Page 216. John Bartlett, comp. 1919. Familiar Quotations, 10th ed.

John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 216

Samuel Butler. (1612–1680) (continued)

2416

And poets by their sufferings grow,— 1
As if there were no more to do,
To make a poet excellent,
But only want and discontent.

Fragments.

Note 1.
Most wretched men
Are cradled into poetry by wrong;
They learn in suffering what they teach in song.
Percy Bysshe Shelley: Julian and Maddalo. [back]