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Supporters. - Mottoes. - Shield. - Colors. - Metals. - Furs: Latin
Pious old Dr. Doddridge felt much annoyance at the common translation of his Latin motto, and yet he could not make up his mind to rid himself of the old heirloom, borne by his ancestors for so many generations. It reads in Latin "Dum vivimus, vivamus,” and in English, "While we live, let us live." He was scandalized by its jovial ring, and strove to turn the meaning into more sober paths. On this account he wrote his celebrated hymn, which, if you do not know, your grandmothers do. "Live while you live, an epicure would say, And catch the pleasures of the present day; Live while you live, the sacred Preacher cries, And give to God each moment as it flies; Lord, in my views, let both united be - I live in pleasure, when I live to thee."
Some witty fellow was once asked by a very learned individual of Cambridge, named Dr. Cox Macro, what motto he would advise him to assume, and the quick answer came, "Why, Doctor, - cocks may crow, of course!"
The Onslows took for their motto, Festina lente, or "Make haste slowly." The Pierreponts selected Pie repone te, “Rest in MOTTOES. quiet." The Ishams Ostendo non ostento, "I show I sham not." Lord Liverpool, upon being elevated to the peerage as a reward for untiring efforts on behalf of the crown, selected as his motto, Palma non sine pulvere. The opposition party, giggling behind their sleeves, translated it as "This is a reward for my dirty work!" Another motto is one that Robert Curran gave to a wealthy though sadly ignorant tobacconist, whose accumulated riches had enabled him to retire from active trade. Having a coat-of-arms but no motto, he thought the latter would be a great addition. So, having much respect for the wit and talent of Curran, he asked him one day if he could not suggest something that would be appropriate. "Certainly," answered Curran, "Quid rides!" As that motto has a double joke in its Latin dress, suppose, boys, you find out what it means.
Sometimes the mottoes are very pretentious: - as that of Sir Francis Drake, "The eagle catcheth not flies"; and the one chosen by the Lumsdens, "By the gift of God, I am that I am." The sneering critic, that always lurks in the neighborhood of such pomposity, whispers, with a laugh, that in better English it might read, "Thank God! I am no worse than I am."
England's royal motto has undergone various changes. Queen Anne chose Semper eadem; and, as she was not very popular with the masses, Dean Swift sarcastically remarked that it meant "Worse and worse."