Ejusdem Farinæ ([Vol. iii., p. 278.].).—This phrase was used in a disparaging sense long before the time of the "scholastic doctors and casuists of the middle ages," as may appear from Persius, v. 115-117., where he is showing that an elevation in rank does not necessarily produce a more elevated tone of mind; and says to an imaginary upstart:
"Sin tu, cum fueris nostræ paulò antè farinæ,
Pelliculam veterem retines, et fronte politus
Astutam vapido servas sub pectore vulpem," &c.
It is needless to add that the metaphor is taken from loaves made from the "same batch" of flour, where, if one be bad, all the others must be equally so.
J. EASTWOOD.
Ecclesfield Hall.
Stephens, in his Thesaurus, under the head of "Farinæ," states—
"Proverbiales locutiones sunt, Ejusdem Farinæ, Nostræ farinæ,"
but makes no allusion to its being a term expressive of baseness and disparagement. Nor does it seem to be so used by Persius in v. 115. of his 5th Satire:
"Si tu, cum fueris nostræ paulò antè farinæ."