"ONE WRITER EXCELS AT A PLAN OR A TITLE-PAGE; ANOTHER WORKS

AWAY AT THE BODY OF THE BOOK;
AT AN INDEX.".

AND A THIRD IS A DAB HAND

-Goldsmith's Essays, Introduction.

PREFA CЕ.

THIS Selection of Familiar Quotations was begun four years ago, and had I used a little more diligence, its publication might have taken place within half that period.

I adopted an alphabetical arrangement, believing that it would greatly contribute to its utility. The quotations are given under the proper letter, as they are commonly made, whether erroneous or otherwise, and if erroneous, they are corrected.

In the course of my reading, passages which might be denominated parallel, or similar in idea, were frequently met with, and as they pleased my fancy, they were imported into the book. I have called them parallel, and I think without doing violence to the word; but whether I am right or wrong is of little importance, so long as I am understood. The "gathering and disposing of other men's stuff" under one head, will at all events enable the reader to find the authority at a glance, and at the same time to see the great variety of ways, and the transcendant beauty, in which the imagination of each writer has bodied forth his subject, and the poet's pen turned it to shape.

I think the work will be found amusing and instructive; and if my readers derive as much pleasure in perusing as I have in compiling it, I shall be glad that I have sent it forth.

Christmas, 1853.

J. C. G.

"Go forth, my book, into the open day."-Burton's Anat. Mel.

"And when thou art past jeopardy.
"Come tell me what was said of me,

"And I will send more after thee "

Craik's Spencer vol. 1, p. 40.

A.

A BOOK'S A BOOK.

'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print; A book's a book, although there's nothing in 't.

BYRON, English Bards, line 51.

A BLOODY DEED.

A bloody deed; almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. SHAKSPERE, Hamlet, act 3, sc. 4.

A CONSUMMATION, &c.

'Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd.

SHAKSPERE, Hamlet, act 3, sc. 1.

A CUSTOM, &c.

It is a custom,

More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

Ibid, Hamlet, act 1, sc. 4.

A FOOL AT FORTY.

Be wise with speed;

A fool at forty is a fool indeed."

YOUNG, 2nd Satire, line 281.

A