I have some doubts as to whether this meaning of _amende honorable_ be in accordance with our English notion of its import; and I shall be thankful to any of your readers who will help me to a solution. I always understood that the term _honorable_, in this expression, was to be taken in its literal sense, namely, that the person who made an open avowal of his fault, or tendered an apology for it, was acting, _in that respect_, in strict conformity with the rules of honour. It is possible that, at first, the _amende honorable_ may have been designed as a "peine infamante;" but its modern acceptation would seem to admit of a more liberal construction. {312} There are other expressions, framed upon this "lucus a non lucendo" principle, which may fairly be classed among _contre-vérités_. The French say that a thing is _à propos de bottes_, when it is altogether inappropriate. We all use the formula of "your most obedient, humble servant," even when we intend anything but humility or obedience. HENRY H. BREEN. St. Lucia. * * * * * IRISH RHYMES. (Vol. vi., pp. 431. 539. 605.) MR. CUTHBERT BEDE (Vol. vi., p. 605.) says "he thinks A. B. R. would have to search a long time, before he found, in the pages of Pope, such brogue-inspired rhymes as _rake well_ and _sequel_, _starve it_ and _deserve it_, _charge ye_ and _clergy_, and others quoted by him at p. 431." Among the latter, I presume he chiefly relies on the rhymes _satire_ and _hater_, _creature_ and _nature_. Of all these I am able to adduce parallel instances both from Dryden and Pope. And first, as to _rake well_ and _sequel_. MR. BEDE is, of course, aware that these are double rhymes; that _quel_ and _well_ are good English rhymes; and that the brogue betrays itself only in the first syllable of each, _rake_ and _se_. It is, in fact, the same sort of rhyme as _break_ and _weak_, which is of such frequent occurrence both in Dryden and Pope. Here is an example from each: "Or if they should, their interest soon would _break_, And with such odious aid make David _weak_." _Absalom and Achitophel._ "Men in their loose, unguarded hours they _take_; Not that themselves are wise, but others _weak_." _Essay on Man._ The next "brogue-inspired rhyme" is _starve it_ and _deserve it_. Here, as in the former instance, the last syllables rhyme correctly, and the objection is confined to _starve_ and _deserve_. Let us see what Dryden says to this: "Wrong conscience, or no conscience, may _deserve_ To thrive, but ours alone is privileged to _starve_." _Hind and Panther._ And Pope: "But still the great have kindness in _reserve_: He help'd to bury whom he help'd to _starve_." _Prologue to the Satires._ Of this species of rhyme I have noted _three other_ instances in Dryden, and _two_ in Pope.