2-3.] NOTES. 71 



dwelling, sequestered, obscured. Bacon also uses ' to sequester ' 

 in the sense of to put on one side. It was properly a law term 

 signifying to withdraw or remove from a person and put 

 temporarily in the hands of a trustee something of which the 

 ownership was disputed. 



1. 12. such a light, etc. The most trifling observation or the 

 slightest hint is sufficient to make a truth flash upon your mind. 



1. 15. the Scripture saith, etc. "And God gave Solomon wis 

 dom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, 

 even as the sand that is on the seashore." 1 Kings iv. 29. 



1. 17. which ... it, This irregular construction, where it is un 

 necessarily inserted after the relative, occurs very frequently. 



1. 20. To compass and comprehend, to embrace and take in. To 

 compass means literally to complete the circuit of a thing. To 

 comprehend means to grasp. 



1. 23. for, as regards. 



1. 24. Tacitus, The reference is to the Annals, bk. 13, ch. 3. 

 The Roman historian Tacitus lived from about 60 120 A.D. 



1. 31. though never so excellent, i.e., no matter how excellent 

 it may be. The use of never so is to be explained by an ellipsis. 

 Thus "Though the speech were excellent though never a 

 speech were so excellent. " Abbott, Sh. Gr. 406. 



1. 32. holding of the subject, i.e., wanting in originality. It is 

 opposed to prince-like in the following sentence, and means 

 literally 'partaking of the nature of a subject,' i.e., not indepen 

 dent. 



1. 33. flowing, etc., though copious, yet well arranged. 



1. 35. felicity, we still use the phrase "a happy expression," to 

 denote one which is peculiarly appropriate to express the thing 

 intended. 



1. 36. And as in, etc. Just as in your political and domestic 

 life your virtues have been as eminent as your good fortune has 

 been conspicuous, so, in intellectual matters, the knowledge which 

 you have acquired is not less remarkable than the faculties with 

 which you were by nature endowed, estate, position. 



Page 3, 1. 2. a virtuous disposition, etc. These sentences 

 explain the 'emulation and contention.' In each sentence an 

 instance of virtue is set over against an instance of good luck. 



1. 3. regiment, education. The word literally means control, 

 from Lat. regere, to rule. On p. 53, 1. 19, it is used as equivalent 

 to government, when time was, once upon a time, i.e., in the 

 days, when, as yet, you were only heir to the throne. Notice 

 that was is used absolutely, your greater fortune, .., the 

 possession of the English crown. 



