The average man, if he meddles with criticism at all, is a conservative critic.

The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can; Not I: let God and man decree Laws for themselves and not for me.

But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts. And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts

These, in the day when heaven was falling, The hour when earth's foundations fled, Followed their mercenary calling And took their wages and are dead. The British regulars who made the retreat from Mons, beginning August 24, 1914.

We now to peace and darkness And earth and thee restore Thy creature that thou madest And wilt cast forth no more.

All knots that lovers tie Are tied to sever. Here shall your sweetheart lie, Untrue for ever.

Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out. Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure.