Familiar Quotations Part 63

--1673.

_Adventures of Five Hours_. Act v. Sc. 3.

He is a fool who thinks by force or skill To turn the current of a woman's will.

AARON HILL 1685-1750.

_Epilogue to Zara_.

First, then, a woman will, or won't--depend on 't; If she will do 't, she will; and there's an end on 't.

But, if she won't, since safe and sound your trust is, Fear is affront: and jealousy injustice.[17]

_Verses Written on a Window in Scotland_.

Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains.

[Note 17: The following lines are copied from the pillar erected on the mount in the Dane John Field, Canterbury: "Where is the man who has the power and skill To stem the torrent of a woman's will?

For if she will, she will, you may depend on 't; And if she won't, she won't; so there's an end on't."]

'Tis the same with common natures: Use 'em kindly, they rebel; But be rough as nutmeg-graters, And the rogues obey you well.

RICHARD SAVAGE.

1698-1743.

_The b.a.s.t.a.r.d_. Line 7.

He lives to build, not boast a generous race: No tenth transmitter of a foolish face.

JAMES THOMSON.

1700-1748.

THE SEASONS.

_Spring_. Line 283.

Base envy withers at another's joy, And hates that excellence it cannot reach.

Line 465.

But who can paint Like Nature? Can imagination boast, Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?

Line 1149.

Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,-- To teach the young idea how to shoot,--

Line 1158.

An elegant sufficiency, content, Retirement, rural quiet, friends.h.i.+p, books.

Ease and alternate labor, useful life, Progressive virtue, and approving Heaven!

_Summer_. Line 1188.

Sighed and looked unutterable things.

Line 1285.

A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate Of mighty monarchs.

Line 1346.

So stands the statue that enchants the world.

_Autumn_. Line 204.

Loveliness Needs not the foreign aid of ornament, But is when unadorned, adorned the most.