The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler, Volume 1

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W. Pickering, 1835

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Page 122 - Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school : and whereas, before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.
Page 5 - He'd run in debt by disputation, And pay with ratiocination : All this by syllogism true, In mood and figure he would do. For rhetoric, he could not ope His mouth, but out there flew a trope : And when he happen'd to break off I' th' middle of his speech, or cough, H...
Page 11 - A sect whose chief devotion lies In odd perverse antipathies, In falling out with that or this, And finding somewhat still amiss ; More peevish, cross, and splenetic, Than dog distract, or monkey sick...
Page 5 - H' had hard words ready to show why, And tell what rules he did it by ; Else when with greatest art he spoke, You'd think he talk'd like other folk ; For all a rhetorician's rules Teach nothing but to name his tools.
Page 10 - For he was of that stubborn crew Of errant saints, whom all men grant To be the true church militant ; Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun ; Decide all controversies by Infallible artillery ; And prove their doctrine orthodox By apostolic blows and knocks...
Page 1 - Th' adventure of the bear and fiddle Is sung, but breaks off in the middle. When civil fury first grew high, And men fell out, they knew not why; When hard words, jealousies, and fears, Set folks together by the ears...
Page 3 - And styled of war as well as peace (So some rats, of amphibious nature, Are either for the land or water) : But here our authors make a doubt Whether he were more wise or stout...
Page 7 - For th' other, as great clerks have done. He could reduce all things to acts, And knew their natures by abstracts ; Where Entity and Quiddity, The ghosts of defunct bodies, fly ; Where truth in person does appear, Like words congeal'd in northern air. He knew what's what, and that's as high As metaphysic wit can fly...
Page 80 - AY me ! what perils do environ The man that meddles with cold iron ! What plaguy mischiefs and mishaps Do dog him still with after-claps...
Page 16 - He ne'er gave quarter to any such. The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty, For want of fighting was grown rusty, And ate into itself, for lack Of somebody to hew and hack...

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