Nov. 6. 1852.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



431 



Greek Fathers, and we may expect to find it, if 

 anywhere, in a Greek classic. Accordingly we do 

 find it as one of the profound and admirable 

 sayings attributed to Aristotle, in the Life of 

 Aristotle, by Diogenes Laertius, an English trans- 

 lation of wliich was published in 1696, and whence 

 Prior probably took it, for he is said to have been 

 a reader of various literature, and not particular 

 in acknowledging his sources. E. T. 



Wild wood, Hampstead. 



■UNIQUE PRINT PROM AN ENGRAVING BY HOGARTH. 



It has just struck me that the following anec- 

 dote might not be generally known, and that it 

 might be interesting as well as new to many of 

 your readers, who are doubtless watching with 

 some curiosity, as I am, the progress of the de- 

 scription of " Morell's Book-plate." 



" Some time since a gentleman sent his box to a 

 working jeweller for repair ; the embossed frame which 

 surrounded the lid had become loose. The box was 

 of silver, plain in its shape, but ornamented on the top 

 ■with a group of figures, somewhat after the manner of 

 AVatteau, engraved upon the plate. 



" Upon removing the border, it was found necessary 

 to take the upper part of the box entirely to pieces. 

 While minutely inspecting the landscape and figures, 

 the jeweller perceived, at the edge of the plate, which 

 had been concealed by its frame, the name of William 

 Hogarth. This naturally excited his attention, and he 

 mentioned the circumstance to a neighbour, whom he 

 Icnew to be thoroughly conversant with all matters of 

 art. It was suggested by this gentleman that a few 

 impressions of the subject should be taken off", as he 

 knew a great Hogarthian collector, and he might pro- 

 bably obtain something for the ingenious workman, 

 who had a large family to support by one pair of 

 hands. Some twenty copies were printed on India 

 paper, the plate restored to its original destination, but 

 so soldered and riveted to the exterior embossing, as to 

 prevent the possibility of its ever again being sub- 

 jected to the process of the printing press. 



" The circumstances of the case were communicated, 



the twenty copies shown to the collector, Mr. W , 



and their price demanded. Five pounds were named, 

 and immediately paid. Mr. W then carefully ex- 

 amined his purchase, selected the best impression, and 

 threw the remaining nineteen into the fire, exclaiming, 

 ' Now I have in my possession a unique work of my 

 idol's [Query, why not idol?]. No man can boast 

 that he has a copy of Xhisfete champetre but myself, and 

 I would not part with it for fifty pounds.' 



" His feelings were less enviable than those of the 

 person who had enabled him to possess this treasure. 

 With what delight did he hand over the smaller sum 

 to the honest workman, whose gratitude was equal to 

 his surprise at such an unexpected Godsend. 



" The passion for destroying what is valuable in 

 order to monopolise, instead of diffusing pleasure and 

 information, is the vice of a virtuoso, and a proof of 

 imperfect knowledge in a connoisseur." — From A 



Pinch — of Snuff, by Pollexenes Digit Snift, Dean of 

 Brazen-Nose. London, Robert Tyas, 1840, p. 79. 



This amusing and unassuming little book was 

 evidently written by " A Gentleman." Inter- 

 spersed among lighter matter, which is cleverly 

 put together, and neatly worded, it contains 

 jvcafiai and sentiments which would do honour to 

 any treatise, philosophical, moral, or religious. If 

 the last paragraph of my extract does nothing 

 towards supporting my assertion, at all events it 

 will not weaken it. C. Forbes. 



Temple. 



IRISH RHYMES IN SWIFT. 



No one can read the poetry of Swift without 

 being struck with the happy facility of his rhymes ; 

 but the Irishisms they contain have never, so far 

 as I am aware, been made the subject of a Note. 

 The Dean's Pegasus had evidently been reared in 

 the Emerald Isle, and could not always be curbed 

 by English pronouncing dictionaries. What rhyme 

 could be more Irish, than the following, which 

 occurs in " The Journal of a Modern Lady :" 



" By nature turn'd to play the rake well, 

 (As we shall show you in the sequel)." 



And in the same short poem, we have these addi- 

 tional Irishisms in the rhymes : 



" But let me now awhile survey. 

 Our madam o'er her ev'ning tea." 



" Hypocrisy with frown severe. 

 Scurrility with gibing air." 



" Are you on vices most severe. 

 Wherein yourselves have greatest share ? " 



" Or in harmonious numbers put 

 The deal, the shuffle, and the cut ?" 



" In ready counters never pays. 

 But pawns her snuff-box, rings, and keys." 



" I'm so uneasy in my stays ; 

 Your fan a moment, if you please. 



" Unlucky madam, left in tears, 

 (Who now again quadrille forswears.)" 



(At the commencement of this poem, by-the-way. 

 Swift makes "satire" (not satyr) to rhyme with. 

 " hater." Was it then so pronounced ?) 



It would be easy to multiply examples of the 

 Irish rhymes to be found in Swift : but perhaps 

 the following will (with those already given) be 

 sufficient to show the peculiarity to which I have 

 drawn attention : — 



"Peace" and "case," "air" and "player," 

 "starve it" and "deserve it," "delight" and "by't," 

 "foot" and "do't," "favour" and "bearer," 

 " charge ye" and " clergy," " creature" and " nature," 

 " prey" and " tea," " swearing" and " hearing." 



CUTHBERT BeDE, B.A. 



