Where they do agree on the stage, their unanimity is wonderful.

The Critic. Act ii. Sc. 2.

You shall see a beautiful quarto page, where a neat rivulet of text shall meander through a meadow of margin.

School for Scandal. Act i. Sc. 1.

I leave my character behind me. Ibid. Act ii. Sc. 2.

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen ;

Here's to the widow of fifty;

Here's to the flaunting, extravagant quean,
And here's to the housewife that 's thrifty.
Let the toast pass;

Drink to the lass;

I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

Ibid. Act iii. Sc. 3.

An unforgiving eye, and a damned disinherit

ing countenance.

Ibid. Act iv. Sc. 1.

I ne'er could any lustre see

In eyes that would not look on me;
I ne'er saw nectar on a lip

But where my own did hope to sip.

The Duenna. Act i. Sc. 2.

Conscience has no more to do with gallantry,

than it has with politics.

Ibid. Act ii, Sc. 4.

The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to

his memory for his jests and to his imagination

for his facts.*

Speech in Reply to Mr. Dundas.t

You write with ease to show your breeding,

But easy writing 's curst hard reading.

Clio's Protest. ‡

GEORGE CRABBE. 1754-1832.

Oh! rather give me commentators plain,
Who with no deep researches vex the brain,
Who from the dark and doubtful love to run,
And hold their glimmering taper to the sun.

The Parish Register. Part I.

In this fool's paradise he drank delight. §

The Borough. Letter XII. Players.

Books cannot always please, however good;
Minds are not ever craving for their food.

Ibid, Letter XXIV. Schools.

In idle wishes fools supinely stay;

Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.

The Birth of Flattery.

JAMES MERRICK. 1720-1766.

Not what we wish, but what we want.

Hymn.

On pent dire que son esprit brille aux dépens do sa mé

moire. Le Sage. Gil Blas.

† From Sheridaniana.

Moore's Life of Sheridan. § Cf. MILTON. Paradise Lost.

Livre iii. Ch. xi.

Vol. i. p. 155.

Book iii. Line 496.

ROBERT BURNS. 1759-1796.

Where sits our sulky, sullen dame,

Gathering her brows like gathering storm,

Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.

Tam O'Shanter.

His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony ;
Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither
They had been fou for weeks thegither.

Ibid.

Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious,
O'er a' the ills o' life victorious.

Ibid.

But pleasures are like poppies spread,

You seize the flower, its bloom is shed;

Or like the snow-fall in the river,

A moment white, then melts for ever.

Ibid.

That hour, o' night's black arch the keystane.

Ibid.

Inspiring bold John Barleycorn,

What dangers thou canst make us scorn.

Ibid.

As Tammie gloured, amazed and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious.

The landlord's laugh was ready chorus.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress;
A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss.
A Winter's Night.

Then gently scan your brother man
Still gentler, sister woman;

Though they may gang a kennin' wrang,
To step aside is human.

Address to the Unco Guid.

What's done we partly may compute,
But know not what's resisted.

If there's a hole in a' your coats,
I rede you tent it;

A chiel's amang you taking notes,

And, faith, he'll prent it.

Ibid.

On Captain Grose's Peregrinations through Scotland.

O wad some power the giftie gie us,

To see oursels as others see us!

It wad frae monie a blunder free us,

And foolish notion.

To a Louse.

The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft a-gley;

And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.

Perhaps it may turn out a sang,

Perhaps turn out a sermon.

To a Mouse.

Epistle to a Young Friend.

The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip

To haud the wretch in order;

But where ye feel your honor grip,
Let that aye be your border.

Ibid.

An Atheist's laugh's a poor exchange

For Deity offended! Epistle to a Young Friend.

And may you better reck the rede,

Than ever did th' adviser!

Ibid.

In durance vile here must I wake and weep,
And all my frowzy couch in sorrow steep.*
Epistle from Esopus to Maria.

O Life! how pleasant in thy morning,
Young Fancy's rays the hills adorning!
Cold-pausing Caution's lesson scorning,
We frisk away,

Like schoolboys at th' expected warning,

To joy and play.

Epistle to James Smith.

His locked, lettered, braw brass collar
Shewed him the gentleman and scholar.

O life! thou art a galling load,
Along a rough, a weary road,

To wretches such as I!

The Twa Dogs.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min'?

*Durance vile.-W. Kenrick (1766).

Despondency.

Falstaff's Wedding. Act i. Sc. 2.

It will not be amiss to take a view of the effects of this royal servitude and vile durance, which was so deplored in

the reign of the last monarch.

— Burke.

On the Present Discontent.