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From The Manaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 - 1931)

1890-05-03 |

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A Literary Cariosity. ! The foltowiug

very remarkable little poem is from the

pen of H. A. Deining. Tbe reader will

see that each Hoe is a quotation from

one of the standard authors of England

and America. This is the result of years

of laborious search among the voluminous

writings of thirty-eight leading poets

of the past and present. The number of

each line refers to tlie author below ;

1. 'Why all this toil for triumphs of

an hour ? 2. Life's a short summer,

man's a flower. 3. By turns we catch the

vital breath and die ; ? 4. The cradle

and the tomb, alas ! ho nigh. 6. To be

is better far than not to be, 6. Though

all men's lives may seem a tragedy; 7.

But light cares speak when mighty griefs

are dumb, 8. The bottom is but shallow

whence they come. . 9. Your fiite is but

the common fate of all ; 10. Unmingled

joys here no man can befall. 11. Nature

to each allots its proper sphere ; - 12.

Fortune makes folly ita peculiar care.

13. Custom does n«t often reason

overrule, 14. And throw a cruel sunshine

on a fool. 16. Live well, how long or

ehort permit to - Heaven : 16. They who

forgive most will be most forgiven. 17.

Sin may be clasped so close we cannot

Bee its face,* 18. Tile intercourse,

where virtue has no place. 19. Then keep

eaoh passiou down, however 30. Thou

pendulum hetwixt a smile and. tear. 21.

Her sensual snares let sensual pleasure

lay, 22. With craft and skill to ruin

and betray, 23. Soar not to high to

fall, but stoop to rise, 24. We masters

grow of what we despise. 25. Ob, then

renounce that impkus selfesteem ;2G. 2G.

Riches have wings, and grandeur is a

dream. 27. Think not ambition wise

because 'tis brave ; 28. The pathR of

glory Jeaa but to the grave. 29. What is

ambition? 'Tis a glorious cheat 30.

Only destruction to the brave and great.

3l* SLhat'B aU tho 8tt«dy glitter of a

crown? 32. The way of bliss lies not on

beds of down; 33. How long we live not

years but actions 34. That man lives

twice who lives the first life well. 35.

Make then, while yet ye may, your God

your friend, 30. Whom Christian worship,

yet not comprehend. 37. The trust

that's given guard, and to yourself be

just, 38. For live we how we can, die we

must. 1, Young; 2, Dr. Johnson; 3, Pope

; 4, Prior ; 5, Sewell ; 6, Spencer ; 7,

Daniel; 8, Sir Walter Scott; 9,

Longfellow ; 10, Southwell ; 11,

Congrcve ; 12, Churchill ; 13, Kochester

; 14, Armstrong; 16, Milton; 16, Bailey;

17, Trench; 18, Somerville; 19, Thomson;

20, Byron; 21, Smollett22, Crabbe ; 28,

Massinger ; 24, Cowley; 25, lieattie;

26, Cowper; 27, Sir Walter Davenant ;

28, Gray ; 29, Willis ; 80, Addinon ;

81, Dryden j 82, Francis CUarles; S3,

Watkins, 34, Herrick ; 85, William Mason

; 36, Pitt ; 87, Dana ; 38, Shakespeare.