Charles Churchill
Charles Churchill
country faults england
Be England what she will, With all her faults she is my country still.
stars fate tea
England a fortune-telling host, As num'rous as the stars, could boast; Matrons, who toss the cup, and see The grounds of Fate in grounds of tea....
pride proud way
The proud will sooner lose than ask their way.
spring humor hands
Great use they have, when in the hands Of one like me, who understands, Who understands the time and place, The person, manner, and the grace, Which fools neglect; so that we find, If all the requisites are join'd, From whence a perfect joke must spring, A joke's a very serious thing.
It can't be Nature, for it is not sense.
excess best-things
The best things carried to excess are wrong.
lying acting crime
The danger chiefly lies in acting well; no crime's so great as daring to excel.
truth dumb letters
Truth! why shall every wretch of letters Dare to speak truth against his betters! Let ragged virtue stand aloof, Nor mutter accents of reproof; Let ragged wit a mute become, When wealth and power would have her dumb.
school race criticism
A servile race Who, in mere want of fault, all merit place; Who blind obedience pay to ancient schools, Bigots to Greece, and slaves to musty rules.
blow wind wave
Wherever waves can roll, and winds can blow.
law lawyer suspects
The laws I love; the lawyers I suspect.
doubt might sacred
This a sacred rule we find Among the nicest of mankind, (Which never might exception brook From Hobbes even down to Bolingbroke,) To doubt of facts, however true, Unless they know the causes too.
mirth reputation slander
Quick-circulating slanders mirth afford; and reputation bleeds in every word.
lying eye play
The stage I chose--a subject fair and free-- 'Tis yours--'tis mine--'tis public property. All common exhibitions open lie, For praise or censure, to the common eye. Hence are a thousand hackney writers fed; Hence monthly critics earn their daily bread. This is a general tax which all must pay, From those who scribble, down to those who play.