Alexander Pope ( 10 of 261 )
What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards.
What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
Alas! not all the blood, of all the Howards.
Satire or sense, alas! Can Sporus feel?
Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?
Satire or sense, alas! Can Sporus feel?
Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?
We are ashamed of everything that is real about us; ashamed of
ourselves, of our relatives, of our incomes, read more
We are ashamed of everything that is real about us; ashamed of
ourselves, of our relatives, of our incomes, of our accents, of
our opinions, of our experience, just as we are ashamed of our
naked skins.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Round broken columns clasping ivy twin'd.
Round broken columns clasping ivy twin'd.
But honest instinct comes a volunteer;
Sure never to o'er-shoot, but just to hit,
While still too read more
But honest instinct comes a volunteer;
Sure never to o'er-shoot, but just to hit,
While still too wide or short in human wit.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side.
Not half so swift the trembling doves can fly,
When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid sky;
read more
Not half so swift the trembling doves can fly,
When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid sky;
Not half so swiftly the fierce eagle moves,
When thro' the clouds he drives the trembling doves.
At length corruption, like a general flood
(So long by watchful ministers withstood),
Shall deluge all; and read more
At length corruption, like a general flood
(So long by watchful ministers withstood),
Shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on,
Spread like a low-born mist, and blot the sun.
Fine by defect, and delicately weak.
Fine by defect, and delicately weak.
