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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 719

 
 
Charles Mackay. (1814–1889) (continued)
 
7184
    The king can drink the best of wine—
      So can I;
And has enough when he would dine—
      So have I;
And can not order rain or shine—
      Nor can I.
Then where’s the difference—let me see—
Betwixt my lord the king and me?
          Differences.
7185
    If happy I and wretched he,
Perhaps the king would change with me.
          Differences.
 
Ellen Sturgis Hooper. (1816–1841)
 
7186
    I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty. 1 
Was thy dream then a shadowy lie?
Toil on, poor heart, unceasingly;
And thou shalt find thy dream to be
A truth and noonday light to thee.
          Life a Duty.
 
John Godfrey Saxe. (1816–1887)
 
7187
    I’m growing fonder of my staff;
  I’m growing dimmer in the eyes;
I’m growing fainter in my laugh;
  I’m growing deeper in my sighs;
I’m growing careless of my dress;
  I’m growing frugal of my gold;
I’m growing wise; I’m growing—yes,—
  I’m growing old!
          I’m growin old.
 
Note 1.
William Maccall (c. 1830):
Straight is the line of Duty,
Curved is the line of Beauty,
Follow the straight line, thou hall see
The curved line ever follow thee. [back]