Life and Literature Part 132

Forbear sharp speeches to her. She's a lady So tender of rebukes, that words are strokes, And strokes death to her.

--_Shakespeare._

1835

Everything that one says too much, is insipid and tedious.

--_Boilau._

1836

It is unbecoming in inferiors to a.s.sume boldness of speech.

--_Aeschylus._

1837

Have more than thou showest; Speak less than thou knowest; Spend less than thou ownest.

--_Greek._

1838

_Obedience._--The man who has lost his purse will go wherever you wish.

--_Horace._

1839

STORY OF A STANZA.

Many years ago Dr. Valpy, a well known English scholar, wrote a little verse of four lines as the longing of his heart and the confession of his faith. This was the simple stanza:--

"In peace let me resign my breath, And Thy salvation see; My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me."

Some time afterwards he gave this verse to his friend Dr. Marsh, and it became a great blessing to him. Dr. Marsh read the lines to his friend Lord Roden, who was so impressed with them that he got the doctor to write them out, and then fastened the paper over the mantlepiece in his study, and there, yellow with age, they hung for many years.

--_By Canon Dyson Hague, in London Record._

1840

_Stars._--Those gold candles fix'd in heaven's air.

--_Shakespeare._

1841

MAN'S LITTLENESS IN PRESENCE OF THE STARS.

Thou, proud man, look upon yon starry vault, Survey the countless gems which richly stud The night's imperial chariot;--Telescopes Will show the myriads more, innumerous As the sea-sand:--each of those little lamps Is the great source of light, the central sun Round which some other mighty sisterhood Of planets travel,--every planet stocked With living beings impotent, as thee.

Now, proud man--now, where is thy greatness fled?

What art thou in the scale of universe?

Less, less than nothing!

--_Henry Kirke White._

1842

The stars govern men, but G.o.d governs the stars.

1843

No man can be expected to be wise on an empty stomach.

1844

The more violent the storm, the sooner it is over.

--_Seneca._

1845

If a man be gracious unto strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins them.

1846

Be willing to pity the misery of the stranger! Thou givest to-day thy bread to the poor; to-morrow the poor may give it to thee.

--_Michaelis._

1847

THE Pa.s.sING STRANGER.

He pa.s.sed me on the street, And never guessed The strength he gave my heart, And needed rest.