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.

That possession was the strongest tenure of the law.

That possession was the strongest tenure of the law.

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.]

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.]

Indeed, whenever a new idea is developed, as for example ballooning, warfare immediately takes possession.rn

Indeed, whenever a new idea is developed, as for example ballooning, warfare immediately takes possession.rn

When I behold what pleasure is Pursuit,
What life, what glorious eagerness it is,
Then mark how read more

When I behold what pleasure is Pursuit,
What life, what glorious eagerness it is,
Then mark how full Possession falls from this,
How fairer seems the blossom than the fruit,--
I am perplext, and often stricken mute.
Wondering which attained the higher bliss,
The wing'd insect, or the chrysalis
It thrust aside with unreluctant foot.

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.

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.