And malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man.

Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies, But keep your fancy free.

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.

Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrist? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

Here dead lie we because we did not choose to live and shame the land from which we sprung. Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose; but young men think it is, and we were young.

I do not choose the right word, I get rid of the wrong one.

Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.