It is recorded of the celebrated Sculptor Giovanni Lorenzi Bernini, that on his seeing the painting by Vandyke which presents three portraits of King Charles I. on the same canvass, the one a front face, the other a half side, and the third a profile, the artist observed, “whoever the individual be whose likeness these three portraits represent, I am of opinion that the same will come to an untimely end.” This painting had been expressly taken and forwarded to Rome in order that Bernini might, from the resemblance, sculpture a marble bust of the king; which accordingly he did, and King Charles, the best and greatest patron of the arts that England can boast of, was so much pleased with the performance, that he sent Bernini a very valuable ring, saying to the person whom he commissioned to deliver it, “Andate a coronar quello mano, che ha fatto si bel lavarno.” ❦ “The _Ballad_” was the favourite dance of the Italians. This word now used only to designate the words of a peculiar species of _song_, is derived from the Italian “_ballare_” to dance, and originally signified a dance accompanied by a chaunt. This dance was probably pantomimic, exhibiting the story of the accompanying verse by that expressive gesticulation in which the Italians of all ages have excelled. ❦ _On a Lady not celebrated for her attention to cleanliness._ Accept, dear Peg, in moral lays, The thanks a grateful heart repays; Oft has my soul, puff’d up with pride, The truths of sacred writ denied, And to myself I still have said, Sure mankind ne’er of dust was made, Till thou, dear Peg, revers’d my creed, And shew’d me, we are _dirt_ indeed. ❦ Relate your story simply, and never forget that overcharged accusations will always assume in the eyes of the court the appearance of calumny. ❦ [Sidenote: Lady M. W. Montague.] Spence says of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, that she is one of the most shining characters in the world; but she is like a comet, she is all irregularity, and always wandering: the most wise, most imprudent, loveliest, most disagreeable, best natured, cruelest woman in the world. Of herself she writes, “I thank God I still retain my taste for the gay part of reading. Wise people may think it trifling, but it serves to sweeten life to me, and is at least better than the generality of conversation.” I know by experience how far the love of reading is capable of softening the cruelest accidents of life: even the happiest cannot be passed without many weary hours, and there is no remedy so easy as books, which if they do not give cheerfulness, at least restore quiet to the most troubled mind. Gardening is certainly the next amusement to reading. ❦ The mild air gives birth to pestilence, and the whirlwind, though it uproots trees, destroys the devouring locust. God blesses in a blow, and punishes in a gift. To hasten the ripening of the fig, we pierce it; and what so sweet as the wounded pulp? ❦