[Essay on Criticism continued. A needless Alexandrine ends the song, along.1 True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, flows; But when loud surges lash the sounding shore, The hoarse rough verse should like the torrent roar. When Ajax strives some rock's vast weight to throw, The line too labours, and the words move slow; the main. Part ii. Line 162. For fools admire, but men of sense approve. Part ii. Line 191. But let a lord once own the happy lines, How the wit brightens! how the style refines! Part ii. Line 220. Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But, like a shadow, proves the substance true. Part ii. Line 266. 1 Solvuntur, tardosque trahit sinus ultimus orbes. Virgil, Georgics, Lib. iii. 424. Essay on Criticism continued.] Part ii. Line 325. All seems infected that th' infected spy, Part ii. Line 358. And make each day a critic on the last. Part iii. Line 12. Men must be taught as if you taught them not, The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, Part iii. Line 53. Most authors steal their works, or buy ; Garth did not write his own Dispensary. Part iii. Line 59. For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.1 Part iii. Line 66. Led by the light of the Mæonian star. Part iii. Line 89. Content if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view, The learn'd reflect on what before they knew.2 Part iii. Line 180. 1 That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. Shakespeare, Richard III., Act i. Sc. 3. 2 "Indocti discant et ament meminisse periti." This Latin hexameter, which is commonly ascribed to Horace, appeared for the first time as an epigraph to President Hénault's Abrégé Chronologique, and in the preface to the third edition of this work, Hénault acknowledges that he had given it as a translation of this couplet. THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. What dire offence from amorous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things. Canto i. Line 1. And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. Canto i. Line 134. On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, If to her share some female errors fall, Fair tresses man's imperial race insnare, Canto ii. Line 27. Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey, Dost sometimes counsel take tea. At every word a reputation dies. and sometimes Canto iii. Line 7. Canto iii. Line 16. The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, Coffee, which makes the politician wise, The meeting points the sacred hair dissever Rape of the Lock continued.] Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain, And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. Canto iv. Line 123. Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Canto v. Line 34 EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT. PROLOGUE TO THE SATIRES. Shut, shut the door, good John ! fatigu'd, I said; Tie up the knocker, say I'm sick, I'm dead. Line 1. Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand, They rave, recite, and madden round the land. Line 5. E'en Sunday shines no sabbath day to me. Line 12. Is there a parson much bemus'd in beer, A clerk foredoom'd his father's soul to cross, Friend to my life, which did not you prolong, The world had wanted many an idle song. Line 27. Oblig'd by hunger and request of friends. Line 44. [Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot continued. Fir'd that the house rejects him, "'Sdeath! I'll print it, And shame the fools." Line 61. No creature smarts so little as a fool. Line 84 Destroy his fib, or sophistry -- in vain ! As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame, I lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came. Pretty! in amber to observe the forms Line 127. Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms! The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare, But wonder how the devil they got there. Line 169. Means not, but blunders round about a meaning; Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, P. Fletcher, The Purple Island. Canto vii. |