Proverbial Philosophy," a Book of Thoughts and Arguments," by MARTIN
FARQUHAR TUPPER, Esq., M.A., is a quaint and thoughtful volume, the prodwit of much good reading, meditation, and a careful comparison of things, rather, we should say, than the result of experience or original observation. In its frame- work it is a collection of thoughts on various subjects,—a set of maxims or proverbs arranged under one bead and expressed in hexameter verse, or what is intended for such; and the style and character have the attraction of novelty, though scarcely claiming the merit of originality,--for the author's mind is dyed by the style of his companions, Scripture, and the sententious writers. This is a book which requires quotations; for its merit altoge- ther rests upon its execution. We will give two—the first from the chapter on "Compensation."
Power is seldom innocent, and envy is the yoke.fellow of eminence; And the rust of the miser's riches eateth his soul as a canker.
The poor man counteth not the cost at which such wealth bath been purchased ; He would be on the mountain's top, without the toil and travail of the climbing. But equity demandeth recompense : for high-place, calumny, and care; For warlike fame, dangers and death ; fur 'lull obscurity, quiet and content. Ha that would change with another, must take the cup as it is mixed : Poverty, with largeness of heart ; or a full purse, with a sordid spirit ; Wisdom, in an ailing body ; or a common mind, with health : Godliness, with roan's scorn ; or the welcome of the mighty, with guilt: Beauty, with a fickle heart ; or 'thinness of face, with atlection. For so bath Providence determined, that a man shall not easily discover Unmingled good or evil, to quicken his envy or abhorrence. A bold man or a fool must he be, who would change his lit witkanother ; It were a fearful bargain, and mercy bath lovingly refused it :
For we know the worst of ourselves, but the secrets of another we see not,
And better is certain had, than the doubt and dread of worse.
The following, from "Indirect Influences," is equally weighty with the former, and shows a nicer perception, as well as touches of individual character.
A worldly man boasteth in his pride that there is no power but of' money ; And he judgeth the characters of men by the differing measures of their means. He stealeth all goodly names as worth, and value, and substance, Which he the ancient heritage of virtue, but such an one ascribeth unto wealth. He spurneth the needy rage, whose wisdom bath enriched nations, And the sons of poverty and learning, without whom earth were a desert : Music, the soother of cares, the tuner of the dank discordant heart-strings, It is naught unto such a one but sounds, whereby some earn their living : The poem, and the picture, and the statue, to him seem idle baubles, Which wealth condescentleth to favour, to gain him the name of patron. But little wotteth he the might of the means his folly despiseth ; lie considereth not that these be the wires which rouse the puppets of the world.
A senteuce Lath formed a character, and a character subdued a kingdom ;
A picture bath ruined souls, or raised them to commerce with the skies. The pen bath skakeu nations, and etablished the world in peace, And the whole full horn of plenty been filled from the vial of science. He regardeth man as sensual, the monarch of created matter, And careth not aught for mind, that linketh hire with spirits unseen. Be feedeth his carcass and is glad, thought his soul be faint and famished ; And the dull brute power of the body bintleth him a captive to himself.
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