offers up this poore Account of his Thoughts,
humbly begging pardon for all that is
amisse in them, and a gracious
acceptance of these weak endeavours
for the Advancement of his
Honour in the Good of others."
The third edition, dated 1675, ascribes these emblems to the author of The Synagogue, annexed to Herbert's Poems. This, according to Sir John Hawkins, in his notes on Walton's Angler, was Christopher Harvie: but Wood, in his Athenæ, positively affirms that the author of The Synagogue, in imitation of the divine Herbert, was Thomas Harvey, M.A., and first Master of Kingston School in Herefordshire. To him, therefore (adds Sir Egerton Brydges), we may presume to assign it, until a stronger testimony shall dispossess him of a tenure, which reflects honourable reputation on the copiousness of his fancy and the piety of his mind.
Fortune, Infortune, Fort une (Vol. iv., p. 57.).
—I agree with MR. BREEN that this inscription on the tomb of Margaret of Austria, in the beautiful church of Brou, is "somewhat enigmatical," a literal translation failing entirely to make sense of it. But perhaps MR. BREEN may be willing to accept the interpretation offered by a writer in the Magasin Pittoresque for 1850, where, describing the monuments in the church of Notre Dame de Brou (p. 22.), he says:
"Cette légende bizarre est assez difficile à expliquer, si l'on ne regarde pas le mot infortune comme un verbe. Avec cette hypothèse, la devise signifierait: 'La fortune a rendu une personne très-malheureuse?' Cette explication est d'autant plus plausible que la vie de Marguérite d'Autriche fut affligée de bien de revers. Destinée à regner sur la France, elle est répudiée par Charles VIII., son fiancé; elle épouse le fils du roi d'Aragon, qui la laisse bientôt veuve avec un fils qu'elle a aussi la douleur de perdre peu après; enfin, remariée à Philibert le Beau, elle le voit mourir au printemps de son âge."