who had each lost an eye; and it is curious to observe how easily the same idea is modified by a different poet into a satire or a panegyric." The epigram alluded to is that on Acon and Leonilla by Amaltheus. The one on Taher might have been given under that singularly elegant piece, but the want of harmony between the two would injure both if brought into juxta-position. TO A FRIEND UPON HIS BIRTHDAY. It may interest some readers to see a translation of this very beautiful epigram, which is attributed to Sir William Jones: On parents' knees, a naked new-born child, Calm thou may'st smile, while all around thee weep. It can hardly be supposed that the old epigrammatist, Hayman, knew anything of Arabian poetry. The similarity, therefore, of the following distich, found among his "Quodlibets," may be considered as a coincidence of ideas (Book I. Quod. 55): When we are born, our friends rejoice; we cry : ON LIFE. Like sheep we're doom'd to travel o'er These follow those that went before, And leave the world to those behind. The wolf. An epigram by Samuel Wesley shows how the generations of men live and pass away: Some laugh, while others mourn; Some toil, while others play; So runs the world away. The sentiment of the Arabian epigram is similar to that of a Greek one by Palladas, thus freely translated (Jacobs III. 141, cxxx.): To Death's dark home our wand'rings lead; To Death we all are born: As sheep, who safely o'er night feed, TO A LADY UPON HER REFUSAL OF A PRESENT OF When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, It was well that it was one of the opposite sex whom this lady designated "ugly." Had it been one of her own sex, the epithet would have been unpardonable, according to the following anecdote. Two French ladies had a violent quarrel. As it proved inconvenient, a gentleman, a mutual friend, was asked to arbitrate between them. He consented upon one condition-that both the ladies could solemnly assure him that neither of them had called the other "ugly." On receiving a satisfactory reply, he said, "In that case the quarrel can be adjusted." The lady and gentleman of the epigram change places in the following distich of Martial (Book ix. 6), thus translated by Hay: That you would wed Sir John is very wise: That he don't care to wed is no surprise. MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN LATIN A.D. 1265-A.D. 1678. DANTE ALIGHIERI. Born, 1265. Died, 1321. HIS OWN EPITAPH. Translated by Hackett, in "Select and Remarkable Epitaphs," 1757. Poccianti says that Dante wrote these lines for his own epitaph, when at the point of death. (Hackett.) Leonidas of Tarentum, who is believed to have died in exile, having been carried captive from Tarentum by Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, wrote an epitaph for himself, which is singularly suitable to Dante (Jacobs I. 181, C.). The translation is by Merivale : Far from Tarentum's native soil I lie, But in a stranger clime 'tis worse than death! Call it not life, to pass a fever'd age In ceaseless wanderings o'er the world's wide stage. But me the muse has ever lov'd and giv'n Sweet joys to counterpoise the curse of Heav'n, Nor lets my memory decay, but long To distant times preserves my deathless song. JANUS PANNONIUS, Or Jean de Cisinge, was a poet of Hungary, born in 1434. When only twenty-six years of age he was nominated by Pope Pius II., Bishop of Cing-Eglises in Lower Hungary. He died in 1472. ON AURISPA ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 240). Translated by James Wright. Aurispa nothing writes though learn'd, for he From this Swift may perhaps have taken the following sarcasm : For writing? No; for writing not. In "The Greek and Latin Prize Poems of the University of Cambridge from 1814 to 1837," there is a Latin epigram by Dr. Kennedy, which closes with this distich : "Quid faciam ut propria decorem mea tempora lauru? TO SEVERUS ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 242). With rich vermilion more conspicuous made? So, Lord Byron, satirizing a noble earl's tragedies, which were resplendently bound in morocco and gold, says in "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers": Yes! doff that covering where morocco shines, And hang a calf-skin on those recreant lines. Disraeli, in his "Curiosities of Literature," 1st Series, Art. "Fame contemned," says: "All men are fond of glory, and even the philosophers who write against that noble passion, prefix, however, their names to their own works!" MARTIALIS MONERIUS. A French Poet of the fifteenth century, born in Paris. Died 1508. ON MACHON AND HIS WOODEN LEG ("Delitiæ Delitiarum," 24). Translated by D. When 'gainst Calès the Gallic forces drove, Butler, in "Hudibras" (Part I. Canto ii. 921), describes the woodenlegged Crowdero fighting with the Knight and Ralpho: In haste he snatch'd the wooden limb Straight drew it up, t' attack the knight. Th' incentive of duty urg'd him long, Sorbicus stoutly declares; But study's too hard he complains, and strong |