PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. I HAVE often, during my residence in Cambridge, regretted that many very facetious and richly-spiced anecdotes, and smart sayings, should only be handed round the University by tradition; and not only are they entirely lost to the world, but many-I believe I may add, a very great number-of the members of the University, are almost ignorant of their existence. Hence I resolved to compile the Facetiae Cantabrigienses ; and I trust I shall be, if not commended, at least pardoned, for so doing. The eye of the reader will sometimes come in contact with an anecdote which is already familiar to him this he will perhaps forgive; as my aim is, not only to make him acquainted with strangers, but also to collect the lost sheep, which are to be found scattered up and down, in various publications, and, like the Jews, have no particular resting-place. Being myself a mortal enemy to long prefaces, I shall make my bow by observing-that most men are occasionally troubled with ennui, or, as it is sometimes denominated "THE BLUE DEVILS;" and I know of no better remedy for such maladies, than that afforded by a perusal of the FACETIOUS. ADVERTISEMENT ΤΟ THE THIRD EDITION. LET it not be thought by any Cantab to whom this edition of our Facetiæ may come, greeting, that we have "set down aught in malice," it is what we altogether disown. We have endeavoured to keep in view the maxim of our favourite, Horace, " desipere in loco," lest it should be said of us," mentis desipiebant," and we be forthwith clapped into a straight jacket. We are told that one son of our Alma Mater, a fellow of a College, perusing some dainty morsels contained in our first edition, exclaimed, "mentis emotio," 'Bravo, bravo! Excellent!' but when he came to an Epigram in which he himself played first-fiddle, he threw down our brat in a furor. We recommend him to case himself in the following coat of mail, under favour of which he will not be the first man that has hid his ears: "I'll tell thee what, Prince; a college of wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour: dost thou think I care for a satire, or an epigram? No; if a man will be beaten with brains, he shall wear nothing handsome about him."-MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Act v. S. 4. We owe apologies to the readers of our first edition for errors contained therein, which arose from our some literary bantling having, from accidental causes, been prematurely brought forth without the aid of its regular accoucheur, who has often regretted that his obstetric aid was not afforded in time; here we have managed things better, and we are modest enough to exclaim, by way of finale "Get you gone, you dwarf ; "You minimus, "—— MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Act III. S. 2. or in the words of Southey, as quoted by that celebrated Cantab, Lord Byron : "Go, little book, from this my solitude! I cast thee on the waters, go thy ways! The world will find thee after many days." DON JUAN. Canto 1. Stanza 222. |
