Truth And Rhyme

IN the days of Charles II., candidates for holy orders were expected to

respond in Latin to the various interrogatories put to them by the

bishop or his examining chaplain. When the celebrated Dr. Isaac Barrow

(who was fellow of Trinity College, and tutor to the immortal Newton)

had taken his bachelor's degree, he presented himself before the

bishop's chaplain, who, with the stiff stern visage of the times, said

to Bar ow,--



Quid est fides? (What is faith?)



Quod non vides (What thou dost not see),



answered Barrow with the utmost promptitude. The chaplain, a little

vexed at Barrow's laconic answer, continued,--



Quid est spes? (What is hope?)



Magna res (A great thing),



replied the young candidate in the same breath.



Quid est charitas? (What is charity?)



was the next question.



Magna raritas (A great rarity),



was again the prompt reply of Barrow, blending truth and rhyme with a

precision that staggered the reverend examiner, who went direct to the

bishop and told him that a young Cantab had thought proper to give

rhyming answers to three several moral questions, and added that he

believed his name was Barrow, of Trinity College, Cambridge. Barrow,

Barrow! said the bishop, who well knew the literary and moral worth of

the young Cantab, if that's the case, ask him no more questions, for he

is much better qualified, continued his lordship, to examine us than

we him. Barrow received his letters of orders forthwith.