An Essay on the Archaeology of Our Popular Phrases, and Nursery Rhymes, Volume 2

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Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Company, 1837 - English language
 

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Popular passages

Page 170 - For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood ; If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music...
Page 223 - FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, And all her jealous monarchs with amaze, And rumours loud that daunt remotest kings ; Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings Victory home, though new rebellions raise Their Hydra heads, and the false North displays Her broken league to imp their serpent wings. O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand (For what can war, but endless war still breed...
Page 145 - But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of...
Page 140 - First, Moloch, horrid King, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire To his grim idol.
Page 67 - Lo here, of payens corsed olde rites, Lo here, what alle hire goddes may availle; Lo here, thise wrecched worldes appetites; Lo here, the fyn and guerdoun for travaille Of Jove, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille! Lo here, the forme of olde clerkis speche In poetrie, if ye hire bokes seche.
Page 34 - Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, Puts the wretch that lies in woe In remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night That the graves all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way paths to glide. And we fairies, that do run By the triple Hecate's team, From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, Now are frolic.
Page 132 - A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears. See how yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark in thine ear: change places and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?
Page 290 - I," said the Sparrow, "With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin." Who saw him die? "I," said the Fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die.
Page 112 - When nature cannot work, the effect of art is void : For physic can but mend our crazy state, Patch an old building, not a new create.
Page 75 - Tis not for nothing that we life pursue ; It pays our hopes with something still that's new : Each day's a mistress, unenjoyed before ; Like travellers, we're pleased with seeing more. Did you but know what joys your way attend, You would not hurry to your journey's end.

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