The Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings — John Shaqi
The Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and SayingsLemon, Mark
General
The Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings
Lemon, Mark
Anecdotes -- Great Britain; English wit and humor
BISHOPS SHERLOCK and HOADLY were both freshmen of the same year, at
Catherine Hall, Cambridge. The classical subject in which they were
first lectured was Tully's Offices, and one morning Hoadly received a
compliment from the tutor for the excellence of his construing.
Sherlock, a little vexed at the preference shown to his rival, said,
when they left the lecture-room, "Ben, you made good use of L'Estrange's
_translation_ to-day."--"Why, no, Tom," retorted Hoadly, "I did not, for
I had not got one; and I forgot to borrow yours, which, I am told, is
the only one in the college."
CXLV.--ELEGANT COMPLIMENT.
MR. HENRY ERSKINE, being one day in London, in company with the Duchess
of Gordon, said to her, "Are we never again to enjoy the honor and
pleasure of your grace's society at Edinburgh?"--"O!" answered her
grace, "Edinburgh is a vile dull place--I hate it."--"Madam," replied
the gallant barrister, "the sun might as well say, there's a vile dark
morning,--I _won't rise_ to-day."
CXLVI.--A LOVE SONG, BY DEAN SWIFT.
A PUD IN is almi de si re,
Mimis tres Ine ver require,
Alo veri find it a gestis,
His miseri ne ver at restis.
CXLVII.--BY THE SAME.
MOLLIS abuti,
Has an acuti,
No lasso finis,
Molli divinis.
O mi de armis tres,
Imi nadis tres,
Cantu disco ver
Meas alo ver?
CXLVIII.--A HAPPY SUGGESTION.
WHEN Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, gave a concert to the
Consumption Hospital, the proceeds of which concert amounted to 1,776l.
15s., and were to be devoted to the completion of the building, Jerrold
suggested that the new part of the hospital should be called "The
Nightingale's Wing."
CXLIX.--PLAYING ON A WORD.
LORD ORFORD was present in a large company at dinner, when Bruce, the
celebrated traveller, was talking in his usual style of exaggeration.
Some one asked him what musical instruments were used in Abyssinia.
Bruce hesitated, not being prepared for the question, and at last said,
"I think I saw a _lyre_ there." George Selwyn, who was of the party,
whispered his next man, "Yes, and there is _one less_ since he left the
country."
CL.--AN EYE TO PROFIT.
A PERSON speaking of an acquaintance, who, though extremely avaricious,
was always abusing the avarice of others, added, "Is it not strange that
this man will not take the _beam out of his own eye_ before he attempts
the _mote_ in other people's?"--"Why, so I daresay he would," cried
Sheridan, "if he was sure of _selling the timber_."
CLI.--"OUT, BRIEF CANDLE."
A VERY small officer struck an old grenadier of his company for some
supposed fault in performing his evolutions. The grenadier gravely took
off his cap, and, holding it over the officer by the tip, said, "Sir, if
you were not my officer, I would _extinguish_ you."
CLII.--A.I.
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