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Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.

Wooden Walls

The Delphic oracle commanded Athens to defend herself behind wooden walls. She did so, and Themistocles obtained a complete and brilliant victory over the Persians.
Rollin.—Ancient History, Preface, Page xix. (Plutarch in Demosthenes, Page 854.)

About our isle he builds a wall.
Waller.—Of Lady Mary, Princess of Orange.

A wall! like that which Athens had,
By th’ oracle’s advice, of wood.
Waller.—Of Lady Mary, Princess of Orange, last Verse.

There’s not a ship that sails the ocean,
But every climate every soil,
Must bring its tribute great or small
And help to build the wooden wall.
Longfellow.—By the Seaside; the building of the ship.