book ii

. chap. vii. that this saying of Alphonso about Ptolemy's

astronomy, "that it seemed a crank machine; that it was pity the Creator had not taken advice," is still remembered by mankind,--this and no other of his many sayings.

DANTE. 1265-1321.

(_Cary's Translation._)

All hope abandon, ye who enter here.

_Hell. Canto iii. Line 9._

The wretched souls of those who lived Without or praise or blame.

_Hell. Canto iii. Line 34._

No greater grief than to remember days Of joy when misery is at hand.[769-1]

_Hell. Canto v. Line 121._

FOOTNOTES:

[769-1] See Longfellow, page 618.

FRANÇOIS VILLON. _Circa_ 1430-1484.

Where are the snows of last year?[769-2]

_Des Dames du Temps jadis. i._

I know everything except myself.

_Autre Ballade. i._

Good talkers are only found in Paris.

_Des Femmes de Paris. ii._

FOOTNOTES:

[769-2] But where is last year's snow? This was the greatest care that Villon, the Parisian poet, took.--RABELAIS: _book ii. chap. xiv._

MICHELANGELO. 1474-1564.

(_Translation by Mrs. Henry Roscoe._)

As when, O lady mine! With chiselled touch The stone unhewn and cold Becomes a living mould. The more the marble wastes, The more the statue grows.

_Sonnet._

MARTIN LUTHER. 1483-1546.

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.

_Psalm. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott_ (trans. by Frederic H. Hedge).

Tell your master that if there were as many devils at Worms as tiles on its roofs, I would enter.[770-1]

Here I stand; I can do no otherwise. God help me. Amen!

_Speech at the Diet of Worms._

For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel.[770-2]

_Table-Talk. lxvii._

A faithful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly 't is a rare bird in the land.

_Table-Talk. clvi._

FOOTNOTES:

[770-1] On the 16th of April, 1521, Luther entered the imperial city [of Worms]. . . . On his approach . . . the Elector's chancellor entreated him, in the name of his master, not to enter a town where his death was decided. The answer which Luther returned was simply this.--BUNSEN: _Life of Luther._

I will go, though as many devils aim at me as there are tiles on the roofs of the houses.--RANKE: _History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 533_ (Mrs. Austin's translation).

[770-2] See Burton, page 192.

FRANCIS RABELAIS. 1495-1553.

I am just going to leap into the dark.[770-3]

_Motteux's Life._

Let down the curtain: the farce is done.

_Motteux's Life._

He left a paper sealed up, wherein were found three articles as his last will: "I owe much; I have nothing; I give the rest to the poor."

_Motteux's Life._

One inch of joy surmounts of grief a span, Because to laugh is proper to the man.

_To the Reader._

To return to our wethers.[771-1]

_Works. Book i . Chap. i. n. 2._

I drink no more than a sponge.

_Works. Book i . Chap. v._

Appetite comes with eating, says Angeston.[771-2]

_Works. Book i . Chap. v._

Thought the moon was made of green cheese.

_Works. Book i . Chap. xi._

He always looked a given horse in the mouth.[771-3]

_Works. Book i . Chap. xi._

By robbing Peter he paid Paul,[771-4] . . . and hoped to catch larks if ever the heavens should fall.[771-5]

_Works. Book i . Chap. xi._

He laid him squat as a flounder.

_Works. Book i . Chap. xxvii._

Send them home as merry as crickets.

_Works. Book i . Chap. xxix._

Corn is the sinews of war.[771-6]

_Works. Book i . Chap. xlvi._

How shall I be able to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself?

_Works. Book i . Chap. lii._

Subject to a kind of disease, which at that time they called lack of money.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xvi._

He did not care a button for it.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xvi._

How well I feathered my nest.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xvii._

So much is a man worth as he esteems himself.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xxix._

A good crier of green sauce.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xxxi._

Then I began to think that it is very true which is commonly said, that the one half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth.

_Works. Book ii . Chap. xxxii._

This flea which I have in mine ear.

_Works. Book iii . Chap. xxxi._

You have there hit the nail on the head.[771-7]

_Works. Book iii . Chap. xxxiv._

Above the pitch, out of tune, and off the hinges.

_Works. Book iv . Chap. xix._

I 'll go his halves.

_Works. Book iv . Chap. xxiii._

The Devil was sick,--the Devil a monk would be; The Devil was well,--the devil a monk was he.

_Works. Book iv . Chap. xxiv._

Do not believe what I tell you here any more than if it were some tale of a tub.

_Works.