The Works of the English Poets: Butler

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H. Hughs, 1779

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Page 12 - Lilburn:" which part of his character gave occasion for the following lines at his death : Is John departed, and is Lilburn gone? Farewell to both, to Lilburn and to John. Yet, being dead, take this advice from me, Let them not both in one grave buried be : Lay John here, and Lilburn thereabout, For if they both should meet they would fall out.
Page 295 - It is not poetry that makes men poor ; For few do write that were not so before ; And those that have writ best, had they been rich, Had ne'er been clapp'd with a poetic itch ; Had loved their ease too well to take the pains To undergo that drudgery of brains ; But, being for all other trades unfit, Only t' avoid being idle, set up wit.
Page 296 - Far greater numbers have been lost by hopes Than all the magazines of daggers, ropes, And other ammunitions of despair, Were ever able to despatch by fear.
Page 94 - But to have power to forgive Is empire, and prerogative ; And 'tis in crowns a nobler gem To grant a pardon, than condemn. Then, since so few do what they ought, 'Tis great t...
Page 282 - The metaphysics but a puppet motion That goes with screws, the notion of a notion; The copy of a copy and lame draught Unnaturally taken from a thought: That counterfeits all pantomimic tricks, And turns the eyes, like an old crucifix; That counterchanges whatsoe'er it calls B...
Page 224 - Then why should those who pick and choose The best of all the best compose, And join it by Mosaic art, In graceful order, part to part, To make the whole in beauty suit, Not merit as complete repute As those who with less art and pains...
Page 63 - To th' course of nature, but its own : The courage of the bravest daunt, And turn poltroons as valiant : For men as resolute appear, With too much as too little fear ; And, when they're out of hopes of flying, Will run away from death by dying ; Or turn again to stand it out, And those they fled, like lions, rout.
Page 289 - AUTHORITY intoxicates, And makes mere sots of magistrates ; The fumes of it invade the brain, And make men giddy, proud, and vain : By this the fool commands the wise, The noble with the base complies, The sot assumes the rule of wit, And cowards make the base submit.
Page 280 - Tis they maintain the church and state, Employ the priest and magistrate ; Bear all the charge of government, And pay the public fines and rent ; Defray all taxes and excises, And impositions of all prices ; Bear all th...
Page 172 - tis my greatest crime has only been (Not in mine eyes, but yours) in being seen. P. I hurt to love, but do not love to hurt. C. That's worse than making cruelty a sport. P. Pain is the foil of pleasure and delight, That sets it off to a more noble height. C. He buys his pleasure at a rate too vain, That takes it up beforehand of his pain. P. Pain is more dear than pleasure when 'tis past. C. But grows intolerable if it last.

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