Though with those streams he no resemblance hold, Whose foam is amber and their gravel gold; His genuine and less guilty wealth t explore, Search not his bottom, but survey his shore.
Oh, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; Strong without rage; without oerflowing, full.
Coopers Hill. Line 189.
Note 1. Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what neer was, nor is, nor eer shall be. Alexander Pope: Essay on Criticism, part ii. line 53.
There s no such thing in Nature, and you ll draw A faultless monster which the world neer saw. Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire: Essay on Poetry. [back]
Note 2. That puts it not unto the touch To win or lose it all. Sir W. F. P. Napier: Montrose and the Covenanters, vol. ii. p. 566. [back]
Note 3. I ll make thee famous by my pen, And glorious by my sword. Sir Walter Scott: Legend of Montrose, chap. xv. [back]