1. Or who would ever care to do brave deed, None would choose goodness of his own free will. 2. That, sir, which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm. 3. He would not flatter Neptune for his trident; Or Jove for his power to thunder. 4. You play the spaniel, SPENSER. SHAKSPEARE. SHAKSPEARE. And think with wagging of your tongue to win me. 5. Of all wild beasts, preserve me from a tyrant ; And of all tame-a flatterer. SHAKSPEARE. BEN JONSON. 6. The firmest purpose of a woman's heart To well-tim'd, artful flattery may yield. LILLO. 7. 'Tis an old maxim in the schools, That flattery's the food of fools, Yet, now and then, your men of wit SWIFT. By nature great, are conscious of their greatness, 9. My soul is open to the charms of praise: There is no joy beyond it, when the mind ROWE. WHITEHEAD's Roman Father. 10. In praising Chloris, moon, and.stars, and skies, Are quickly made to match her face and eyes; And gold and rubies, with as little care, To fit the colour of her lips and hair; And mixing suns, and flowers, and pearls and stones, 11. For praise, that 's due, does give no more Requires a mastery of art, That sets a glass on what 's amiss, And says what should be, not what is. 12. The love of praise, howe'er conceal'd by art, BUTLER. BUTLER. YOUNG'S Love of Fame. 13. Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came, And the puff of a dunce, he mistook it for fame; Till, his relish grown callous almost to disease, Who pepper'd the highest, was surest to please. GOLDSMITH'S Retaliation. 14. A flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are. GOLDSMITH'S Retaliation. 276 FLATTERY-SYCOPHANT – PRAISE. 15. To hear his soothing tales, she feigns delays; What woman can resist the force of praise? 16. Methinks you 're over-nice : True; flattery is a shocking vice; 17. Long, open panegyric drags at best, And praise is only praise when well addrest. GAY'S Trivia. GAY's Fables. 18. But flattery never seems absurd; GAY'S Epistles. The flatter'd always takes your word. They take the strongest praise on trust; 19. The villain's censure is extorted praise. GAY'S Fables. 20. Praise of the wise and good!—it is a meed POPE. SIR E. BRYDGES. 21. Oh! it is worse than mockery to list the flatt'rer's tone, To lend a ready ear to thoughts the cheek must blush to own, To hear the red lip whisper'd of, and the flowing curl, and eye, Made constant theme of eulogy extravagant and high- not To the perfect charm of virtue, and the majesty of thought. 22. Oh! when the breath of flattery is warm upon thine ear, And manly brows are bending in humble suppliance near, May no dream of tenderness arise, which earth may not fulfil, And no fountain open in thy heart, which Time hath power to chill! J. G. WHITTIER. FLOWERS-FRUITS. 1. Sweet garland wreaths Of pansies, pinks, and gaudy daffodils. MILTON'S Comus. 2. Where peaches glow with sunny dyes, GAY's Fables. 3. Here, scatter'd wild, the lily of the vale 4. Where opening roses breathing sweets diffuse, 5. She looks as clear As morning roses, newly wash'd in dew. THOMSON. POPE. SHAKSPEARE. SOMERVILE'S Chase. 6. The fragrant orange, with bright golden rind. Which bears at once the cup, and milk, and fruit. 9. The little flow'rets raise their heads, And bloom as gaily on the grave, As if reposing on such beds As Nature to her children gave. 10. A violet by a mossy stone, 11. Half hidden from the eye, Fair as a star, when only one BYRON'S Island. Richmond Republican. Like sweet thoughts that come 12. In Eastern lands they talk in flowers, WORDSWORTH. BARRY CORNWALL. And they tell in a garland their loves and cares; On its leaves a mystic language bears. J. G. PERCIVAL. 13. The evergreen stern Winter's power derides, Like hope, that in misfortune's storm abides. 14. Yes, lovely flower, I find in thee Wild sweetness which no words express, That dwell not in the pride of dress. LANGHORNE. |