A small glass?

Posted by Smokey Stover on January 08, 2005

In Reply to: A small glass? posted by Shae on January 03, 2005

: : : : It is said that when he was accused of having plagiarized Byron, the French poet, Alfred de Musset, wrote in response the following verses that became proverbial:

: : : : On a dit l'an passé que j'imitais Byron
: : : : Vous qui me connaissez, vous savez bien que non
: : : : Je hais comme la mort l'état de plagiaire
: : : : Mon verre n'est pas grand mais je bois dans mon verre.

: : : : The relevant line (the last one) could be thus rendered in English:

: : : : My glass is not a large one, but I am drinking from my glass.

: : : : Is the expression also used in English? Do any of you have any more information or knowledge about it?

: : : : Jose Carlos

: : : "A small thing, but mine own." I don't know who said it first.

: : I think it is:

: : 'A poor thing, but mine own.'

: : Shakespeare (as are so many things.)

: : DFG

: I don't have references handy, but the query reminds me of a story about a saint (Theresa?) who was asked by 'holier than thou' people to explain her assertion that even the poor, who could not afford to give money to the Church, could be full of Grace and could therefore enter Heaven. She explained that Grace is like a drinking glass. Some glasses are large and some are small but, when each glass is full, it's as full as it can be.

:Touchstone: "A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own." SS

• Test - ignore Michelle 29/January/05