27 SEPTEMBER 1913, Page 14

APHAERESIS.

ITO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—In the library here I have just come across a MS. commonplace book (dated 1605), in which appears the follow- ing ingenious amplification of Sir John Phillips's motto and aphaeresis, "Amore, more, ore, re"

" Qucs : Wherein cloth principally consist ; love of God ? Ans : In one word God is to be worshipped: viz., .Amore Aniore with all ; love More vero: NO' ; right manner

Ore ffdeli: Wth faithfull mouth Re omni : wth all affection."

The Elizabethan age was certainly a time of pretty wit, as attest the madrigal, palindrome, ring-posy, amphibology, and

Sion. College, E.C.