'lumber*.' Such would be the fate of those to whom I allude; too many of whom we, in our ignorance and facility, denominate illustrious: that is, illustrious in bad actions.

Can men be known by the epithets bestowed upon them? The trivial name of Thistle prevents the milkthistle from being esteemed one of the greatest ornaments of the garden. The Fiddle-wood† is held in contempt, merely because persons, for the most part, are ignorant that its appellation is a corruption of Fidello, and so called from its faithfulness and durability. The Ailanthus is called the Tree of Heaven' from its height; but the cedar of Libanus has the epithet of 'lofty;' not because it is a tall tree, but because it grows in elevated regions. The plant Ambrosia has nothing agreeable about it; it has even the taste of wormwood; and the Leopard's-bane, as well as the Enchanter's Nightshade, have poisonous qualities attached to them which do not exist. In these instances we may read examples as to the little dependence there is to be placed in epithets.

Princes, however, may sometimes thus be estimated; that of great, for instance, is seldom applied to good princes; being an epithet usually fastened on the foreheads of those remarkable only for great military achievements. When Alexander the Great found that he could not conquer the Scythians, he called them barbarians whenever he spoke of them. Two thousand

*Letters to and from Swift, let. 45.

† Citharexylum Melano-cardium.

years after, a conqueror (Napoleon), finding himself in a similar predicament under another Alexander, gave them the same title. When, however, the Russian senate, on Alexander's return from Paris, desired to confer on him the title of the Blessed, the emperor answered, 'I wish the people to bless me in their hearts; as I ' bless them from the depth of mine *.'

Rome had two titles; one of which it deserved; the other not. 'Urbs urbium,' 'Parens omnium gentium.' Sylla was called 'Felix ;' and Sylla styled Pompey Magnus.' Octavius, also, was first called Augustus' by the greatest traitor and sycophant of his age; but the name he was most to be flattered by was 'Romulust.'

Nero was a name denoting fortitude and every nobler virtue now, it is associated with inordinate cruelty. Constantine called Trajan' The Wall-flower,' because there were so many inscriptions in honour of him. Commodus styled himself' Augustus,' Pius,'' Felix,' Maximus,' Invictus,' and Pacator orbis terrarum.' He was designated Commodus,' says Vopiscus‡; but he was, in reality, semper incommodus. Alexander, according to Lampridius §, was called Severus' for his severity; but Tertullian ascribes that title to his constancy of mind. Claudius II. was styled Augustus for his moderation, Titus' for his virtue, Trajan'

C

* Oginski's Mémoires sur la Pologne et Polonais, t. ii. p. 141. + Dion Cassius, xliii.

In Vit. Taciti Imp., c. vi.

§ Cap. xii.

for his valour, and Antoninus' for his piety. As to Probus, he was 'Probus vere probum.'

Vopiscus says of Aurelian that he was necessary rather than good. Childebert was called, also, the 'Useful Prince;' but the most useful of European kings must, perhaps, yield in point of interest, to the Arabian caliphs; whose buildings to accommodate travellers, wells, watering-places, temples, caves for snow, infirmaries, observatories, public schools, colleges, and academies, furnish such triumphant subjects to the admiring pens of Bohadin and other writers on Arabian dynasties. In respect to epithets bestowed upon the kings of France, Theodimir is called Romulus,' and Pharamond Numa.' The Italians styled Louis débonnaire the Pious;' Pope Innocent VIII. called Louis XI. (one of the worst of men) ' a wise and pious king *.' Louis XII. is almost the only prince called by a nation (though far from being the only one so styled by historians), Père du Peuple.' Louis XIV. was named 'Dieu-Donné' at his birth, and Grand' after his coronation. Louis XV. was first called ' Bien-aimé' by a person named Vadé, who invented the title, and almanacs echoed the cheat. De Lille wished to append the epithet, the Desired,' to the title of Louis XVIII., but it scarcely survived the year in which it was given.

6

Lorenzo de' Medici acquired the title of magnifi'cent' early in life. Sismondit insists, that he enjoyed that distinction in common with other princes who had

*Politiano. Ep. Lib. viii., ep. v.

Vit. Laurent. iv. 6.

no other title; but from certain passages in Fabroni * and Pignottit, it appears certain that the appellation was given him on account of the magnanimity and magnificence of his general conduct. The noblest title ever conferred upon a sovereign, however, was that given by way of ridicule by his nobles to Casimir the Great; 'Rex Rusticorum.'

Ferdinand of Castile gained the distinguished title of Catholic,' for having introduced the Inquisition into Spain. In that country‡ he was called 'wise and prudent;' in Italy the Pious;' and, in many respects, he was a great sovereign; but his ingratitude to Columbus, his seizures of Navarre and Naples, and his conduct in the unprincipled league of Cambray, can never be forgiven. Who would not gladly exchange his title of Catholic' for that, which distinguished Emanuel King of Portugal, whom history celebrates so agreeably for having banished poverty and distress from his ' kingdom?'

'

Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, was so agreeable to the people of the Low Countries, that they gave her the glorious title of the Queen of Hearts.' In regard to British sovereigns, they are, in no way, to be known by the epithets appended to them. The most celebrated § was one of the worst; the most amply appreciated ||, one of the most insolent and arbitrary.

*Storia della Toscana, tom. vi., p. 263.
Roscoe. Illust. Crit. and Hist., p. 91-3.

Volt. Essai sur les Mœurs, c. xiv.
Elizabeth.

§ Richard I.

XI.

WHO SPIN TOO FINELY.

THOSE who draw nice distinctions are generally persons valuable to know. Their sense is delicate; but there are others, and in some measure allied to them, who are not so agreeable to a reflecting mind. 'I

asked Burns,' says Mr. Ramsay, whether the Edinburgh literati had mended his poems by their criti" cisms.' 'Sir,' answered he, 'those gentlemen remind me of some spinsters in my country, who spin 'their thread so fine, that it is neither fit for weft nor 'woof.'

Many men weave arguments, as spiders weave their ' mathematical webs,' all one way; with little attention either to times or circumstances.

XII.

WHO ADOPT TOO HIGH A STANDARD.

I HAVE never seen any of the productions of Subtermans of Antwerp; but Lanzi assures us that he possessed the peculiar talent of ennobling every countenance, without injuring the likeness. Some persons have the same talent in respect to all they contemplate. Rousseau, for instance, would dignify a weed; and Raffaelle render beautiful even the finger of a beggar.

Thus is it to look on the bright side of things; and thence I have always been induced to admire the character of the Count de Desaleurs. 'From the kiosque

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in my garden,' said he, in a letter to Madame du