D’Israeli says that Bossuet would not join his young companions, and flew to his solitary tasks, while the classical boys avenged themselves by a schoolboy’s pun; applying to _Bossuet_ Virgil’s _bos suet-us aratro_—the ox daily toiling in the plough. * * * * * John Randolph of Virginia, and Mr. Dana of Connecticut, while fellow-members of Congress, belonged to different political parties. On one occasion Mr. Dana paid some handsome compliments to Mr. Randolph. When the latter spoke in reply, he quoted from Virgil (Æn. ii.):— Timeo _Danaos_ et dona ferentes. A lady having accidentally thrown down a Cremona fiddle with her mantua, Dean Swift instantly remarked,— “_Mantua_ væ miseræ nimium vicina _Cremonæ_.” Ah, Mantua, too near the wretched Cremona. (Virg. Ecl. ix. 28.) * * * * * To an old gentleman who had lost his spectacles one rainy evening, the Dean said, “If this rain continues all night, you will certainly recover them in the morning betimes: “Nocte pluit tota—redeunt _spectacula_ mane.” (Virgil.) Quid facies facies veneris si veneris ante? Ne pereas pereas, ne sedeas, sedeas. (What will you do if you shall come before the face of Venus? Lest you should perish through them, do not sit down, but go away.) * * * * * Sir William Dawes, Archbishop of York, was very fond of a pun. His clergy dining with him for the first time after he had lost his wife, he told them he feared they did not find things in so good order as they used to be in the time of poor Mary; and, looking extremely sorrowful, added with a deep sigh, “she was indeed _mare pacificum_.” A curate who knew pretty well what her temper had been, said, “Yes, my lord, but she was _mare mortuum_ first.” That Homer should a bankrupt be, Is not so very §ODD D’YE SEE§, If it be true as I’m instructed, So §ILL HE HAD§ his books conducted. PUNNING MOTTOES OF THE ENGLISH PEERAGE. _Ne vile_ §Fano§—Disgrace not the altar. Motto of the §Fanes§. §Ne vile§ _velis_—Form no mean wish. The §Nevilles§. §Cavendo§ _tutus_—Secure by caution. The §Cavendishes§. §Forte scu§_tum, salus ducum_—A strong shield the safety of leaders. Lord §Fortescue§. §Ver non§ _semper viret_—The spring is not always green. Lord §Vernon§. §Vero§ _nihil verius_—Nothing truer than truth. Lord §Vere§. §Templa§ _quam delecta_—Temples how beloved. Lord §Temple§. JEUX-DE-MOTS. SPIRITUAL. A wag decides— That whiskey is the key by which many gain an entrance into our prisons and almshouses. That brandy brands the noses of all who cannot govern their appetites. That wine causes many a man to take a winding way home.