oman word) to throw, as the
saying is, at a dog. Perchance the disuse of Latinising had
constrained you more than is right to the use of the vernacular. I
have determined to recall you to the recovery of your lost Latinity
by certain well-known adages common in all mouths.

The cat's in the cupboard and she can't see.
All that glitters is not gold.
Set a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil.
Set a thief to catch a thief.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
Now let us sing of weightier matters.

Tom, Tom, of Islington, wed a wife on Sunday. He brought her home on
Monday. Bought a stick on Tuesday. Beat her well on Wednesday. She
was sick on Thursday. Dead on Friday. Tom was glad on Saturday night
to bury his wife on Sunday.

Little Jack Homer sat in a corner, eating his Christmas pie. He put
in his thumb and drew out a plum, and cried "Good Heavens, what a
good boy am I!"

Diddle, diddle, dumkins! my son John Went to bed with his breeches
on; One shoe off and the other shoe on, Diddle, diddle, etc. (Da
Capo.)

Here am I, jumping Joan. When no one's by, I'm all alone.

Solve me this enigma, you shall be an Oedipus.

Why is a horse like a Quaker?

Because all his communication is by Hay and Neigh, after the Lord's
counsel, "Let all your communication be Yea and Nay."

In these trifles I waste the precious day, while watching over the
health of our more precious Emma, who has been sick in our house
this long time. My Mary sends you greeting with me, she herself in
sound health.

Given from the Enfield country seat, on I know not what Calends of
April--I am Davus not an Almanac.[l]

P.S.--The Reform Bill is lost altogether.

The Reform Bill was introduced on March 1, 1831, by Lord John Russell;
the second reading was carried on March 22 by a majority of 1. On its
commitment on April 19 there was a majority of 8 against the Government.
Four days later the Government was again defeated by 22 and Parliament
was dissolved. But later, of course, the Reform Bill was passed.]

[Footnote 1: Allusion to the phrase of Davus the servant in
Plautus--"Davus sum non Oedipus."]

LETTER 532

CHARLES LAMB TO H.F. CARY

[Dated at end:] Datum ab agro Enfeldiensi, Maii die sexta, 1831.

Assidens est mihi bona soror, Euripiden