This day black omens threat the brightest fair That e’er deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care; Some dire disaster, or by force, or flight; But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night: Whether the nymph shall break Diana’s law; Or some frail china jar receive a flaw; Or stain her honour, or her new brocade; Forget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade; Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball; Or whether Heav’n has doom’d that Shock must fall. _Rape of the Lock, canto_ ii. 101. One speaks the glory of the British Queen, And one describes a charming Indian screen. _Ibid. canto_ iii. 13. Then flash’d the living lightning from her eyes, And screams of horror rend th’ affrighted skies. Not louder shrieks to pitying heav’n are cast, When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last; Or when rich china vessels fall’n from high, In glitt’ring dust, and painted fragments lie! _Ibid. canto_ iii. 155. Not youthful kings in battle seiz’d alive, Not scornful virgins who their charms survive, Not ardent lovers robb’d of all their bliss, Not ancient ladies when refus’d a kiss, Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, Not Cynthia when her manteau’s pinn’d awry, E’er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, As thou, sad virgin! for thy ravish’d hair. _Ibid. canto_ iv. 3. Joining things that in appearance are opposite. As for example, where Sir Roger de Coverley, in the Spectator, speaking of his widow, “That he would have given her a coal-pit to have kept her in clean linen; and that her finger should have sparkled with one hundred of his richest acres.” Premisses that promise much and perform nothing. Cicero upon this article says, “Sed scitis esse notissimum ridiculi genus, cum aliud expectamus, aliud dicitur: hic nobismetipsis noster error risum movet[23].” _Beatrice._---- With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good-will. _Much ado about nothing, act 2. sc. 1._ _Beatrice._ I have a good eye, uncle, I can see a church by day-light. _ibid._ Le medecin que l’on m’indique Sait le Latin, le Grec, l’Hebreu, Les belles lettres, la physique, La chimie et la botanique. Chacun lui donne son aveu: Il auroit aussi ma pratique; Mais je veux vivre encore un peu. Again, Vingt fois le jour le bon Grégoire A soin de fermer son armoire. De quoi pensez vous qu’il a peur? Belle demande! Qu’un voleur Trouvant une facile proie, Ne lui ravisse tout son bien. Non; Gregoire a peur qu’on ne voie Que dan son armoire il n’a rien. Again,