_Sed meliore (in omne) ingenio
animoque
quam fortuna_, _sum usus_.
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
--Of this spilt water there is a little to be
gathered up: it is a desperate debt.
_Latro sesquipedalis_. --The thief {22} that had a longing at the gallows
to commit one robbery more before he was hanged.
And like the German lord, when he went out of Newgate into the cart, took
order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said was he taken
and committed upon suspicion of treason, no witness appearing against
him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed with him,
offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.
_Calumniae fructus_. --I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so
endeavoured and taken pains to belie me. It shall make me set a surer
guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.
_Impertinens_. --A tedious person is one a man would leap a steeple from,
gallop down any steep lull to avoid him; forsake his meat, sleep, nature
itself, with all her benefits, to shun him. A mere impertinent; one that
touched neither heaven nor earth in his discourse. He opened an entry
into a fair room, but shut it again presently. I spoke to him of garlic,
he answered asparagus; consulted him of marriage, he tells me of hanging,
as if they went by one and the same destiny.
_Bellum scribentium_. --What a sight it is to see writers committed
together by the ears for ceremonies, syllables, points, colons, commas,
hyphens, and the like, fighting as for their fires and their altars; and
angry that none are frighted at their noises and loud brayings under
their asses' skins.
There is hope of getting a fortune without digging in these quarries.
_Sed meliore (in omne) ingenio animoque quam fortuna_, _sum usus_. {23}
"Pingue solum lassat; sed juvat ipse labor. " {24a}
_Differentia inter doctos et sciolos_. --Wits made out their several
expeditions then for the discovery of truth, to find out great and
profitable knowledges; had their several instruments for the disquisition
of arts. Now there are certain scioli or smatterers that are busy in the
skirts and outsides of learning, and have scarce anything of solid
literature to commend them. They may have some edging or trimming of a
scholar, a welt or so; but it is no more.
_Impostorum fucus_. --Imposture is a specious thing, yet never worse than
when it feigns to be best, and to none discovered sooner than the
simplest. For truth and goodness are plain and open; but imposture is
ever ashamed of the light.
_Icunculorum motio_. --A puppet-play must be shadowed and seen in the dark;
for draw the curtain, _et sordet gesticulatio_. {24b}
_Principes et administri_. --There is a great difference in the
understanding of some princes, as in the quality of their ministers about
them. Some would dress their masters in gold, pearl, and all true jewels
of majesty; others furnish them with feathers, bells, and ribands, and
are therefore esteemed the fitter servants. But they are ever good men
that must make good the times; if the men be naught, the times will be
such. _Finis exspectandus est in unoquoque hominum_; _animali ad
mutationem promptissmo_.
gathered up: it is a desperate debt.
_Latro sesquipedalis_. --The thief {22} that had a longing at the gallows
to commit one robbery more before he was hanged.
And like the German lord, when he went out of Newgate into the cart, took
order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said was he taken
and committed upon suspicion of treason, no witness appearing against
him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed with him,
offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.
_Calumniae fructus_. --I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so
endeavoured and taken pains to belie me. It shall make me set a surer
guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.
_Impertinens_. --A tedious person is one a man would leap a steeple from,
gallop down any steep lull to avoid him; forsake his meat, sleep, nature
itself, with all her benefits, to shun him. A mere impertinent; one that
touched neither heaven nor earth in his discourse. He opened an entry
into a fair room, but shut it again presently. I spoke to him of garlic,
he answered asparagus; consulted him of marriage, he tells me of hanging,
as if they went by one and the same destiny.
_Bellum scribentium_. --What a sight it is to see writers committed
together by the ears for ceremonies, syllables, points, colons, commas,
hyphens, and the like, fighting as for their fires and their altars; and
angry that none are frighted at their noises and loud brayings under
their asses' skins.
There is hope of getting a fortune without digging in these quarries.
_Sed meliore (in omne) ingenio animoque quam fortuna_, _sum usus_. {23}
"Pingue solum lassat; sed juvat ipse labor. " {24a}
_Differentia inter doctos et sciolos_. --Wits made out their several
expeditions then for the discovery of truth, to find out great and
profitable knowledges; had their several instruments for the disquisition
of arts. Now there are certain scioli or smatterers that are busy in the
skirts and outsides of learning, and have scarce anything of solid
literature to commend them. They may have some edging or trimming of a
scholar, a welt or so; but it is no more.
_Impostorum fucus_. --Imposture is a specious thing, yet never worse than
when it feigns to be best, and to none discovered sooner than the
simplest. For truth and goodness are plain and open; but imposture is
ever ashamed of the light.
_Icunculorum motio_. --A puppet-play must be shadowed and seen in the dark;
for draw the curtain, _et sordet gesticulatio_. {24b}
_Principes et administri_. --There is a great difference in the
understanding of some princes, as in the quality of their ministers about
them. Some would dress their masters in gold, pearl, and all true jewels
of majesty; others furnish them with feathers, bells, and ribands, and
are therefore esteemed the fitter servants. But they are ever good men
that must make good the times; if the men be naught, the times will be
such. _Finis exspectandus est in unoquoque hominum_; _animali ad
mutationem promptissmo_.
