We had a kettle; we let it leak: / Our not repairing made it worse. / We haven't had any tea for a week... / The bottom is out of the Universe.

I am earth, overtaking all things except words. They alone escape me. Therefore, I lie heavy on their makers.

Hast thou given a peacock goodly wings, To please his foolishness? Sit down at the heart of men and things, Companion of the Press!

The American does not drink at meals a sensible man should. Indeed he has no meals. He stuffs for ten minutes rice a day.

Where, blue as any peacock's neck, the Tyrrhene Ocean shines, You'll go where laurel crowns are won, but--will you e'er forget.

I do not look for holy saints to guide me on my way, / Or male and female devilkins to lead my feet astray. / If these are added, I rejoice---if not, I shall not mind, / So long as I have leave and choice to meet my fellow-kind. / For as we come and as we go (and deadly-soon go we!) / The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

Five and twenty ponies, / Trotting through the dark— / Brandy for the Parson, / 'Baccy for the Clerk; / Laces for a lady, letters for a spy, / Watch the wall, my darling, while the / Gentlemen go by!

And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame; / And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame, / But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star, / Shall draw the thing as he sees It for God of Things as they are.

He wrapped himself in quotations as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors.

Our loves are not given but only lent, / At compound interest of cent percent. / Though it is not always the case, I believe, / That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve: / For, when debts are payable, right or wrong, / A short-time loan is as bad as along.