But he retained some smatterings of it in mature life; and was rather fond of producing his classical scraps,--often in an altogether mouldy, and indeed hitherto inexplicable condition.

_"De gustibus non est disputandus," "Beati possEdentes," "CompIlle intrare," "BeatUS pauperes spiritus;"_ the meaning of these can be guessed: but _"Tot verbas tot spondera,"_ for example,--what can any commentator make of that?
_"Festina lente," "Dominus vobiscum," "Flectamus genua," "Quod bene notandum;"_ these phrases too, and some three or four others of the like, have been riddled from his Writings by diligent men: [Preuss (i.
24) furnishes the whole stock of them.] _"O tempora, O mores!_ You see, I don't forget my Latin," writes he once.
The worst fruit of these contraband operations was, that they involved the Boy in clandestine practices, secret disobediences, apt to be found out from time to time, and tended to alienate his Father from him.

Of which sad mutual humor we already find traces in that early Wusterhausen Document: "Not to be so dirty," says the reproving Father.

And the Boy does not take to hunting at all, likes verses, story-books, flute-playing better; seems to be of effeminate tendencies, an EFFEMINIRTER KERL; affects French modes, combs out his hair like a cockatoo, the foolish French fop, instead of conforming to the Army-regulation, which prescribes close-cropping and a club! This latter grievance Friedrich Wilhelm decided, at last, to abate, and have done with; this, for one.

It is an authentic fact, though not dated,--dating perhaps from about Fritz's fifteenth year.