It will be observed that modern epigrams have been preferred to the ancient, and that pungency and pith have given place to completeness and perfection. The limits of the volume, and also of an ordinary life-time, precluded the attainment of the latter, while the object in view in the preparation of the collection has been fully accomplished by an adherence to the former.

EPIGRAMS

AND

LITERARY FOLLIES.

AN EPIGRAM.

One day in Chelsea meadows walking,
Of poetry and such things talking,

Says Ralph, a merry wag,
"An epigram, if smart and good,
In all its circumstances should

Be like a jelly-bag."
" Your simile, I own is true,
But how wilt make it out ?" says Hugh.

Quoth Ralph, “I'll tell thee, friend;
Make it at top both wide and fit
To hold a budget full of wit,

And point it at the end.”

TREASON,

Treason does never prosper; what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason ?

Harrington. AN ENIGMA.

Sarah Anna Lewis. “ Seldom we find,” says Solomon Don Dunce,

“ Half an idea in the profoundest sonnet, Through all the flimsy things we see at once

As easily as through a Naples bonnet

Trash of all trash !-how can a lady don it? Yet heavier far than your Petrarchan stuffOwl-downy nonsense that the saintest puff

Twirls into trunk-paper the while you con it." And, veritably, Sol is right enough. The general tuckermanities are arrant Bubbles-ephemeral and so transparent,

But this is now—you may depend upon it, Stable, opaque, immortal-all by dint Of the dear names that lie concealed within 't.

E. A. Poe. FORTUNE.

Fortune, men say, doth give too much to many, But yet she never gave enough to any.

Harrington. A CROSS ACROSTICK ON Two CROST LOVERS.

Thomas Rivers and Mary Brandon. Though crost in our affections, still the flames Of Honour shall secure our noble Names; Nor shall Our fate divorce our faith, Or cause The least Mislike of love's Diviner laws. Crosses sometimes Are cures, Now let us prove, That no strength Shall Abate the power of love, Honour, wit, beauty, Riches, wise men call Frail fortune's Badges, In true love lies all; Therefore to him we Yield our Vows shall be Paid-Read, and written in Eternity, That All may know when men grant no Redress Much love can sweeten the unhappiness.

Thomas Jordan.

THE JOKE OF CHARLES MATHEWS VERSIFIED.

A trav’ller, some little time back,

Was telling another a history,
Whose manners betray'd a great lack

Of sense to unravel the mystery.
“Why, sir, it is strange you can't see !

Or, perhaps, it don't meet your belief :
'Tis as simple as plain A B C.”

“Yes,” cries t'other, “but I'm D E F.”

OUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.

Colossians iii. 3. My words and thoughts do both express this

notion, That life hath with the sun a double motion. The first is straight, and our diurnal friend ; The other hid, and doth obliquely bend. One life is wrapt in flesh, and tends to earth ; The other winds towards Him, whose happy

birth Taught me to live here so, that still one eye Should aim and shoot at that which is on

high; Quitting with daily labour all my pleasure, To gain at harvest an eternal treasure

George Herbert.

PARADISE.

I Lliss Thee, Lord, because I GROW
Among Thy trees, which in a ROW
To Thee both fruit and order ow.

What open force, or hidden CHARM
Can blast my fruit, or bring me HARM
While the inclosure is thine ARM?