MISQUOTATION
The inscription on the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral, closes with the notice to the reader, “Si monumentum requiris, circumspice.” In Murray’s “Hand Book of London” is a blunder of too frequent recurrence elsewhere, the substitution of quæris for requiris.
Bishop Berkeley wrote, “Westward the course of empire takes its way.” In the epigraph to Bancroft’s “History of the United States” it is “the star of empire,” a change that is frequently repeated.
In Measure for Measure the Duke Yincentio says,—
“My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna.”
Many people in quoting this, say Venice in place of Vienna.
Gray says in the “Elegy,” “They kept the noiseless tenor of their way,” usually quoted “the even tenor.”
Pope says, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” Often misquoted “knowledge.”
In his “Satires,” Pope says, “Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.” But Pope himself, in his translation of the Odyssey, says, “Speed the parting guest,” so that we are left to take our choice.
In connection with this dual reading may be recalled a quotation which is a misquotation in one way, but not in another. In Habakkuk it is written, “Write the vision and make it plain, that he may run that readeth it.” This is commonly turned into the phrase “that he who runs may read.” But Cooper says in his “Tirocinium,”—
“Shine by the side of every path we tread
With such a lustre, he that runs may read.”
Butler says in “Hudibras,” “He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still.” Many continue to say, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still,” regardless of the difference in sense as well as in words.
Lorenzo says, in the “Merchant of Venice,” “The man that hath no music in himself,” etc. Commonly changed to “music in his soul.”
The line in Milton’s “Lycidas,” “fresh woods and pastures new,” is usually misquoted, “fresh fields,” etc.
Prior’s “fine by degrees and beautifully less” is usually rendered “small by degrees,” etc.
Francis Quarles wrote:
“Our God and soldier we alike adore,
E’en at the brink of ruin, not before;
After deliverance both alike requited,
Our God’s forgotten and our soldier’s slighted.”
Usually quoted:
“God and the doctor we alike adore.”
The latest editor of Burns does a good service by correcting an absurdity in the most familiar song in the language which has puzzled every generation since Burns’s death, namely:
“We’ll tak’ a right gude willie-waught
For Auld Lang Syne.”
He says “willie-waught” is neither Scotch nor sense; that the hyphen is simply misplaced, and the line should read:
“We’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught—”
i.e., good-will draught. This is obvious when pointed out, for “gude-willie” and “ill-willie” are familiar compounds. But it is odd that every other editor should have servilely followed the misprint.
In the “Heart of Midlothian” (ch. 47), Scott says, “thus our simple and unpretending heroine had the merit of those peacemakers, to whom it is pronounced as a benediction, that they shall inherit the earth.” The Master said (Matt. v, 9), “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” It is “the meek” who shall inherit the earth.
Sir Walter Scott says in “The Antiquary” (ch. x), “The philosopher who appealed from Philip inflamed with wine to Philip in his hours of sobriety, did not choose a judge so different as if he had appealed from Philip in his youth to Philip in his old age.” This “philosopher” was a poor old woman.