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, 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; 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, The Parish Register. Part I. In this fool's paradise he drank delight. § The Borough. Letter XII. Players. Books cannot always please, however good; 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 ; Ibid. Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, 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 landlord's laugh was ready chorus. Ibid. Ibid. Affliction's sons are brothers in distress; Then gently scan your brother man Though they may gang a kennin' wrang, Address to the Unco Guid. What's done we partly may compute, If there's a hole in a' your coats, 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 And leave us naught but grief and pain 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, 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, O Life! how pleasant in thy morning, Like schoolboys at th' expected warning, To joy and play. Epistle to James Smith. His locked, lettered, braw brass collar O life! thou art a galling load, To wretches such as I! The Twa Dogs. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, *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. |