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 Great contest follows, and much learned dust
 Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
  And truth disclaiming both.  
 Great contest follows, and much learned dust
 Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
  And truth disclaiming both. 
 Thus when a barber and collier fight,
 The barber beats the luckless collier--white;
  The dusty collier heaves read more 
 Thus when a barber and collier fight,
 The barber beats the luckless collier--white;
  The dusty collier heaves his ponderous sack,
   And, big with vengeance, beats the barber--black.
    In comes the brick-dust man, with grime o'er spread,
     And beats the collier and the barber--red;
      Black, red, and white, in various clouds are toss'd,
       And in the dust they raise the combatants are lost. 
 Contentions fierce,
 Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.  
 Contentions fierce,
 Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause. 
 In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
 [Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]  
 In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
 [Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.] 
 The chiefs contend only for their place of burial.
 [Lat., Ducibus tantum de funere pugna est.]  
 The chiefs contend only for their place of burial.
 [Lat., Ducibus tantum de funere pugna est.] 
 He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our 
skill. Our antagonist is our helper.  
 He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our 
skill. Our antagonist is our helper. 
 But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
 For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
  read more 
 But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
 For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
  From sharp contentions. 
 When individuals approach one another with deep purposes on both 
sides they seldom come at once to the matter read more 
 When individuals approach one another with deep purposes on both 
sides they seldom come at once to the matter which they have most 
at heart. They dread the electric shock of a too sudden contact 
with it. 
 Stir up the hornets.
 [Fr., Irriter les freslons.]  
 Stir up the hornets.
 [Fr., Irriter les freslons.]