For the Epithete impie better agrees with Hostis than with Herod. Besides Herodes being a Greek Word [Greek: ê or ae] is turned into [Greek: e] in the vocative; as [Greek: Sôkrataes, ô Sokrates]; and so [Greek: Agamemnôn [Transcribers Note: this word appears in Greek with the ô represented by the character omega.] in the nominative Case is turned into [Greek: o]. So again we sing the Hymn,
_Jesu corona virginum,
Quem mater ilia concepit,
Quæ sola virgo parturit.
O Jesus the Crown of Virgins,
Whom she the Mother conceiv'd,
Which was the only Person of a Virgin that brought forth._
There is no Doubt but the Word should be pronounc'd concipit. For the Change of the Tense sets off a Word. And it is ridiculous for us to find Fault with concipit when parlurit follows.
Hi. Truly I have been puzzled at a great many such Things; nor will it be amiss, if hereafter we bestow a little Time upon this Matter. For methinks Ambrose has not a little Grace in this Kind of Verse, for he does commonly end a Verse of four Feet with a Word of three Syllables, and commonly places a cæsura in the End of a Word. It is so common with him that it cannot seem to have been by Chance. If you would have an Example, Deus Creator. Here is a Penthemimeris, it follows, omnium; Polique rector, then follows, vestiens; diem decoro, and then lumine; noctem soporis, then follows gratia.
Hi. But here's a good fat Hen that has laid me Eggs, and hatch'd me Chickens for ten Years together.
Cr. It is Pity that she should have been kill'd.
Ca. If it were fit to intermingle any Thing of graver Studies, I have something to propose.
Hi. Yes, if it be not too crabbed.
Ca. That it is not. I lately began to read Seneca's Epistles, and stumbled, as they say, at the very Threshold. The Place is in the first Epistle; And if, says he, thou wilt but observe it, great Part of our Life passes away while we are doing what is ill; the greatest Part, while we are doing nothing, and the whole of it while we are doing that which is to no Purpose. In this Sentence, he seems to affect I can't tell what Sort of Witticism, which I do not well understand.