of a nature to last for ages when buried under ground, was used by the ancients to mark the boundaries of lands. A trench being dug, dividing the property of two individuals, it was filled with charcoal, and then covered with soil, in which stakes, at regulated distances, were placed. The stakes might be removed, but the charcoal remaining, would for ever shew the original boundaries of the land.

Dives aut iniquus est, aut iniqui Hæres.

A rich man is either a knave or heir to a knave. "How can you be a good man," Sylla was asked, "possessing such immense wealth, though you received nothing from your parents?" Consonant to this opinion is the English adage, "Happy is the man whose father went to the devil;" and

"It is a saying common more than civil,

The son is blest, whose sire is at the devil."

Large fortunes made in a small space of time, are rarely found to be acquired by fair and honourable practices; as is expressed in a pas

04

a passage in one of the comedies of Menander, Nunquam vir æquus dives evasit cito." "Seek not," Lord Verulam says, "great riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly." Solomon advises, "to beware of hasty gathering of riches." Riches obtained by the ordinary means of industry, increase slowly, and it is only by bold and hazardous speculations, that they are made to accumulate rapidly. The most honourable merchants, or those so esteemed, who acquire very large fortunes, can hardly be said to obtain them justly. For though they, none of them, confine their traffic within their own capitals, yet if they are successful, they receive the whole of the profit; but if their speculations prove unfortunate, they involve in their fall all who were unlucky enough to give them credit. "The first article, that a young trader offers for sale," our proverb says, "is his honesty."

Hic Funis nihil attraxit.

This bate has taken no fish. This argument

has

has not prevailed, or this scheme has not answered; some other mode must be tried, which may be more successful. "Semper tibi pendeat hamus," have your hook always bated; though you should fail again and again, continue your exertions, you will succeed at length."Quis enim totum diem jaculans, non aliquando conlineat?" for whosoever shoots often will at length hit the mark. To the same purport is, "Omnem movere lapidem," "leave no stone unturned," try every expedient that is likely to be successful.

Merx ultronea putet.

"Profferred service stinks." We are apt to esteem of little value, what is obtained with small labour. The proverb seems to have taken its origin from the mistrust entertained of any goods pressed upon us with too much. earnestness by the venders; from that circumstance, concluding them to be damaged or faulty.

"Laudat venales qui vult extrudere merces," every man praising the articles he wishes to dispose

dispose of; the purchaser, on the other hand, labours as hard to depreciate what he is about to buy. "It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer, but when he is gone he vaunteth." "Chi comprar ha bisogno di cent' ochii, chi vende n' ha assai de uno," he who buys hath need of an hundred eyes, who sells hath enough of one. We are all of us also solicitous of obtaining intelligence that is attempted to be kept secret, or which is known to a few persons only, and listen to it with more attention than to information equally important, but of more easy acquisition.

Fuimus Troes, and " Aqui fue Troya.”

Troy once was, that is, Troy, though now destroyed, was once a great and powerful city. It may be used by persons whose families, or countries, formerly in repute, have fallen to decay. Time was when we were of some note or value. "Fui Caius," is the inscription that Dr. Caius, or Keys, the founder of a college of that name at Cambridge, ordered to be inscribed on his monument.

Post

Post Festum venisti.

"You are come a day after the fair," the business is done, there is now no want of your assistance, may be said to tardy and indolent persons, who are always too late, whether engaged in business or pleasure. To which however they may answer, "Il vaut mieux tard que jamais," "Better late than never," and "Better come at the end of a feast, than at the beginning of a fray."

Illotis Pedibus ingredi.

Entering with unwashed feet. Alluding to the custom of washing the feet, anciently practised by all persons, before they entered any sacred place, or sat down to their repasts. It was used to be applied to persons talking confidently on subjects they did not understand, or irreverently on sacred subjects; or to those who intruded themselves into business, without having previously prepared themselves by study and application. As the ancients wore sandals, and no stockings, their

feet