"I am not over-wise;"
but pausing as if he doubted its correctness,—"You are quite right, sir," observed the lecturer; "go on."
CDLXVIII.—IMPROMPTU.
'Tis said that walls have ears; if this be true,
St Stephen's walls the gift must often rue.
CDLXIX.—INDEPENDENCE.
Jemmy Gordon, the Cambridge eccentric, when he happened to be without shoes or stockings, one day came in contact with a person of very indifferent character. The gentleman, pitying his condition, told him, if he called at his house, he would give him a pair of shoes. "Excuse me, sir," replied Jemmy, assuming a contemptuous air, "I would not stand in your shoes for all the world!"
CDLXX.—ON PRIDE.
Fitsmall, who drinks with knights and lords,
To steal a share of notoriety,
Will tell you in important words,
He mixes in the best society.
CDLXXI.—BLACK LETTER.
An old friend of Charles Lamb having been in vain trying to make out a black-letter text of Chaucer in the Temple Library, laid down the precious volume, and with an erudite look told Lamb that "in those old books, Charley, there is sometimes a deal of very indifferent spelling."