Of all the griefs that harass the distress'd,
Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest;
Fate read more

Of all the griefs that harass the distress'd,
Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest;
Fate never wounds more deep the generous heart,
Than when a blockhead's insult points the dart.

Less at thine own things laugh; lest in the jest
Thy person share, and the conceit advance,
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Less at thine own things laugh; lest in the jest
Thy person share, and the conceit advance,
Make not thy sport abuses: for the fly
That feeds on dung is colored thereby.

Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect.
[Fr., La moquerie est souvent une indigence d'esprit.]

Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect.
[Fr., La moquerie est souvent une indigence d'esprit.]

Joking set aside.
[Lat., Omissis jocis.]

Joking set aside.
[Lat., Omissis jocis.]

A jest's prosperity lies in the ear
Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of read more

A jest's prosperity lies in the ear
Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of him that makes it.

A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp
sting behind it.
[Lat., Aspere read more

A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp
sting behind it.
[Lat., Aspere facetiae, ubi nimis ex vero traxere,
Acram sui memoriam relinquunt.]

A jester, a bad character.
[Fr., Diseur de bon mots, mauvais caractere.]

A jester, a bad character.
[Fr., Diseur de bon mots, mauvais caractere.]

A jest loses its point when the jester laughs himself.
[Ger., Des Spass verliert Alles, wenn der Spassmacher selber read more

A jest loses its point when the jester laughs himself.
[Ger., Des Spass verliert Alles, wenn der Spassmacher selber
lacht.]

(Andrew:) I am not such an ass but I can keep my hand dry. But
what's your jest?
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(Andrew:) I am not such an ass but I can keep my hand dry. But
what's your jest?
(Maria:) A dry jest, sir.
(Andrew:) Are you full of them?
(Maria:) Ay, sir, I have them at my fingers' ends. Marry, now I
let go your hand, I am barren.