King Solomon's Twitters
I was reading a pageful of Economist NY editor Matt Bishop's twitters when the rhythm triggered an aural memory. Eureka: whoever compiled (and doubtless compressed) the purported wisdom of King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs was a born twitterer:
1.A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.2.A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.3.He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.4.The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.5.A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.6.Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.7.There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.8.The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.9.The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.10.Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
A twitterer filleth 140 characters with frivolity; a king's compositor (or King James translator) rarely requireth 100 (archaic verb endings at all).