J. S.s.
Door-head Inscriptions (Vol. vi., p. 543.).—
"Sit mihi nec glis servus nec hospes hirudo."
"From servant lazy as dormouse,
Or leeching guest, God keep my house."
Mr. Woodward tells us that he quotes this inscription "from memory:" it is so very pertinent that it seems a pity even to hint a correction, but, as I read it, it seemed partly familiar to me, and I find something so like the latter part of it in two ancient authors, that I am tempted to inquire whether he may not have omitted one letter, which alters the sense as given above, and yet gives a sense as good.
Among the Symbols of Pythagoras, I read the following:
"Ομωροφιους χελιδωνας μη εχειν."
"Domesticas hirundines ne habeto."
To the same effect (but, strange to say, without any reference to Pythagoras' dictum), we find it in the proverbia of Polydore Virgil (A.D. 1498):