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BLOCKHEADS.

Your blockhead is the only person that can never be improved, whether it be self-conceit, stupidity, or hypochondria, that makes him unpliant and unguidable.

BLUSTERER.

A

Wilhelm Meister.—GOETHE.

Besides that he's a fool, he's a great quarreller; and but that he hath the gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in quarrelling, 't is thought among the prudent, he would quickly have the gift of a grave.

Twelfth Night, Act I. Scene III.—SHAKSPERE.

BOLDNESS.

Boldness is ever blind; therefore it is ill in counsel, but good in execution. For in counsel it is good to see dangers, and in execution not to see them, except they very great.

be

Essay on Boldness.-LORD BACON.

BOOKS.

The desirable treasure of wisdom and knowledge, which all men covet from the impulse of nature, infinitely surpasses all the riches of the world; in comparison with which, precious stones are vile, silver is clay, and purified gold grains of sand; in the splendour of which, the sun and moon grow dim to the sight; in the admirable sweetness of which, honey and manna are bitter to the taste. The value of wisdom decreaseth

not with time; it hath an ever flourishing virtue that cleanseth its possession from every venom.

Philobiblon: A treatise on the Love of Books.
RICHARD DE BURY.

BOOKS. Multiplication of

Epicurus, we are told, left behind him three hundred volumes of his own works, wherein he had not inserted a single quotation; and we have it upon the authority of Varso's own words, that he himself composed four hundred and ninety books. Seneca assures us that Didymus the grammarian wrote no less than four thousand; but Origen, it seems, was yet more prolific, and extended his performances even to six thousand treatises. It is obvious to imagine with what sort of materials the productions of such expeditious workmen were wrought up sound thought and well-matured reflections could have no share, we may be sure, in these hasty performThus are books multiplied, whilst authors are scarce; and so much easier is it to write than to think! Letters on Thinking.-WM. MELMOTH.

ances.

BORROWING and SURETY. Concerning

Beware of suretyship for thy best friends. He that payeth another man's debts, seeketh his own decay. But, if thou canst not otherwise choose, rather lend thy money thyself upon good bonds, although thou borrow it. So shalt thou secure thyself and pleasure thy friend. Neither borrow money of a neighbour, or a friend, but

C

of a stranger, where, paying for it, thou shalt hear no more of it. Otherwise thou shalt eclipse thy credit, lose thy freedom, and yet pay as dear as to another. But in borrowing of money, be precious of thy word; for he that hath care of keeping days of payment is lord of another man's purse.

Precepts or directions for the well ordering and carriage of a man's life.-LORD BURLEIGH.

BOWER in Eden. Description of a

The roof

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,
Fenced up

the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,

Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine,

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought

Mosaic; underfoot the violet,

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay

Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone

Of costliest emblem: other creature here,

Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none;

Such was their awe of Man.

Paradise Lost, Book IV. Line 692

BRAVE. Death of the

JOHN MILTON.

How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest?

When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod,
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.

By fairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sung ;
There Honour comes, a pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there.

Ode written in the year 1746.
WM. COLLINS.

BREAD.

The Sourest

Upon the question, what is the worst bread which is eaten? One answered, in respect of the coarseness thereof, Bread made of beans. Another said, Bread made of acorns. But the third hit the truth, and said, Bread taken out of other men's mouths, who are the true proprietors thereof. Such bread may be sweet in the mouth to taste, but is not wholesome in the stomach to digest. Mixt Contemplations on these Times, XIII. THOS FULLER.

BREEDING. Marks of Good

Mutual complaisances, attentions, and sacrifices of little conveniences, are as natural an implied compact between civilised people, as protection and obedience

are between kings and subjects; whoever, in either case, violates that compact, justly forfeits all advantages arising from it.

Letters to his Son, by the EARL OF CHESTERFIELD.

BRITAIN.

I' the world's volume

Our Britain seems as of it, but not in it:
In a great pool, a swan's nest.

Cymbeline, Act III. Scene IV.-SHAKSPERE.

BRITONS.

Our countrymen

Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline

(Now mingled with their courages) will make known To their approvers, they are people, such

That mend upon the world.

Cymbeline, Act II. Scene IV.-SHAKSPERE.

BROTHERS. All Men are

Children we are all

Of one great Father, in whatever clime

His providence hath cast the seed of life,

All tongues, all colours: neither after death

Shall we be sorted into languages

And tints,—white, black, and tawny, Greek and
Goth,

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