Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

* scans *** was the motto of Montaigne,
Ae us of the first academicians:
T'es be dubious which man may attain,
10 at one of their most favourite positions.
Themes erh thing as certainty, that's plain
At any of Mortality's conditions;

it we know what we're about in

Like Moses, it
Done mitang

And though

Following the ent

Have days di Vay in they ail me Duy late me, not im

Dis time we should g

puem

For maintain that it is Nor only in the body, but

However little both are Just now-but by and by the

Herself in her sublimesta And till she doth, I fain st To share her beauty and her

Our hero (and, I trust, kind Was left upon his way to the

1 world. I doubt if doubt itself be doubting. Of the immortal Peter's prishd

XVIII.

It feasant voyage, perhaps, to float,
Like Perfio, & on a sea of speculation:
Per what if carrying sail capsize the boat?

Ayd uimming long in the abyss of thought
wi men don't know much of navigation;
twith the shore, where one stoops down and
Is apt ne a calm and shallow station

Som picity shell, is best for moderate bathers.

XIX.

But Cassio says, 'is above all

[ocr errors]

te sve Eve's slip and Adam's fall,

Not a barbarian, but much worse
For me, I deem an absolute authorst
Much flattery-even Voltaire's

Who still have shown themselve than witty.

I know its mighty empire now all

And I will war, at least in words (
My chance so happen-deeds!

war

With Thought; and of Thought's for

most rude,

When Amblest all mankind into the grave, To this my plain, sworn downright detestu Hast dus, then-let us pray.' We have I know not who may conquer: If I coul Tyrants and sycophants have been and a Have such a prescience, it should be pr Of every despotism in every nation.

The of this, who doubled everything.]

Hamlet

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Than the eternal deluge which devours [hours? Besides fish, beasts, and birds. The sparrow's Suns as rays-worlds like atoms-years like fall

XIV.

To be, or not to be? that is the question,' Says Shakspeare, who just now is much in fashion.

I'm neither Alexander nor Hephaestion,

Nor ever had for abstract fame much passion; But would much rather have a sound digestion, Than Buonaparte's cancer :-could I dash on Through fifty victories to shame or fame, Without a stomach-what were a good name?

XV.

'Oh! dura ilia messorum!' *- 'Oh!

Ye rigid guts of reapers!' I translate For the great benefit of those who know

What indigestion is-that inward fate [flow. Which makes all Styx through one small liver A peasant's sweat is worth his lord's estate: Let this one toil for bread-that rack for rent, He who sleeps best may be the most content.

XVI.

'To be, or not to be?'-Ere I decide,

I should be glad to know that which is being? 'Tis true we speculate both far and wide,

And deem, because we see, we are all seeing: For my part, I'll enlist on neither side,

Until I see both sides for once agreeing. For me, I sometimes think that life is death, Rather than life a mere affair of breath.

XVII.

'Que sçais-je ?' was the motto of Montaigne,
As also of the first academicians:
That all is dubious which man may attain,
Was one of their most favourite positions.
There's no such thing as certainty, that's plain
As any of Mortality's conditions;

So little do we know what we're about in
This world, I doubt if doubt itself be doubting.

XVIII.

It is a pleasant voyage, perhaps, to float,
Like Pyrrho, † on a sea of speculation :
But what if carrying sail capsize the boat?
Your wise men don't know much of navigation;
And swimming long in the abyss of thought

Is apt to tire: calm and shallow station Well-nigh the shore, where one stoops down and gathers

Some pretty shell, is best for moderate bathers.

XIX.

'But heaven,' as Cassio says, 'is above all

No more of this, then-let us pray. We have Souls to save, since Eve's slip and Adam's fall, Which tumbled all mankind into the grave,

• Horace.

The philosopher of Elis, who doubled everything.] I See Othello

Is special providence,' though how it gave Offence, we know not; probably it perch'd Upon the tree which Eve so fondly search'd.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »