Chapter 27

JAMES BRAMSTON. ---- -1744.

What 's not devoured by Time's devouring hand? Where 's Troy, and where 's the Maypole in the Strand?

_Art of Politics._

But Titus said, with his uncommon sense, When the Exclusion Bill was in suspense: "I hear a lion in the lobby roar; Say, Mr. Speaker, shall we shut the door And keep him there, or shall we let him in To try if we can turn him out again?"[352-2]

_Art of Politics._

So Britain's monarch once uncovered sat, While Bradshaw bullied in a broad-brimmed hat.

_Man of Taste._

FOOTNOTES:

[352-2] I hope, said Colonel Titus, we shall not be wise as the frogs to whom Jupiter gave a stork for their king. To trust expedients with such a king on the throne would be just as wise as if there were a lion in the lobby, and we should vote to let him in and chain him, instead of fastening the door to keep him out.--_On the Exclusion Bill, Jan. 7, 1681._

EARL OF CHESTERFIELD. 1694-1773.

Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

_Letter, March 10, 1746._

I knew once a very covetous, sordid fellow,[352-3] who used to say, "Take care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves."

_Letter, Nov. 6, 1747._

Sacrifice to the Graces.[353-1]

_Letter, March 9, 1748._

Manners must adorn knowledge, and smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also for its intrinsic value.

_Letter, July 1, 1748._

Style is the dress of thoughts.

_Letter, Nov. 24, 1749._

Despatch is the soul of business.

_Letter, Feb. 5, 1750._

Chapter of accidents.[353-2]

_Letter, Feb. 16, 1753._

I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.

_The World. No. 101._

Unlike my subject now shall be my song; It shall be witty, and it sha'n't be long.

_Impromptu Lines._

The dews of the evening most carefully shun,-- Those tears of the sky for the loss of the sun.

_Advice to a Lady in Autumn._

The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

_Character of Pulteney._

He adorned whatever subject he either spoke or wrote upon, by the most splendid eloquence.[353-3]

_Character of Bolingbroke._

FOOTNOTES:

[352-3] W. Lowndes, Secretary of the Treasury in the reigns of King William, Queen Anne, and King George the Third.

[353-1] Plato was continually saying to Xenocrates, "Sacrifice to the Graces."--DIOGENES LAERTIUS: _Xenocrates, book iv. sect. 2._

Let us sacrifice to the Muses.--PLUTARCH: _The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men._ (A saying of Solon.)

[353-2] Chapter of accidents.--BURKE: _Notes for Speeches_ (edition 1852), _vol. ii. p. 426._

John Wilkes said that "the Chapter of Accidents is the longest chapter in the book."--SOUTHEY: _The Doctor, chap. cxviii._

[353-3] Who left scarcely any style of writing untouched, And touched nothing that he did not adorn.

JOHNSON: _Epitaph on Goldsmith._

Il embellit tout ce qu'il touche (He adorned whatever he touched).--FENELON: _Lettre sur les Occupations de l' Academie Francaise, sect. iv._

MATTHEW GREEN. 1696-1737.

Fling but a stone, the giant dies.

_The Spleen. Line 93._

Thus I steer my bark, and sail On even keel, with gentle gale.

_The Spleen._

Though pleased to see the dolphins play, I mind my compass and my way.

_The Spleen._

RICHARD SAVAGE. 1698-1743.

He lives to build, not boast, a generous race; No tenth transmitter of a foolish face.

_The Bastard. Line 7._

May see thee now, though late, redeem thy name, And glorify what else is damn'd to fame.[354-1]

_Character of Foster._

FOOTNOTES:

[354-1] See Pope, page 331.

ROBERT BLAIR. 1699-1747.

The Grave, dread thing! Men shiver when thou 'rt named: Nature, appall'd, Shakes off her wonted firmness.

_The Grave. Part i. Line 9._

The schoolboy, with his satchel in his hand, Whistling aloud to bear his courage up.[354-2]

_The Grave. Part i. Line 58._

Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul! Sweetener of life! and solder of society!

_The Grave. Part i. Line 88._

Of joys departed, Not to return, how painful the remembrance!

_The Grave. Part i. Line 109._

The cup goes round: And who so artful as to put it by! 'T is long since Death had the majority.

_The Grave. Part ii. Line 449._

The good he scorn'd Stalk'd off reluctant, like an ill-used ghost, Not to return; or if it did, in visits Like those of angels, short and far between.[355-1]

_The Grave. Part ii. Line 586._

FOOTNOTES:

[354-2] See Dryden, page 277.

