Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of read more

The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of the air.
[Fr., Les Anglais, nation trop fiere
S'arrogent l'empire des mers;
Les Francais, nation legere,
S'emparent de celui des airs.]

The proud daughter of that monarch to whom when it grows
[elsewhere] the sun never sets.
[Lat., Altera read more

The proud daughter of that monarch to whom when it grows
[elsewhere] the sun never sets.
[Lat., Altera figlia
Di quel monarea a cui
Ne anco, quando annotta, il Sol tramonta.]

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is
thine eye evil, because read more

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is
thine eye evil, because I am good?

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
read more

Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
Her home is on the deep.

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their read more

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their Dominions.

For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was read more

For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was man schwarz auf weiss besitzt,
Kann man getrost nach Hause tragen.]

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
read more

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
And a few Friends, and many Books both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too.
And since Love ne'er will from me flee,
A mistress moderately fair,
And good as Guardian angels are,
Only belov'd and loving me.