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does not strenuously and generously resist the first allurements of it, lest, by small indulgences, he fall under the yoke of irresistible habit. Vitanda est improba Siren, Desidia, I desire may be affixed to the curtains of your bed, and to the walls of your chambers. If you do not rise early, you never can make any progress worth talking of: if you do not set apart your hours of reading, and never suffer yourself or any one else to break in upon them, your days will slip through your hands unprofitably and frivolously; unpraised by all you wish to please, and really unenjoyable to yourself. Be assured, whatever you take from pleasure, amusements, or indolence, for these first few years of your life, will repay you a hundred fold in the pleasures, honours, and advantages of all the remainder of your days."

I will not overlay the simplicity, or weaken the force of this wise advice from a wise man, by adding any thing from myself, beyond the assurance of my being

Your faithful and affectionate friend,

BENJ. H. MALKIN.

Bury, May 25. 1825.

CLASSICAL DISQUISITIONS

AND CURIOSITIES.

COMPARATIVE ESTIMATE OF TERENCE
AND PLAUTUS.

Ambigitur quoties, uter utro sit prior; aufert
Pacuvius docti famam senis, Accius alti:
Dicitur Afranî toga convenisse Menandro;
Plautus ad exemplar Siculi properare Epicharmi;
Vincere Cæcilius gravitate, Terentius arte.

HORATII EPIst. i. lib. 2.

THE Commentators are so much at variance respecting Horace's real drift in his critical epistles, whether he gives certain characters as his own or as the popular opinion, that we can scarcely avail ourselves of his decisions, but as we find them confirmed by other and tantamount authorities. Among the principal of these is Varro, who thus sums up the leading characteristics of Cæcilius and Terence: "In argumentis Cæcilius poscit palmam;

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