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Show STORY OF A PROVERB. The Boston Transcript, in answer to a correspondent's query, re-tells the origin of the rhyming old saw,- "There's many a slip ‘Tween the cup and the lip." Some of our subscribers who have studied Greek, may have seen the account in the Greek Readers: A King of Thrace had planted a vineyard, when one of his slaves, whom he had much oppressed in that very work, prophesied that he should never taste of the wine produced in it. The monarch disregarded the prediction, and when at an entertainment, he held a glassful of his own wine made from the grapes of that vineyard, he sent for the slave, and asked him what he thought of his prophecy now. To which the other replied, "Many things fall our between the cup and the lip;" and had scarcely delivered this singular response before the news was brought that a monstrous boar was laying waste the favorite vineyard. The King, in a rage, put down the cup which he held in his hand, and hurried out with his people to attack the boar; but being too eager, the boar rushed upon him and killed him, without his having tasted of the wine. |