97. A Prince laughing at one of his Courtiers whom he had employed in
several Embassies, told him, he looked like an _Owl_. I know not,
answered the Courtier, what I look like; but this I know, that I have
had the Honour several Times to represent your _Majesty's Person_.
98. A _Venetian_ Ambassador going to the Court of _Rome_, passed
through _Florence_, where he went to pay his Respects to the late
Duke of _Tuscany_. The Duke complaining to him of the Ambassador
the State of _Venice_ had sent him, as a Man unworthy of his Publick
Character; _Your Highness_, said he, _must not wonder at it, for we
have many Idle Pates, at_ Venice. _So have we_, reply'd the Duke,
in Florence; _but we don't send them to treat of Publick Affairs_.
99. A Lady's Age happening to be questioned, she affirmed, she was
but _Forty_, and call'd upon a Gentleman that was in Company for his
Opinion; Cousin, said she, do you believe I am in the Right, when I say
I am but _Forty_? I ought not to dispute it, Madam, reply'd he, for I
have heard you say so _these ten Years_.
100. It being proved in a Trial at _Guild-Hall_, that a Man's Name was
really _Inch_, who pretended that it was _Linch_, I see, said the
Judge, the old Proverb is verified in this Man, who being allowed an
_Inch_ took an _L_.
101. A certain Person came to a Cardinal in _Rome_, and told him that
he had brought his Eminence a dainty white _Palfrey_, but he fell lame
by the Way; saith the Cardinal to him, I'll tell thee what thou shalt
do, go to such a Cardinal, and such a one, naming half a Dozen, and
tell them the same, and so as thy Horse, if it had been _sound_, could
have pleas'd but _one_, with this _lame Horse_ thou shalt please half a
Dozen.
102. A prodigal Gallant (whose penurious Mother being lately dead, had
left him a plentiful Estate) one Day being on his Frolicks, quarrell'd
with his Coachman, and said, you damn'd Son of a Whore, I'll kick you
into Hell; to which the Coachman answer'd, _if you kick me into Hell,
I'll tell your Mother how extravagantly you spend your Estate here upon
Earth_.
103. The Emperor _Augustus_, being shewn a young _Grecian_, who very
much resembled him, asked the young Man if his _Mother_ had not been at
_Rome_: No, Sir, answer'd the _Grecian_ but my _Father_ has.
104. _Cato_ the Censor being ask'd, how it came to pass, that he had no
Statue erected for him, who had so well deserved of the Common-Wealth?
I had rather, said he, have this Question asked, than _why I had one_.
105. A Lady coming into a Room hastily, with her _Mantua_, brush'd down
a _Cremona_ Fiddle, that lay on a Chair, and broke it, upon which a
Gentleman that was present burst into this Exclamation from _Virgil_:
_Mantua væ miseræ nimium Vicina Cremona._
_Ah miserable_ Mantua _too near a Neighbour to_ Cremona.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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