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Willow-Pattern Plate

Accordingly, when the Trojan band, led by Æneas, entered Italy, and sailed up the Tiber, prior to laying the foundations of Rome, "being constrained by hunger," they proceeded "Violare manu, malisque audacibus orbem Fatalis crusti patulis, nec parcere quadris." "Their table cakes by tooth, and hand, with zest, Then to consume: ("Heus; etiam mensas consumimus ? " inquit Iulus.") 'What! eating plates as well?' Iulus called in jest." thereby fulfilling the prediction of a favourable haven from the Gods at last. Similarly, for ourselves, at the conclusion of our present lengthy task, we make bold to adopt the classic metaphor, and, lacking further foods to discuss, we thank the fates and devour our tables. "Haec erat illa fames: haec nos suprema manebat Exitiis positura modum." "This was that famine: this was found the last Of all our search: the tedious term, and bound."

Materially, of course, we cannot here eat the dishes whereof the contents are furnished, to be "read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested." Nevertheless, the ability is granted us to deduce a mental meal from the mense whereon our many topics have been served in the pages now ended; and to hail a happy final issue to our labours through the moral fodder of the homely