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
IN making love let poor men sigh,
But love that's ready-made is better
For men of business;--so I,
If madam will be cruel, let her.
But should she wish that I should wait
And miss the 'Change,--oh no, I thank her,
I court by _deed_, or after _date_,
Through my solicitor or banker.
CLXV.--INGENIOUS REPLY OF A SOLDIER.
A SOLDIER in the army of the Duke of Marlborough took the name of that
general, who reprimanded him for it. "How am I to blame, general?" said
the soldier. "I have the choice of names; if I had known one more
illustrious _than yours_, I should have taken it."
CLXVI.--LORD CHESTERFIELD.
WHEN Lord Chesterfield was in administration, he proposed a person to
his late majesty as proper to fill a place of great trust, but which the
king himself was determined should be filled by another. The council,
however, resolved not to indulge the king, for fear of a dangerous
precedent, and it was Lord Chesterfield's business to present the grant
of office for the king's signature. Not to incense his majesty by asking
him abruptly, he, with accents of great humility, begged to know with
whose name his majesty would be pleased to have the blanks filled up.
"With the _devil's_!" replied the king, in a paroxysm of rage. "And
shall the instrument," said the Earl, coolly, "run as usual, _Our trusty
and well-beloved cousin and counsellor_?"--a repartee at which the king
laughed heartily, and with great good-humor signed the grant.
CLXVII.--SPECIAL PLEADING.
WHEN a very eminent special pleader was asked by a country gentleman if
he considered that his son was likely to succeed as a special pleader,
he replied, "Pray, sir, can your son _eat saw-dust without butter_?"
CLXVIII.--ON A NEW DUKE.
ASK you why gold and velvet bind
The temples of that cringing thief?
Is it so strange a thing to find
A toad beneath a strawberry leaf?
CLXIX.--THE ZODIAC CLUB.
ON the occasion of starting a convivial club, somebody proposed that it
should consist of twelve members, and be called "The Zodiac," each
member to be named after a sign.
"And what shall I be?" inquired a somewhat solemn man, who was afraid
that his name would be forgotten.
_Jerrold._--"Oh, we'll bring you in as the _weight_ in Libra."
CLXX.--QUIN'S SOLILOQUY ON SEEING THE EMBALMED BODY OF DUKE
HUMPHREY, AT ST. ALBAN'S.
"A PLAGUE on Egypt's arts, I say--
Embalm the dead--on senseless clay
Rich wine and spices waste:
Like sturgeon, or like brawn, shall I,
Bound in a precious pickle lie,
Which I can never taste!
Let me embalm this flesh of mine,
With turtle fat, and Bourdeaux wine,
And spoil the Egyptian trade,
Than Glo'ster's Duke, more happy I,
Embalm'd alive, old Quin shall lie
A mummy ready made."
CLXXI.--STRIKING REPROOF.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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