his books being burnt. Trouble also and distress leads us to reflect upon our past conduct, and to reform what is amiss. "Periissem nisi periissem," if I had not suffered, I had been undone. "If thou be in woe, sorrow, want, pain, or distress, remember that God chastiseth them whom he loveth, and that they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. As the furnace proveth the potter's vessel, so doth trouble and vexation try men's thoughts." "Ecce spectaculum Deo dignum, vir fortis mala fortuna compositus," behold a spectacle worthy of God, a good man contending with adversity.

Nuces relinquere.

Abandon or throw away your nuts: that is, leave off childish amusements, and addict yourself to employments that are more manly and better suited to your age and present situation in life. The adage is said to be derived

from