Samuel Butler

The Roman senate, when within
The city walls an owl was seen,
Did cause their clergy, with read more

The Roman senate, when within
The city walls an owl was seen,
Did cause their clergy, with lustrations
. . . .
The round-fac'd prodigy t' avert,
From doing town or country hurt.

So Noah, when he anchor'd safe on
The mountain's top, his lofty haven,
And all the passengers read more

So Noah, when he anchor'd safe on
The mountain's top, his lofty haven,
And all the passengers he bore
Were on the new world set ashore,
He made it next his chief design
To plant and propagate a vine,
Which since has overwhelm'd and drown'd
Far greater number, on dry ground,
Of wretched mankind, one by one,
Than all the flood before had done.

Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.

Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.

With vollies of eternal babble.

With vollies of eternal babble.

Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick
(Though he gave his name to our Old Nick).

Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick
(Though he gave his name to our Old Nick).