Th’ impassioned incarnation of rare, Of limpid-eyed, luscious lipped, loved beauty―― And her pet was white as she was fair. Wherever she wandered, hither and there, Wildly that lamblet sought with her to be―― With the dewy-eyed, with shimmering hair, And a pet as white as its mistress was fair. A. C. WILKIE. [Illustration] Martin Farquhar Tupper. This gentleman was born in London in 1810, and educated, first at the Charterhouse school, and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A., M.A., and D.C.L. The author of many works, both in prose and verse, Mr. Tupper has been hardly dealt with by the critics, and the parodists. They appear to have ignored such of his writings as have any merit, in order to hunt most mercilessly to death his _Proverbial Philosophy_, which, though it has run through many editions, is inferior to much else that he has written. The reasons for this perversity on their part cannot here be considered, only the Parodies as they exist can be dealt with. ―――― The following lines, which were written many years ago by “Cuthbert Bede” in his _Shilling Book of Beauty_, neatly sum up _Proverbial Philosophy_:―― Thoughts may abide in the brain, yet how few have the wit to extract them; Many may know of Proverbs, yet could not for worlds have devised them. All are not gifted the same: there are brains that are stupid and addled; There are those that are clear as the stream,――the pellucid water that floweth Under the bridges, that bind the Surrey shore unto London. Philosophy cannot be taught, unless you can meet with a teacher: I am the teacher of this the nineteenth century of being. Philosophy I can expound in a way hitherto undream’d of; Witness my book of Proverbial Platitudes, and its Editions; Book beloved by women――women of intellect feeble; Book that is lauded by old maids, and Evangelical parsons; Book that by school-girls is worshipped, and ranked with _The Pilgrim’s Progress_; That is read by bachelor curates, to maidens at Dorcas meetings; Designing curates, who choose the chapters on “Love” and “Marriage,” And read the soft nothings therein, with smirks and murderous gusto. I have written of Proverbs, turned everything to a Proverb, Even my name as an author, proverbial is it with many, Who, in braying derision, call me “Sweet Singer of Beadledom,” Let those laugh who win! my Proverbs have eighteen editions! Eighteen editions bring fame, and――what is better――_money_. Another old parody may be quoted from the second volume of _Punch_, (1842). PUNCH’S PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. _Introductory._