E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Tongues.
The Italian is pleasant, but without sinews, as still fleeting water.
1
The French—delicate, but like an overnice woman, scarce daring to open her lips for fear of marring her countenance.
2
Spanish—majestical, but fulsome, running too much on the letter o; and terrible, like the devil in a play.
3
Dutch—manlike, but withal very harsh, as one ready at every word to pick a quarrel.
4
We (the English), in borrowing from them, give the strength of consonants to the Italian; the full sound of words to the French; the variety of terminations to the Spanish; and the mollifying of more vowels to the Dutch. Thus, like bees, we gather the honey of their good properties and leave the dregs to themselves. (Camden.)
