The Art of Worldly Wisdom. By Balthasar Grecian. Trans- lated
from the Spanish by Joseph Jacobs. (Macmillan and Co.)— Balthasar Grecian was a learned Jesuit, who died rector of the Jesuit College at Tarragona, in 1658, after giving to the world a number of books which were famous in their day, but are now almost forgotten. Mr. Jacobs tells us something about him, and then, this done, he proceeds to discourse about " maxims," com- plaining that few writers have concerned themselves with them. " Aphorisms " we have in plenty, but maxims are scarce,—i.e., we have views of life, but not directions how to live. Grecian certainly supplies the want. He is never commonplace. He is subtle ; at the same time he is eminently practical. Here are some specimens :—" Keep the imagination under control ; some- times correcting, sometimes assisting it. It is all-important for our happiness, and even sets the reason right." " Have presence of mind, the child of a happy promptitude of spirit." " Most things depend on the satisfaction of others." "Some regard more the rigour of the game than the winning of it, but to the world the discredit of the final failure does away with any recognition of the previous care. The victor need not explain," " Allow yourself some venial fault. Some such carelessness is often the greatest recommendation of talent Envy counts it to perfection as a failing that it has no faults."
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