My tongue within my lips I rein:
For who talks much must talk in vain.

My tongue within my lips I rein:
For who talks much must talk in vain.

What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
With this abundance of superfluous breath?

What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
With this abundance of superfluous breath?

Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.

Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.

Persuasion tips his tongue whene'er he talks.

Persuasion tips his tongue whene'er he talks.

Talk with a man out at a window!--a proper saying!

Talk with a man out at a window!--a proper saying!

And the talk slid north, and the talk slid south
With the sliding puffs from the hookah-mouth;
read more

And the talk slid north, and the talk slid south
With the sliding puffs from the hookah-mouth;
Four things greater than all things are--
Women and Horses and Power and War.

Stop not, unthinking, every friend you meet
To spin your wordy fabric in the street;
While you read more

Stop not, unthinking, every friend you meet
To spin your wordy fabric in the street;
While you are emptying your colloquial pack,
The fiend Lumbago jumps upon his back.

No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk;
Then howsome'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things
I shall read more

No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk;
Then howsome'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things
I shall digest it.

Oft has it been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking spark.

Oft has it been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking spark.