allied army visited the trenches during the armistice, and staff officers were present on both sides to see that the men did not go out of bounds. The armistice was over about three o'clock. Scarcely had the white flag disappeared behind the parapet of the Mamelon before a round shot from the sailors' battery,2 went slap through one of the embrasures of the Russian work, and dashed up a great pillar of earth inside.3 The Russians at once replied, and the noise of cannon soon re-echoed through the ravines.(W. H. RUSSELL, The War.) POOR RICHARD.4 (Written by Benjamin Franklin.) I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. Judge then how much I have been gratified by an incident which I am going to relate to you. 6 I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods." The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks, "Pray, 1 The armistice ended.' 2 qu'un boulet lancé par la batterie de la marine. 3 passa droit à travers une embrasure russe, et fit jaillir comme une colonne de terre dans l'intérieur de ouvrage. 4 This admirable production of Dr. Franklin is known in France under the title of La science du bonhomme Richard. 5 J'ai ouï dire. The verb ouïr ('to hear') is old and defective; it is only used now in the infinitive and the compound tenses (as here, in the compound of the present indicative). The English public criers, father Abraham, what think ye of the times ?1 Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to ?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,-“ If you'd have my advice, I'll give it to you in short; 2 for 'a word to the wise is enough ;3 and many words won't fill a bushel,' as poor Richard says."5 They joined in desiring him to speak his mind ; and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: .6 "Friends (says he) and neighbours, the taxes are indeed very heavy; and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. 10 However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves,' as poor Richard says in his Almanac. "It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part 12 of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more.13 Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, 6 1 de ce temps-ci. '11 2 en peu de mots; or, en raccourci. 3 Le sage entend à demi-mot.' This form of the Proverb is little used; the following are the current sayings: A bon entendeur, demi-mot (or, salut, or, again, peu de paroles). et souvent on emploie bien des mots pour ne pas dire grand chose' (PROVERBIAL); or, et quant aux vains mots (or, aux paroles en l'air), 'autant en emporte le vent' (PROVERBIAL). poor bee page 8, ncte 3Kichard,' le bonhomme Richard (see preceding page, note 4). s'expliquer; or, dire sa façon Richard says. while the key often used is always bright,' as poor 'But dost thou love life then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of,'2 as How much more than is necessary do poor Richard says. we spend in sleep! forgetting, that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough 3 in the grave, 4 as poor Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious, 'wasting time must be (as poor Richard says) the greatest prodigality;' since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.'7 Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose: so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. 'Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy,' as poor Richard says; and, he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night;9 while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him,' 10 as we read in poor Richard; who adds, Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;' and, 'early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.' בני "So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We make these times better if we bestir ourselves. 'Industry needs not wish,'12 as poor Richard says; and,' He that lives upon hope will die fasting.'13 There are no gains without pains; 14 then 1 use plus que le travail; la clé est claire tant que l'on s'en sert. 2 See page 1, note 12. Renard (page 171, note 11) qui dort la matinée n'a pas la yueule emplumée' (PROVERB). + nous aurons le temps de dormir dans la bière. 5 des biens; and invert this phrase, thus, the most precious of,' &c. 6 Le temps perdu ne se répare (or, recouvre) point' (PROVERB). 7 Simply, time enough is always too short.' Debout donc et à la besojne, -à la besogne, dans un but utile. 9 et attrape à peine le bout de Bon ouvrage la nuit. while;' help hands, for I have no 15 et, d'autre part.-The French proverbs on this subject are, "Qui dort grasse (p. 171, n. 11) matinée (lies in bed till late in the morning,' 'sleeps it out') trotte toute la journée ;" and, "Qui dort jusqu'au soleil levant, vit en misère jusqu'au couchant;" and, also, "Trop dormir cause mal vêtir.' 10 l'a bientôt attrapée. 11 'give health, wealth, and wis dom.' 12 Activité n'a que faire de sou. haits. 12 6 of hunger.' 14Nul bien sans peine' (PRO VERBIAL). 15 il faut m'aider de mes mains, faute de. 6 lands ; or if I have, they are smartly taxed;"2 and (as poor Richard likewise observes) He that hath a trade hath an estate,3 and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour ;'4 but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or5 neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, as poor Richard says, 'At the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.'7 Nor will the bailiff or the constable s enter; for, Industry pays debts, but despair increaseth them,' says poor Richard. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy? 10 'Diligence is the mother of good luck,' as poor Richard says; and 'God gives all things to industry; then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and to keep,' says poor Dick. Work while it is called 11 to-day; for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow; which makes poor Richard say, One to-day is worth two to-morrows ;' 12 and, farther, 'Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day.' If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle ?14 Are you then 15 your own master, be ashamed 16 to catch yourself idle,' as poor '13 Dick says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, and your country, be up by peep of day.. Handle your tools without mittens; remember, that the cat in gloves catches no mice,' as poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for 'continual dropping wears away stones,2 and by diligence and patience the mouse ate into the cable; and light strokes fell1 great oaks,' as poor Richard says in his Almanac, the year I cannot just now remember. "Methinks I hear some of you say, 'Must a man afford himself no leisure ?'-I will tell thee, my friend, what poor Richard says: Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.' Leisure is time for doing something useful: this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as poor Richard says, A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things.' 26 Many without labour would live by their own wits only; but they break for want of stock ; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleasures, and they'll follow you ;10 the diligent spinner has a large shift ;11 and, now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow ;'12 all which is well said by poor Richard. 6 "But with our industry, we must likewise be steady, 5 The construction, in French, must be, either, 'The diligent man will obtain this leisure,' or, more forcibly, 'This leisure, the diligent man will obtain it,' but the English construction is not allowed. Simply, 'are two.' 7 Bien des gens voudraient vivre uniquement d'industrie, suns tra. vuiller. There is no fear of any ambiguity, here, as vivre d'indus trie is always used in a bad sense. 8 échouent. 9 le travail au contraire. 12 |