Low in sleep see Rolla lie, Dreaming of Peruvian dames; Long its loss shall London rue, O'er the choak'd piazza wide Banners sleep with Moon and Sun; Firemen, cease, the mischief's done. Sisters! each inspect her book, Some will wail and some will frisk, Mortals who remain in doubt, Wisdom learn from what ye view, And if your policies be out Quick your policies renew. Hence! to guard your household store, Goods and chattels keep secure, THE SENTENTIOUS WORLD. Mr. OLDSCHOOL, The other day while examining the contents of an old pocket book I came across the following communication. It appears to be made up of selections from various authors; the greater part of the sentences however, seem to be taken from the Spectator. If, under these circumstances, you think the paper entitled to a place, in the sententious department of your Port Folio, you will oblige, by inserting it, your obedient servant EXCERPTA. Just praise is a debt, but flattery is a present. The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas; those of a fool by his passions. Never praise yourself with compliments which may be applied to others with more advantage. When you fall into a man's conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater inclination to hear you, than that you should hear him. No man heartily hates him at whom he can laugh, Light sorrows speak-great grief is dumb. Never use unnecessary proofs in an indisputable point. Better one thorn pulled out, than all remain. He who is a troublesome companion to himself, will never be an agreeable one to others. A man should never be too much addicted to any one thing. Express your sentiments with brevity.* A man's first care should be to avoid the reproach of his own heart-his next to escape the censure of the world. If a great deal of knowledge is not capable of making a man wise, it has a natural tendency to make him vain and arrogant. Every person should obtain, if possible, a disposition to be pleased. An ingenious mechanic, who employs his time in constructing puppet shows, is like Swift making riddles. If I am to suffer I would rather it should be from the paw of a lion, than the hoof of an ass. Hypocrites are of two kinds-the modish or fashionable, and the vulgar or common. The first endeavours to appear more vitious than he really is; the other wishes to seem more virtuous. An author should take all methods to humble himself in the opinion he has of his own performances. It is a certain sign of an ill heart, to be inclined to defamation. Indeed, Mr. Oldschool, I am so much in favour of this maxim, that I think with the celebrated Butler that We seldom find Much sense with an exalted fortune joined. As the world leads we follow. There is nothing that we receive with so much reluctance as advice. It is a difficult matter to praise most men without putting them out of countenance. SARCASM. Some of Mr. Wordsworth's earlier effusions of poetical genius were certainly not unworthy of the muse. But, of late, he has extended so far his theory of simplicity in writing, that it degenerates into burlesque and puerility. Some wag thus scoffs at the poet. EDITOR. SIMPLICITY, IN IMITATION OF MR. WORDSWORTH. Simplicity is a characteristic of the highest species of poetry. Now no one has carried the simple so far as Mr. Wordsworth, and as I hold it good sense to imitate perfection, I have taken him for my model. The piece in which these lines occur has given most uneasiness to my Ambition: Violets, do what they will Withered on the ground must lie: Daisies will be daisies still; Daisies they must live and die: Fill your lap and fill your bosom, Only spare the strawberry blossom. Vol. II, p. 116. I fear much lest some little meaning which may have crept into my verses, through the want of habit, should prove destructive of that exquisite simplicity at which I aim. But what scholar is not inferior to the master? what copy falls not short of the original? Fair women win the hearts of men, Men, the hearts of women too; Their blue eyes will be blue eyes still, And to kiss them, where's the harm? To church, to marry, fair one, go, If your mother did not so, Then your mother, child, was wrong. IRONY. RULES FOR POLITE BEHAVIOUR. To tell your dreams and other whimsies of your brain has a delightful effect in company, and comes with particular grace from an old maiden aunt or cousin. In the same way, long histories of battles, murders, executions, which happened in your remembrance, gives an agreeable variety to conversation. If you should be required to sing in a convivial party, the good old ditties of Robin Hood, or Death and the Lady will serve admirably well. In all conversations, studiously avoid brevity. If you have a good thing to say, the more you make of it the better; never mind people yawning, they encourage that practice through mere envy. If a person for whom you bear any respect hesitate in conversation, and says I want a—a—a—, interrupt him with I know, my good fellow, what you were going to say, though at the same time you know nothing at all about it. It is very amusing to perplex any one by reviving some affair that does not altogether appear to his advantage; as, for instance, entering into a long history of crim. con. to a man who has recently parted with his wife, or a dissertation on the striking of a docket to a man who was lately a bankrupt. If you be a man of fortune, mixed with a tolerable portion of assumed consequence, and, at the same time, wishing to display your wit, invite some dependant to dine with you; no matter what his talents, so that he be poor, and in some degree at your command: in that case, play upon him, like a musical instrument. During the time he is partaking of your bounty, should he have spirit to retort, by some haughty expressive look, convince him of the humble situation in which he is placed; giving broad hints that if he does not put up with the display of your infinite humour, that he shall not be again invited to the honours of your table. LEVITY. Magni stat nominis umbra. Proud as a peer, poor as a bard, A lonely Spaniard, late one night, It roused the family in a fright. Who's there?-what boisterous hand, he cried, Iago Miguel Alphonzo EPIGRAMS. Some men there are two wives would crave, Their appetite is such; Not so with me, but one I have, Dear Fabius, me, if well you know, |