Familiar Quotations Part 52

_English Padlock_.

Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind.

_Henry and Emma_.

That air and harmony of shape express, Fine by degrees, and beautifully less.

_The Thief and the Cordelier_.

Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took leave; but was loth to depart.

_Epilogue to Lucius_.

And the gray mare will prove the better horse.[8]

[Note 8: See Hudibras, Part ii. Canto ii. line 698. Mr. Macaulay thinks that this proverb originated in the preference generally given to the gray mares of Flanders over the finest coach-horses of England.--History of England, Vol. I. Ch. 3.]

_Imitations of Horace_.

Of two evils I have chose the least.

_Epitaph on Himself_.

Here lies what once was Matthew Prior; The son of Adam and of Eve: Can Bourbon or Na.s.sau claim higher?

_Ode in Imitation of Horace_. B. iii. Od. 2.

And virtue is her own reward.

COLLEY CIBBER.

1671-1757.

_Richard III_.

Act iv. Sc. 3.

Off with his head! so much for Buckingham!

Act v. Sc. 3.

Richard is himself again!

JOSEPH ADDISON.

1672-1719.

CATO.

Act i. Sc. 1.

The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day, The great, th' important day, big with the fate Of Cato, and of Home.

Act i. Sc. 1.

Thy steady temper, Portius, Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Caesar, In the calm lights of mild philosophy.

Act i. Sc. 1.

'Tis not in mortals to command success, But we'll do more, Semp.r.o.nius: we'll deserve it.

Act i. Sc. 1.

'Tis pride, rank pride, and haughtiness of soul; I think the Romans call it Stoicism.