Page:The Maclise Portrait-Gallery.djvu/22

 "Tantum in Auctoribus noscendis momenti positum, ut ex illorum ve pietate, vel eruditione, vel partâ famâ, libris increscat autoritas. In illonim porro vitam, ætatem, et vivendi genus inquirendum, non minori sollicitudine, ut expeditius in legendis eorum laboribus versemur."— (De Libris Legenidis, Hagæ Com. 1711, 12mo, p. 35).

"In isto vario et diffuse scribendi genere alius alio plura invenire potest, nemo omnia."— (Allocutio in Not. ad libros "de Cruce").

"As the quantity of materials is so great, I shall only premise, that I hope for indulgence, though I do not give the actions in full detail, and with a scrupulous exactness, but rather in a short summary; since I am not writing Histories, but Lives. Nor is it always in the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discerned; but very often an action of small note, a short saying, or a jest, shall distinguish a person's real character, more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battles. Therefore, as painters in their portraits labour the likeness in the face, and particularly about the eyes, in which the peculiar turn of mind most appears, and run over the rest with a more careless hand; so I must be permitted to strike off the features of the soul, in order to give a real likeness of these great men, and leave to others the circumstantial detail of their labours and achievements."— (Alexander).