A LITERARY CURIOSITY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2200, 14 August 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LITERARY CURIOSITY.

The following remarkable little poem is a contribution to the ' San Francisco Times, from the pen of Mr H. A. Deding; > »Theredder will see that'each line is a quotation from some one of the standard authors of England and America. This' is the Result of years' of laborious search among the voluminous Writings of 38 leading poets of the past and present. The number of Oach line refers to its author below, 1. Why all this toil ttr'.tfiuirfphfa of an 1 ' hour?' . ?1 w • : 2- Life's a- short Summer, man's 1 a 1 " flower. 3. By tufnb^e watch the vital breath and die. 4. The 'cradle and, the J tomb, alas ! so nigb. ' '>! 5. To be is better fair t^nan not to be. 6. Though all lien's lives, may seem a tragedy. '' • ' ' j ( 7. But light cares s.peak' when mighty griefs are dumb. , , 8. The bott6m is but shallow whence ' they come. ' '! 9. Your fate is but the'commdn fate- of ' all. ' ' 10. tJumfngled joys here no man can " 'befall.. ' IT. Nature to each allots its sphere. \2. Fortune makes folly her particular " care. , 13. Custom does often/reason ove rule. 14. And throws a cruel sunshine On a 4< fooi. ( , ; ( 15. Live well; how long are short;permit to heaven. 16. They who forgive most) shall be most fprgiven. " 17- Sin may be elapsed so close we cannot see its face. 18. Vile intercourse where virtue has no place.. 19. Then 'keep each passion down, however dea", 20. Thou pendulum betwixt a smile and tear, 2j. Her sensual spares let faithless pleasure v lay. , , 22. With' craft and skill fo.ruin and betray. 23. Soar' not too high to fall, but stop ,to rise.. 24. We masters grpw of all that we ' despise ;' ' 20. Oh, then, renounce that impious self-esteem !" 2(3. Riches have wings and grandeur is a dvcam. 27. Think not ambition wise because 'tis brave. 25. The paths of glory lead but to the ' Wave. , 29. "What is ambition ? ' T^s a glorious cheat— % ' 30. Only destructive to the brave and •'' great. / : 31. What's all the gaudy glifter of' a crown? 32. The way of bliss lies nob on beds of down. 33. How ' lo'npr we live not years but ' actiqns tell. 34. That man live 3 twice who lives the first life welt. 35. Make then, while, yet you may, your God your friend. 36. Whom Christians worship, yet not comprehend. 37. The trust that'sgiven guard, and to yourself be just. 3S. For live we how we can, die we ntust. 1, Young 1 2, Dr Johnson 3, Pope; 4, Prior; o, fee well ; 6, Spencer; 7, Daniel ; S, Sir Walter Scpjtf ;9, Longfellow ; 10, Southwell ; 11, Cong'reve ; 12, Churchill- \ 3. Bpcliester ;' 14 Armstrong ; 15, Milton'; 16, Bailey; 17, Trench ; 1,8, Spmerville ; 19, Thompson ; j 20, Byron ; 21. Smollet ; 22., Crabbc ; 23, \ Masseuger ; 24, Cow,ley \ 25,, Beattie ; 26, Cowper ; 27,' Sir Walter Dev^nant ; 2S; Gray ;' 29,' Willis,; 30, Addisph.; 31, Di-yden ; 32,' Francis Charles ; 33, Watkins f 34, Herrick ; 35, William .Mason ; 36,' Pill ; 37, Dana ; 38, Shakespeare.