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DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS,

&c.

AB actu ad posse valet consecutio. Lat.—“ The induction is good, from what has been to what may be."-By this logical maxim it is meant to state, that, when a thing has once happened, it is reasonable to infer that such a matter may again occur. Ab alio expectes, alteri quod feceris. LABERIUS."You may expect, from one person, that which you have done to another."Your conduct to others shall form the measure of your own expectations.

A barbe de fol, on apprend à raire. Old Fr." Men learn to shave on the chin of a fool."-They love to make experiments at the expense of others. Abbatis. Fr. Milit. Term.-Stakes driven in the ditch of a fort to prevent a storm.

A bis & à blanc. Fr. Prov.-At the brown and the white."-By fits and starts.

Ab inconvenienti. Lat. Phrase." From the inconvenience.". ·Argumentum ab inconvenienti —An argument to shew that the result of a proposed measure will prove inconvenient or unsuited to circumstances.

Ab initio. Lat. Phrase." From the beginning." His proceedings were ill-founded ab initio.

Abnormis sapiens. HORACE." A person whose wisdom is not derived from instruction."-" A Mother-wit, and wise without the schools."

B

A bon chat bon rat. Fr. Prov.-" To a good cat, a good rat."-The parties are well suited, or matched. A bon chien il ne vient jamais un bon os. Fr. Proverb.

"A good bone does not always come to a good dog."-Merit does not always meet its due reward. Ab ovo usque ad mala. Lat. Phrase." From the egg to the apples."-From the beginning to the end of the entertainment. These were the first and last articles served up at a Roman feast.

Absentem lædit cum ebrio qui litigat. PUB. SYRUS."He hurts the absent who quarrels with a drunken man." You should consider your adversary as absent, when his senses are departed.

Absentem qui rodit amicum,

Qui non defendit, alio culpante

Hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto. HoR. "He who attacks an absent friend, or who does not defend him when spoken ill of by another —that man is a dark character; do you, Roman, beware of him."-The man who yields even a silent assent, when his friend is calumniated, must be regarded as wholly unworthy of confidence or regard.

Absit invidia. Lat. "All envy apart."-Without being supposed to speak invidiously.

Abundat dulcibus vitiis. QUINTIL." He abounds

with luscious faults."-Spoken of an author, even in whose errors something pleasing is to be found. Ab uno disce omnes. VIRG." From this single instance you may learn the nature of the whole." -From this specimen of guilt, you may form a general inference of the criminality.

Ab urbe condita. Lat. Anno urbis condita, or A. U. C." In a particular year from the building of the city."

A capite ad calcem. Lat." From the head to the foot."-Thoroughly, completely. From the beginning to the end.

A causa persa parole assai. Ital. Prov." When the cause is lost, there is enough of words."-Do not discuss that which is already decided.

Accedas ad Curiam. Law Lat." You may approach the court."-This name is given to a writ by which proceedings are removed from an inferior to a superior court.

Acceptissima semper

Munera sunt auctor quæ pretiosa facit.

OVID.

"Those gifts are ever the most acceptable which the giver has made precious."-They derive frequently their value from our estimation of the donor. It may also allude to the manner of giving, as in SHAKESPEARE.

You gave with words of so sweet breath composed,

As made the things more rich.

Accusare nemo se debet nisi coram Deo. Lat. Law Maxim." No man is bound to accuse himself, unless it be before God."-No oath is to be administered, whereby any person may be compelled to confess a crime, or accuse himself. The law will not force any man to say or shew that which is against him. Acerrima proximorum odia. TACITUS." The hatred

of those who are near to us is most violent." -A contest between relatives is generally conducted with more acrimony than is a dispute between strangers.-The phrase may also be applied to that violence of rage which generally belongs to a civil war.

Ac etiam. Law Lat.-" And also.”—A clause added, by recent custom, to a complaint of trespass in the court of King's Bench, which adds," and also" a plea of debt. The plea of trespass, by fiction, gives cognizance to the court, and the plea of debt authorises the arrest.

Acribus initiis, incurioso fine. Lat. TACITUS.-" Alert in the beginning, but negligent in the end."-Applied to a business vigorously conducted in the first instance, but where the exertion falls off, as the affair draws nearer to a conclusion.

A cruce salus. Lat.-"Salvation from the cross.". Motto of the Ir. E. of MAYO.

Acta exteriora indicant interiora secreta. Lat. Law Maxim.- "By the outward acts we are to judge of the inward secrets."-We can only decide on men's intentions from their conduct.

Actio personalis moritur cum persona. Lat. Law Maxim." A personal action dies with the person."-In case of a trespass or battery, the death of one or the other party puts an end to the action.

Actis aevum implet, non segnibus annis. OVID."He fills his space with deeds, and not with lingering years."-Applied to a character distinguished for a number of brilliant actions accomplished in the course of a short time.

Actum est de republicâ. Lat.-"It is all over with the republic."-A phrase used to intimate that the constitution is in extreme danger.

Actum ne agas. TERENCE." Do not overdo what has already been done."-The work which is finished may be endangered by the touches of a superfluous anxiety.

Actus Dei nemini facit injuriam.

Law Max." No

one shall be injured through the act of God.”If a house be set on fire by lightning, the tenant shall not be responsible for the damage.

Actus legis 'nulli facit injuriam. Lat. Law Maxim."The act of the law does injury to no man."—If land, for instance, out of which a rent-charge is granted, be recovered by elder title, the grantee shall have a writ of annuity, because the rentcharge is made void by course of law.

Actus me invito factus non est meus actus. Lat. Law Maxim.- "An act done against my will is. not my act." If a person be compelled, for instance, through fear or duress, to give a bond or other writing, the deed is rendered void by the compulsion.

Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea. Lat. Law Maxim." The act does not make a man guilty, unless the mind be also guilty."-Unless the intent be criminal, the deed cannot be attainted of criminality.

A cuspide corona. Lat.-" A crown from the spear." Honour earned by military exploits. Motto of

the Ir. V. MIDDLETON.

Ad calamitatem quilibet rumor valet. Lat.-" Any rumour is sufficient against calamity."-When a man is distressed, a breath may complete his ruin.

Ad captandum vulgus. Lat.-"To ensnare the vulgar." -A lure thrown out to captivate the rabble.

A Deo & rege.

Lat." From God and the king."Motto of Earls Chesterfield, HARRINGTON, and STANHOPE.

Adeone homines immutarier

Ex amore, ut non cognoscas eundem esse?

TERENCE."That a man should be so changed by love, as not to be known again for the same person."

Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est. VIRGIL."Of so much value is it to be accustomed in our tender years."-Such are the advantages of an early education.

Ad eundem. Lat." To the same."-In passing from one university or law society to another, it is said that he was admitted ad eundem gradum, to the same precise rank or degree which he held in the association or corporation of which he was previously a member.