Great literature should do some good to the reader: must quicken his perception though dull, and sharpen his discrimination though blunt, and mellow the rawness of his personal opinions.

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

Stone, steel, dominions pass, Faith too, no wonder; So leave alone the grass That I am under.

Ten thousand times I've done my best and all's to do again.

To justify God's ways to man.

Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose, But young men think it is, and we were young.

When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, `Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies But keep your fancy free.' But I was one-and-twenty No use to talk to me. When I was one-and-twenty I heard him say again, `The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; 'Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue.' And I am two-and-twenty And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.