BONS MOTS

Lord Mansfeld beiag willing to save a man who had stolen a gewgaw trinket, desired the juryto value it at {en pence ; upon which the prosecutor cries out : Ten pence, my lord ! why the very fashion of it cost me en times the sum. Oh! says his lordship, we must not hang a man for fashion's sake.

If you marry, said a father to his daughter, you will do æell ; if you do not marry, you will do àetter. If that's the case, replied the daughter, get me a husband as soon as you can : J shall be content to do well ; I leave it to others to do better.

A certain country squire ask’da Merry Andrew why he played the fool. For the same reason, said he, that you do ; out of want ; you do it for want of wit, I do it for want of money.

A countryman sowing his ground, two smart fellows riding that way, one of them called to him with an insolent air : Well, honest fellow, ’tis your business to sow ; but we reap the fruits of your labour. To which the countryman replied : ?Tis very likely you may, truly ; for 1 am sowing hemp.

A gentleman, who had the character of a great punster, was desi. red one night in company, by a gentleman, to make a pun extempore. Upon what subject ? said Daniel. The king, answered the other. Oh! Sir, said he, the king is no subject.

À Scotchman was very angry with an Euglish gentleman, who, he said, had abused him, and called him fulse Scot. Indeed, said the Englishman, I said no such thing ; I said you were a true Scot.

In a visit queen Elizabeth made to the famous lord chancelior Bacon, at a small country seat, which he had built for himself be« fore his preferment, she asked him how it came that he made himself so small a house. J£ is not 1, Madam, answered he, who have made

my house too small for myself, but your Majesty who has made me too big for my house.