Classical Wit


DR. MAGINN dining with a friend on ham and chicken, addressed Sukey

Boyle, his friend's housekeeper, thus: You know, Boyle, what old Ovid,

in his 'Art of Love' (book iii.), says; I give you the same wish:--



'Semper tibi pendeat hamus,'



May you always have a ham hanging in your kitchen. The doctor

insisted that tea was well known to the Romans, for, said he, even in

the time of Plautus it was a favorite beverage with the ladies,--



'Amant te omnes mulieres.'

Miles Glor., Act i., sc. i., v. 58.



Observing Sukey Boyle, he said to his friend, Ah! John, I see you

follow the old advice we both learned at school, [Greek: Charizou te

Psyche], 'Indulge yourself with Sukey.' There was some hock at dinner,

which he thus eulogized:--



'Hoc tum saevas paulatim mitigat iras,

Hoc minuit luctus moestaque corda levat.'

Ov. Trist., lib. iv., el. vi., v. 15, 16.



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