ALPS-AMBITION. 15 ALPS-continued. Gather around these summits, as to show How earth may pierce to Heaven, yet leave vain man below. Byron, Ch. H. 111. 62. Who first beholds the Alps,-that mighty chain Of mountains, stretching on from east to west, As to belong rather to heaven than earth- A sense, a feeling that he loses not A something that informs him 't is a moment They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathless stones, Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale. AMBER. Pretty! in amber to observe the forms Rogers. Sh. Ham. III. 4. Sh. Ric. III. III. 7. Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms! The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare. But wonder how the devil they got there. Pope, Ep, to Arb. AMBITION- -see Fame, Glory, Pride. Raleigh. Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall. [169. Q. El. If thy mind fail thee, do not climb at all. Scott, Ken.XVII Fling away ambition; By that sin fell the angels: how can man then, The image of his Maker, hope to win by't? Sh. H. VIII. III. 2. I have ventur'd Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many summers in a sea of glory. But far beyond my depth; my high-blown pride Sh. H. VIII. III. 2. Men at some time are masters of their fates: Sh. Jul. C. 1. 2. Sh. Jul. C. II. 1. They that stand high, have many blasts to shake them; Ambition's monstrous stomach does increase Davenant, Playhouse to let. Milton, P. L. 1. 262. To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Ambition is the dropsy of the soul, Milton, P. L. IX. 168. Whose thirst we must not yield to, but control. Otway, Cai. Ma. Sedley. Rowe, Am. Step. Lilly, Midas, That pushes them beyond the bounds of nature, Ambition hath one heel nail'd in hell, Though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens. Ib. What various wants on power attend! Ambition never gains its end. Who hath not heard the rich complain Gay, Fable. 5. Southern, Loy. Bro. Pope, Es. M. AMBITION-continued. AMBITION. Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise, Ambition is a spirit in the world, That causes all the ebbs and flows of nations, 17 Pope, Es. M The world would be a filthy settled mud. Crowne, Amb. Statesm. Oh, were I seated high as my ambition, I'd place this naked foot on necks of monarchs! Walpole, Myst. M. The true ambition there alone resides, Wouldst thou be famed ? have those high acts in view, Brave men would act, though scandal would ensue. Young, L.F. Fame is the shade of immortality, And in itself a shadow. Soon as caught, Contemn'd, it shrinks to nothing in the grasp. Young, N. T. Unnumber'd suppliants crowd preferment's gate, [VII. Johnson, V. H. W. This sov'reign passion, scornful of restraint, Johnson, Ir. Cowper, Task. III. 127. Dream after dream ensues, On the summit, see, The seals of office glitter in his eyes; He climbs, he pants, he grasps them. At his heels, Close at his heels, a demagogue ascends, And with a dext'rous jerk soon twists him down, And wins them, but to lose them in his turn. Cowper, T. IV. 58. Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climb The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar Beattie. Mins. 1. 1. C 18 AMBITION-ANATHEMA. AMBITION-continued. He who ascends on mountain-tops, shall find Byron, Ch. H. III. 45. To th' expanded and aspiring soul, Poor lost America, high honours missing, Jo. Baillie, Ethw. 5. Knows nought of smile and nod, and sweet hand-kissing; Knows nought of golden promises of kings; Knows nought of coronets, and stars, and strings. Who can, with patience, for a moment see The medley mass of pride and misery, Of whips and charters, manacles and rights, Peter Pindar. Moore. Well-peace to the land! may the people at length, Yet if health do not sweeten the blast with her bloom, Nor virtue's aroma its pathway perfume, Unblest is the freedom and dreary the flight, That but wanders to ruin and wantons to blight! Moore. America! half brother of the world! With something good and bad of every land; Columbia, child of Britain,-noblest child; Thou, O, my country, hast thy foolish ways, Bailey, Festus. Tupper, Lyrics. Holmes. ANCESTRY. 19 ANCESTRY. I have no urns, no dusty monuments; No broken images of ancestors, Wanting an ear or nose; no forged tables Of long descents, to boast false honours from. B. Jonson, Cat. Boast not the titles of your ancestors, brave youth! Ben Jonson. When your own virtues equall'd have their names, He that to ancient wreaths can bring no more But that be their own praise: Myself an undeserver. Dryden. Dryden. Cleveland. Rowe. Nor will I borrow merit from the dead, What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards, Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards.Pope, E. M. 1v. 215. He stands for fame on his forefather's feet, By heraldry, prov'd valiant or discreet! Young, L. F. s. 1. Let high birth triumph! what can be more great? They that on glorious ancestors enlarge, That spurns the idle pratings of the great, And their mean boast of what their fathers were, Young. Young The scorn of all who know the worth of mind Percival. |