Mens sana Latin for "sound/healthy mind." Mr. Walker uses this Latin phrase
in reference to Mr. Crawley's questionable madness. Mr. Walker says to
Mr. Robarts that Mr. Crawley's trial can be postponed if he is found to be
not mentally sound. Perhaps this Latin phrase euphemistically implies Mr.
Crawley's propensity for mentally unhealthy behavior without outright
stating that he is mad. Mr. Walker could be using this Latin euphemism
and not bluntly stating that Mr. Crawley is mad because he regards Mr.
Crawley as a gentleman and such a description is not appropriate for a
gentleman. The phrase is attributed to the Roman poet Juvenal who wrote
the famous phrase mens sana in corpore sano or "a healthy mind in
a healthy body" (Satire 10.356). [AM]
Chapter 21
Mr Robarts on his Embassy
Tablets of my heart This is a version of the phrase "tablets of the mind" from line 790
of Aeschylus' play Prometheus Bound. In the play, Prometheus
prophesizes Io's future wanderings in order that she may remember her fate
"in the tablets of her mind." However, Mr. Crawley uses this phrase to
say that he will keep in mind the trust and friendship of Mr. Robarts.
[AM]