Book I

, Chap. 19,--_Thomas à Kempis_.

THOMAS À KEMPIS, a renowned German mystic, was born at Kempen, near Cologne in 1380, and died in 1471. He was the author of the "Imitation of Christ," which is said to be the most popular book in the world, with the exception of the Bible.

"The one certain thing about Sir Thomas Malory is, that he wrote the first and finest romance of chivalry in our common-tongue,--the 'Morte d'Arthur.'"

SIR THOMAS MALORY, the British author of the renowned "Morte d'Arthur," was born about 1430, and died after 1470.

"If Froissart, by his picturesque descriptions, and fertility of historical _invention_, may be reckoned the Livy of France, she had her Tacitus in Philippe de Comines."

PHILIPPE DE COMINES, a celebrated French chronicler, was born at Comines, about 1445, and died at the Château of Argenton, October 17, 1510. His famous "Memoirs" won for him great fame.

I know everything except myself.

"Autre Ballade," i,--_François Villon_.

FRANÇOIS VILLON, a renowned French poet, was born in 1431, and died 1460 (?). He wrote: "The Greater Testament," and the "Smaller Testament: Its Codicil"; a collection of poems and a volume of "Ballades."

A heart which is void of the pains of love is not heart; A body without heart woes is nothing but clay and water. Turn thy face away from the world to the pangs of love; For the world of love is a world of sweetness.

"Love" (Translation of S. Robinson),--_Jami_.

'ABD-URRAHMÁN JAMI, the last of Persia's classic poets, was born in Jam, Khorasan, in 1414, and died in May (?), 1492 or 1493. His best known works are: "The Abode of Spring," "The Chain of Gold," "The Loves of Joseph and Zuleika and of Mejnun and Leila."

E duobus malis minimum eligendum.[6]

"Adages,"--_Erasmus_.

DESIDERIUS ERASMUS, a renowned Dutch humanist, was born at Rotterdam, 1465 or 1467, and died July 12, 1536. He wrote a noted volume of "Colloquies," a collection of "Adages," and a celebrated satire, "The Praise of Folly"; besides numerous works on the ancients--Cicero, Seneca, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, etc.; also a noted treatise on "Free-Will."

There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.

--_Marguerite de Valois_.

MARGUERITE D'ANGOULÊME, or DE VALOIS, Queen of Navarre, and famous for her stories, poems and letters, was born in 1492, and died in Bigorre in 1549. She is best known in literature by the celebrated "Heptameron," a collection of tales; "Pearls of the Pearl of Princesses" (poems), and her "Letters," which were published in 1841-42.

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

"To the Reader,"--_François Rabelais_.

FRANÇOIS RABELAIS, the greatest of French satirists, was born at Chinon, Touraine, about 1495, and died in 1553. His fame rests upon the two works, "Gargantua," and "Pantagruel."

A chip of chance weigheth more than a pound of it.

Courtier's Life,--_Sir T. Wyatt_.

SIR THOMAS WYATT, a distinguished English poet and diplomatist, was born at Arlington Castle, Kent, in 1503, and died at Sherborne, October 11, 1542. He wrote many poems, chiefly love sonnets after the Italian manner.

Therefore, if to the goodness of nature be joined the wisdom of the teacher, in leading young wits into a right and plain way of learning; surely children kept up in God's fear, and governed by His grace, may most easily be brought well to serve God and their country, both by virtue and wisdom.

"On Gentleness in Education" (From "The Schoolmaster"),--_Roger Ascham_.

ROGER ASCHAM, a famous English scholar and prose writer, was born at Kirby Wiske, near Northallerton, in 1515, and died in London, December 30, 1568. His most noted works are: "Toxophilus," and "The Schoolmaster."

Time shall make the bushes green; Time dissolve the winter's snow; Winds be soft, and skies serene; Linnets sing their wonted strain: But again Blighted love shall never blow.

"Blighted Love" (trans., Lord Strangford), st. 3,--_Luiz de Camoëns_.

LUIZ DE CAMOËNS, Portugal's greatest poet, was born at Lisbon, in 1524 or 1525, and died June 10, 1580. He is best known by "The Lusiads," which is considered the national epic of Portugal.

The stone that is rolling, can gather no moss, Who often removeth is sure of loss.

"Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry Lessons," St. 46,--_Tusser_.

THOMAS TUSSER, a noted English poet was born at Rivenhall, Essex, in 1527, and died in London about 1580. He was the author of "Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, United to as Many of Good Housewifery," etc.

I cannot eat but little meat, My stomach is not good; But sure I think that I can drink With him that wears a hood.

"Gammer Gurton's Needle," Act. II,--_Bishop Still_.

BISHOP JOHN STILL, a celebrated English writer of comedy, was born at Grantham, in Lincolnshire, in 1543, and died February 26, 1607. He is reputed to be the author of "A Ryght Pithy Pleasant, and Merrie Comedy, Intytuled Gammer Gurton's Needle."

I was so free with him as not to mince the matter.

"Don Quixote," The Author's Preface,--_Cervantes_.

CERVANTES, a renowned Spanish romancist, was born at Alcalà de Henares in 1547, and died at Madrid, April 23, 1616. Of his many romances and stories, his fame rests entirely on his celebrated work, "Don Quixote."

Who will not mercie unto others show, How can he mercy ever hope to have?

Faerie Queene,