Poetical Quotations from Chaucer to Tennyson

A thousand blushing apparitions

SHAKSPEARE.

BOASTING.

That brawny fool who did his vigour boast, In that presuming confidence was lost.

DRYDEN.

No more delays, vain boaster! but begin;
I prophesy beforehand I shall win:
I'll teach you how to brag another time.

DRYDEN.

He the proud boasters sent, with stern assault, Down to the realms of night.

JOHN PHILIPS. Boastful and rough, your first son is a 'squire, The next a tradesman, meek, and much a liar. POPE.

If it be so, yet bragless let it be:
Great Hector was as good a man as he.

SHAKSPEARE.

Who knows himself a braggart, Let him fear this; for it will come to pass, That every braggart shall be found an ass. SHAKSPEARE.

BOOKS.

Its no' in books, its no' in lear,
To make us truly blest,
If happiness has not her seat
And centre in the breast.

BURNS: Epistle to Davie.
Old wood to burn! old wine to drink!
Old friends to trust! old books to read!
ALONZO OF Aragon.

'Tis in books the chief
Of all perfections to be plain and brief.

BUTLER.

To start into her face; a thousand innocent They cannot read, and so don't lisp in criticism;

shames,

In angel whiteness, bear away those blushes.

SHAKSPEARE.

To-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him. SHAKSPEARE.

Her lips blush deeper sweets.

THOMSON. Along those blushing borders, bright with dew. THOMSON.

The man that blushes is not quite a brute. YOUNG.

Nor write, and so they don't affect the muse; Were never caught in epigram or witticism; Have no romances, sermons, plays, reviews.

BYRON.

'Twere well with most, if books, that could engage

Their childhood, pleased them at a riper age,
The man, approving what had charm'd the boy,
Would die at last in comfort, peace, and joy;
And not with curses on his art who stole
The gem of truth from his unguarded soul.
COWPER.

Books are not seldom talismans and spells.
COWPER.

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blood,

Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and If you knew to whom you show this honour, I know you would be prouder of the work Than customary bounty can enforce you. SHAKSPEARE.

Our pastime and our happiness will grow.
WORDSWORTH: Personal Talk.

Others with wistful eyes on glory look
When they have got their picture towards a book;
Or pompous title, like a gaudy sign
Meant to betray dull sots to wretched wine.

YOUNG.
Some future strain, in which the muse shall tell
How science dwindles, and how volumes swell.

For thy vast bounties are so numberless,
That them or to conceal, or else to tell,
Is equally impossible.

РОРЕ.

COWLEY.

Such moderation with thy bounty join

No, there is a necessity in fate
Why still the brave bold man is fortunate;
He keeps his object ever full in sight,
And that assurance holds him firm and right:
True, 'tis a narrow path that leads to bliss,

That thou may'st nothing give that is not thine; But right before there is no precipice;

That liberality is but cast away
Which makes us borrow what we cannot pay.
SIR J. DENHAM.

Those godlike men, to wanting virtue kind,
Bounty well placed, preferr'd, and well design'd,
To all their titles.

DRYDEN.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere;
Heaven did a recompense as largely send;
He gave to misery all he had-a tear;
He gain'd from heaven-'twas all he wish'd

a friend!

GRAY.

Fear makes men look aside, and so their footing miss.

DRYDEN.

The brave man seeks not popular applause,
Nor, overpower'd with arms, deserts his cause:
Unshamed, though foil'd, he does the best he

can;

Force is of brutes, but honour is of man.

DRYDEN.

Impute your danger to our ignorance;
The bravest men are subject most to chance.
DRYDEN.

Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? Hot braves, like thee, may fight, but know not

That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge.
SHAKSPEARE.

well

To manage this, the last great stake.

DRYDEN.

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