Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life!
The evening beam that smiles the clouds away,
read more

Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life!
The evening beam that smiles the clouds away,
And tints to-morrow with prophetic ray!

There is a history in all men's lives,
Figuring the nature of the times deceased,
The which read more

There is a history in all men's lives,
Figuring the nature of the times deceased,
The which observed, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to life, which in their seeds
And weak beginnings lie intreasured.

A tunnel underneath the sea from Calais straight to Dover, Sir,
The squeamish folks may cross by land from read more

A tunnel underneath the sea from Calais straight to Dover, Sir,
The squeamish folks may cross by land from shore to shore,
With sluices made to drown the French, if e'er they would come
over, Sir,
Has long been talk'd of, till at length 'tis thought a monstrous
bore.

Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word;
And in its hollow tones are heard
The thanks of read more

Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word;
And in its hollow tones are heard
The thanks of millions yet to be.

My gran'ther's rule was safer 'n 't is to crow:
Don't never prophesy--onless ye know.

My gran'ther's rule was safer 'n 't is to crow:
Don't never prophesy--onless ye know.

I shall always consider the best guesser the best prophet.
[Lat., Bene qui conjiciet, vatem hunc perhibebo optimum.]

I shall always consider the best guesser the best prophet.
[Lat., Bene qui conjiciet, vatem hunc perhibebo optimum.]

Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.

Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.

Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for
ever?

Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for
ever?

Of all the horrid, hideous notes of woe,
Sadder than owl-songs or the midnight blast;
Is that read more

Of all the horrid, hideous notes of woe,
Sadder than owl-songs or the midnight blast;
Is that portentous phrase, "I told you so."