[355-1] See Norris, page 281.

JAMES THOMSON. 1700-1748.

Come, gentle Spring! ethereal Mildness! come.

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 1._

Base Envy withers at another's joy, And hates that excellence it cannot reach.

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 283._

But who can paint Like Nature? Can imagination boast, Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 465._

Amid the roses fierce Repentance rears Her snaky crest.

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 996._

Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot.

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 1149._

An elegant sufficiency, content, Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books, Ease and alternate labour, useful life, Progressive virtue, and approving Heaven!

_The Seasons. Spring. Line 1158._

The meek-ey'd Morn appears, mother of dews.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 47._

Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 67._

But yonder comes the powerful king of day, Rejoicing in the east.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 81._

Ships dim-discover'd dropping from the clouds.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 946._

And Mecca saddens at the long delay.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 979._

For many a day, and many a dreadful night, Incessant lab'ring round the stormy cape.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 1003._

Sigh'd and look'd unutterable things.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 1188._

A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate Of mighty monarchs.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 1285._

So stands the statue that enchants the world, So bending tries to veil the matchless boast, The mingled beauties of exulting Greece.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 1346._

Who stemm'd the torrent of a downward age.

_The Seasons. Summer. Line 1516._

Autumn nodding o'er the yellow plain.

_The Seasons. Autumn. Line 2._

Loveliness Needs not the foreign aid of ornament, But is when unadorn'd, adorn'd the most.[356-1]

_The Seasons. Autumn. Line 204._

He saw her charming, but he saw not half The charms her downcast modesty conceal'd.

_The Seasons. Autumn. Line 229._

For still the world prevail'd, and its dread laugh, Which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn.

_The Seasons. Autumn. Line 233._

See, Winter comes to rule the varied year.[356-2]

_The Seasons. Winter. Line 1._

Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave.

_The Seasons. Winter. Line 393._

There studious let me sit, And hold high converse with the mighty dead.

_The Seasons. Winter. Line 431._

The kiss, snatch'd hasty from the sidelong maid.

_The Seasons. Winter. Line 625._

These as they change, Almighty Father! these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of Thee.

_Hymn. Line 1._

Shade, unperceiv'd, so softening into shade.

_Hymn. Line 25._

From seeming evil still educing good.

_Hymn. Line 114._

Come then, expressive silence, muse His praise.

_Hymn. Line 118._

A pleasing land of drowsyhed it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye; And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, Forever flushing round a summer sky: There eke the soft delights that witchingly Instil a wanton sweetness through the breast, And the calm pleasures always hover'd nigh; But whate'er smack'd of noyance or unrest Was far, far off expell'd from this delicious nest.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 6._

O fair undress, best dress! it checks no vein, But every flowing limb in pleasure drowns, And heightens ease with grace.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 26._

Plac'd far amid the melancholy main.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 30._

Scoundrel maxim.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 30._

A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 68._

A little round, fat, oily man of God.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto i. Stanza 69._

I care not, Fortune, what you me deny: You cannot rob me of free Nature's grace, You cannot shut the windows of the sky Through which Aurora shows her brightening face; You cannot bar my constant feet to trace The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve: Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace, And I their toys to the great children leave: Of fancy, reason, virtue, naught can me bereave.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto ii. Stanza 3._

Health is the vital principle of bliss, And exercise, of health.

_The Castle of Indolence. Canto ii. Stanza 55._

Forever, Fortune, wilt thou prove An unrelenting foe to love; And when we meet a mutual heart, Come in between and bid us part?

_Song._

Whoe'er amidst the sons Of reason, valour, liberty, and virtue Displays distinguish'd merit, is a noble Of Nature's own creating.

_Coriolanus. Act iii. Sc. 3._

O Sophonisba! Sophonisba, O![358-1]

_Sophonisba. Act iii. Sc. 2._

When Britain first, at Heaven's command, Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of her land, And guardian angels sung the strain: Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Britons never shall be slaves.

_Alfred. Act ii. Sc. 5._

FOOTNOTES:

[356-1] See Milton, page 234.

Nam ut mulieres esse dicuntur nonnullae inornatae, quas id ipsum diceat, sic haec subtilis oratio etiam incompta delectat (For as lack of adornment is said to become some women; so this subtle oration, though without embellishment, gives delight).--CICERO: _Orator, 23, 78._

[356-2] O Winter, ruler of the inverted year.--COWPER: _The Task,