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 The sacred Dove a quill did lend
 From her high-soaring wing.  
 The sacred Dove a quill did lend
 From her high-soaring wing. 
 Oh! nature's noblest gift--my gray-goose quill!
 Slave of my thoughts, obedient to my will,
  Torn from thy read more 
 Oh! nature's noblest gift--my gray-goose quill!
 Slave of my thoughts, obedient to my will,
  Torn from thy parent-bird to form a pen,
   That might instrument of little men! 
 Whose noble praise
 Deserves a quill pluckt from an angel's wing.  
 Whose noble praise
 Deserves a quill pluckt from an angel's wing. 
 Art thou a pen, whose task shall be
 To drown in ink
  What writers think?
  read more 
 Art thou a pen, whose task shall be
 To drown in ink
  What writers think?
   Oh, wisely write,
    That pages white
     Be not the worse for ink and thee. 
 Goose [pen] bee [wax] and calf [parchment] govern the world.
 [Lat., Anser, apie, vitellus, populus et regna gubernant.]  
 Goose [pen] bee [wax] and calf [parchment] govern the world.
 [Lat., Anser, apie, vitellus, populus et regna gubernant.] 
 You write with ease, to show your breeding,
 But easy writing's curst hard reading.  
 You write with ease, to show your breeding,
 But easy writing's curst hard reading. 
 Beneath the rule of men entirely great
 The pen is mightier than the sword.  
 Beneath the rule of men entirely great
 The pen is mightier than the sword. 
 Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do, 
the practise of a fair and read more 
 Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do, 
the practise of a fair and quick hand in writing; for it is no 
immaterial accomplishment.
 [Lat., Non sest aliena res, quae fere ab honestis negligi solet, 
cura bene ac velociter scribendi.] 
 The pen wherewith thou dost so heavenly sing
 Made of a quill from an angel's wing.  
 The pen wherewith thou dost so heavenly sing
 Made of a quill from an angel's wing.