_Buchanan and Voltaire._--Voltaire has obtained credit for a very smart
epigram, and one which the _Edinburgh Review_ (vol. xxi. p. 271.) calls
"one of his happiest repartees." It was, however, stolen by him, either
designedly or unwittingly, from the celebrated Buchanan. Here are the
two versions, and the point will be observed to be the same in both:
"An Englishman visiting Voltaire in his retreat at Ferney,
happened to mention Haller, in whose praise the philosopher
enlarged with great warmth. The other observed that this was very
handsome on the part of M. de Voltaire, as Haller was by no means
so liberal to M. de Voltaire. 'Alas!' said the patriarch, 'I dare
say we are both of us very much mistaken!'"
Is not this the same as Buchanan's epigram (_Ep._, lib. 1. ed. Wets.)?
"IN ZOILUM.
"Frustra ego te laudo, frustra me, Zoile, lædas
Nemo mihi credit, Zoile nemo tibi."