# The European Magazine/Volume 1/April 1782/The Hive

The HIVE, A Collection of Scraps.
Exercet sub sole labor—— —— et in medium quæsita repinit. Virg.
1.
IT was said of a prince, "that his subjects shewed no grief at his death, their whole affliction been already spent upon his life."
2. It was said of a general in the moment of victory, "that conquest was defeated in his loss."
3. It was said of a private person, that "before his virtues titles blushed, ashamed of their pre-eminence."
4. The Duke d'Olivarez, prime minister of Spain, had war declared against France, because Cardinal Richlieu in subscribing a letter to him, happened to leave out the word tres before humble serviteur.
5. The Emperor Septimus Severus had such an equal mixture of virtues and vices in his composition, that the senate passed this sentence on him, "That he ought never to have been born, or never have died, as he was too bad to live, and too good to die."
6. It was said of a lady now living, that she was one of those pattern pieces who always say certain things, and do certain things, and whose life is acted by a ritual. She giveth arms, but not charity, thinking not of the object but of her own soul. She giveth not to the poor, but only lendeth to the Lord.
7. The following character of mankind is given by Apuleius. "Homines ratione plaudentes, oration pollentes, immorralibus animis, moribundis membris, levibus et auxiis mentibus, brutis obnoxiis corporibus, dissimilibus moribus, similibus erroribus, pervicaciâ audacia, pertinaci spe, casso labore, fortunâ caducâ, volucri tempore, tardâ sapientiâ, citâ morte, querulâ vitâ terras incolunt."
Hon. Sir Thomas Gitton, Esq. Debtor to John Ridley, carpenter.
Sept. 27 1759. For hacking and yawing and sawing and squareing and cutting and contriving and hanging John Ridley three days and a half 7s. 7d.
To the Editors of the European Magazine.
Gentlemen,
I am a constant reader of your valuable publication, and mean to encourage it. I have been studying the following manuscript, but not being able to find either the meaning or value of it, must beg the favour of some more ingenious correspondent to help me.
And am, gentlemen, yours, &c. Mother Spashat.
Portsmouth, April 8th.
COPY.
"I do go, and I do come unto you with the love of God, with the humility of Christ, with the holiness of our blessed Lady, with the faith of Abraham, with the justice of Isaac, with the virtue of David, with the might of Peter, with the constancy of Paul, with the word of God, with the authority of Gregory, with the prayer of Clement, with the flood of Jordan.—pppege gaqq est ptik abg k2ax tgt hamg 2421ggpx egpka 99 zeoppr. Oh only father + Oh only Lord + and Jesus + passing thro' the midst of them + went + in the name of the + Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost + Schembamphores, (Hebrew characters)
The queen of hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day, The knave of hearts He stole those tarts, And with them run away: The king of hearts Call'd for those tarts, And beat the knave full sore; The knave of hearts brought back those tarts, And said he'll ne'er steal more.
The king of spades He kiss'd the maids, Which vex'd the queen full sore; The queen of spades She beat those maids, And turn'd them out of door: The knave of spades Griev'd for these jades, And did for them implore; The queen so gent She did relent, And vow'd she ne're strike more.
The king of clubs He often drubs His loving queen and wife, The queen of clubs Returns him snubs, And all is noise and strife: The knave of clubs Gives winks and rubs, And swears he'll take her part; For when our kings Will do such things, They should be made to smart.
The diamond king, I fain would sing, And likewise his fair queen, But that the knave, A haughty slave, Must needs step in between. Good Diamond king With hempen string, This haughty knave destroy, Then may your queen, With mind serene, Your royal bed enjoy.
From an Ancient Manuscript
There was a man whose name was semper idem; And by his trade he was Mercator quidem. He had a wife, who was not tall, nor brevis: But by her actions, she was counted levis. He to content her, gave her all things satis: And she to requite him, made him cuckold gratis.
A Specimen of the ludicrous in Poetry.
Save thy oath, be loth to lie; Be sober, the Sabbath keep holy. Live chaste, and be not hasty; Before you trust your friend try.
Epigram on a Lady.
Ye graceless wits, who neither praise The ladies nor the Lord, Behold a nymph who well may stand An angel on record.
No railing rake, nor flatt'ring fop, Attends her chaste levee, No scandal twice or thrice refin'd Adds sweetness to her tea.
She ne'er upon her sex's faults, A fruitful theme did preach; Nor wound the lovely excellence, That she could never reach.
Nay, I believe that like the Saint, (Such grace to her is given) She would not tell a single fib, To gain a seat in Heav'n.
Her tongue might more reform the age Than sermons once a week; And so it would—but ah! the day! Poor Celia cannot speak.
An instance of Popish Superstition
Pacheco relates that the pious Juanes, an eminent Spanish painter, who never visited the casel without first approaching the altar; and who as he gave his characters life, gave them also adoration; while engaged in painting the famous picture of the Immaculate Conception, at the immediate desire of the Blessed Virgin, being one day seated on a scaffold at work upon the upper parts of the picture, the frame gave way, and the painter was in the act of falling, when the holy personage whose portrait he had finished, stept suddenly forward out of the canvass, and seizing his hand, preserved him from the fall. This being done; and Juanes safe landed on the floor, the gracious lady, with all possible composure, returned to her post and has continued there ever since, dispensing her favours to her supplicants and worshippers.
Vers pour mettre au bas du portrait du General Conway.
La justice dans lui trouve un noble support, L'Angleterre un guerrier, le foible un protectuer, Eut ou suivi son plan, dirois je avec transport! L'Etat seroit en pax, l'Anglois seroit vainqueur.
* ↑ St. Augustine.
* ↑ She was deaf and dumb.