Hannibal, as he had mighty virtues, so had he many vices; * * * he had two distinct persons in him.
Heroic, stoic Cato, the sententious,
Who lent his lady to his friend Hortensius.
So well she acted all and every part
By turns—with that vivacious versatility,
Which many people take for want of heart.
They err—'tis merely what is call'd mobility,
A thing of temperament and not of art,
Though seeming so, from its supposed facility;
And false—though true; for surely they're sincerest
Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest.
With more capacity for love than earth
Bestows on most of mortal mould and birth,
His early dreams of good out-stripp'd the truth,
And troubled manhood follow'd baffled youth.
Genteel in personage,
Conduct, and equipage;
Noble by heritage,
Generous and free.
Clever men are good, but they are not the best.
We are firm believers in the maxim that, for all right judgment of any man or thing, it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronouncing on his bad.
It is in general more profitable to reckon up our defects than to boast of our attainments.
It can be said of him, When he departed he took a Man's life with him. No sounder piece of British manhood was put together in that eighteenth century of Time.
Thou art a cat, and rat, and a coward to boot.
Every one is the son of his own works.
I can look sharp as well as another, and let me alone to keep the cobwebs out of my eyes.
Cada uno es come Dios le hijo, y aun peor muchas vezes.
Every one is as God made him, and often a great deal worse.
He was a verray perfight gentil knight.
The nation looked upon him as a deserter,
and he shrunk into insignificancy and an Earldom.
Importunitas autem, et inhumanitas onr.ri aetati molesta est.
But a perverse temper and fretful disposition make any state of life unhappy.
Ut ignis in aquam conjectus, continuo restinguitur et refrigerator, sic refervens falsum crimen in purissimam et castissimam vitam collatum, statim concidit et extinguitur.
As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also a false accusation when brought against a man of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes.
What was said of Cinna might well be applied to him. He [Hampden] had a head to contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute, any mischief.
In numbers warmly pure, and sweetly strong.
Not to think of men above that which is written.
An honest man, close-button'd to the chin,
Broadcloth without, and a warm heart within.
He cannot drink five bottles, bilk the score,
Then kill a constable, and drink five more;
But he can draw a pattern, make a tart,
And has ladies' etiquette by heart.
Elegant as simplicity, and warm
As ecstasy.
Virtue and vice had boundaries in old time,
Not to be pass'd.
He's tough, ma'am,—tough is J. B.; tough
and de-vilish sly.
O Mrs. Higden, Mrs. Higden, you was a
woman and a mother, and a mangler in a million million.
