"Health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of,--a blessing that money cannot buy."

The Complete Angler. Part i. Chap. 21.

"And upon all that are lovers of virtue, and dare trust in his Providence, and be quiet and go a-angling."

The Complete Angler. Part i. Chap. 21.

"But God, who is able to prevail, wrestled with him; marked him for his own."

Life of Donne.

"The great secretary of Nature,--Sir Francis Bacon."

Life of Herbert.

"Oh, the gallant fisher's life! It is the best of any; 'T is full of pleasure, void of strife, And 't is beloved by many."

The Angler. (John Chalkhill.)

"The glories of our blood and state Are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against fate; Death lays his icy hands on kings."

Contention of Ajax and Ulysses. Sc. 3.

"Only the actions of the just Smell sweet and blossom in the dust."

Contention of Ajax and Ulysses. Sc. 3.

"Death calls ye to the crowd of common men."

Cupid and Death.

"And pulpit, drum ecclesiastick, Was beat with fist instead of a stick."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 11.

"We grant, although he had much wit, He was very shy of using it."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 45.

"Beside, 't is known he could speak Greek As naturally as pigs squeak; That Latin was no more difficile Than to a blackbird 't is to whistle."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 51.

"He could distinguish and divide A hair 'twixt south and southwest side."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 67.

"For rhetoric, he could not ope His mouth, but out there flew a trope."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 81.

"For all a rhetorician's rules Teach nothing but to name his tools."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 89.

"A Babylonish dialect Which learned pedants much affect."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 93.

"For he by geometric scale Could take the size of pots of ale."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 121.

"And wisely tell what hour o' the day The clock does strike, by algebra."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 125.

"Whatever sceptic could inquire for, For every why he had a wherefore."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 131.

"Where entity and quiddity, The ghosts of defunct bodies, fly."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 145.

"He knew what 's what, and that 's as high As metaphysic wit can fly."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 149.

"Such as take lodgings in a head That 's to be let unfurnished."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 161.

"'T was Presbyterian true blue."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 191.

"And prove their doctrine orthodox, By apostolic blows and knocks."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 199.

"As if religion was intended For nothing else but to be mended."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 205.

"Compound for sins they are inclined to, By damning those they have no mind to."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 215.

"The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty, For want of fighting was grown rusty, And ate into itself, for lack Of somebody to hew and hack."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 359.

"For rhyme the rudder is of verses, With which, like ships, they steer their courses."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 463.

"He ne'er consider'd it, as loth To look a gift-horse in the mouth."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 490.

"And force them, though it was in spite Of Nature and their stars, to write."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 647.

"Quoth Hudibras, "I smell a rat! Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate.""

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 821.

"Or shear swine, all cry and no wool."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto i. Line 852.

"And bid the devil take the hin'most."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto ii. Line 633.

"With many a stiff thwack, many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto ii. Line 831.

"Like feather bed betwixt a wall And heavy brunt of cannon ball."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto ii. Line 872.

"Ay me! what perils do environ The man that meddles with cold iron!"

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1.

"Who thought he 'd won The field as certain as a gun."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 11.

"Nor do I know what is become Of him, more than the Pope of Rome."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 263.

"I 'll make the fur Fly 'bout the ears of the old cur."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 277.

"He had got a hurt O' the inside, of a deadlier sort."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 309.

"These reasons made his mouth to water."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 379.

"While the honour thou hast got Is spick and span new."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 398.

"With mortal crisis doth portend My days to appropinque an end."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 589.

"For those that run away and fly, Take place at least o' the enemy."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 609.

"I am not now in fortune's power: He that is down can fall no lower."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 877.

"Cheer'd up himself with ends of verse And sayings of philosophers."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1011.

"If he that in the field is slain Be in the bed of honour lain, He that is beaten may be said To lie in honour's truckle-bed."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1047.

"When pious frauds and holy shifts Are dispensations and gifts."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1145.

"Friend Ralph, thou hast Outrun the constable at last."

Hudibras. Part i. Canto iii. Line 1367.

"Some force whole regions, in despite O' geography, to change their site; Make former times shake hands with latter, And that which was before come after. But those that write in rhyme still make The one verse for the other's sake; For one for sense, and one for rhyme, I think 's sufficient at one time."

Hudibras. Part ii. Canto i. Line 23.

"Some have been beaten till they know What wood a cudgel 's of by th' blow; Some kick'd until they can feel whether A shoe be Spanish or neat's leather."

Hudibras. Part ii. Canto i. Line 221.