What use of oaths, of promise, or of test, where men regard no God but interest? Edmund Waller More Quotes by Edmund Waller More Quotes From Edmund Waller Vexed sailors cursed the rain, for which poor shepherds prayed in vain. Edmund Waller shepherds sailor rain The lark that shuns on lofty boughs to build, Her humble nest, lies silent in the field. Edmund Waller larks humble lying Tea does our fancy aid, Repress those vapours which the head invade And keeps that palace of the soul serene. Edmund Waller soul doe tea Illustrious acts high raptures do infuse, And every conqueror creates a muse. Edmund Waller conqueror rapture muse Poets lose half the praise they should have got, Could it be known what they discreetly blot. Edmund Waller improvement half should-have All things but one you can restore; the heart you get returns no more. Edmund Waller return all-things heart Stronger by weakness, wiser men become. Edmund Waller stronger weakness men Fade, flowers, fade! Nature will have it so; 'tis but what we in our autumn do. Edmund Waller fades autumn flower When religion doth with virtue join, it makes a hero like an angel shine. Edmund Waller angel shining hero To love is to believe, to hope, to know; Edmund Waller love-is life believe In other things the knowing artist may Judge better than the people; but a play, (Made for delight, and for no other use) If you approve it not, has no excuse. Edmund Waller knowing artist play If its length be not considered a merit, it hath no other. Edmund Waller merit entertainment art All human things Of dearest value hang on slender strings. Edmund Waller slender strings humans Give us enough but with a sparing hand. Edmund Waller enough giving hands So must the writer, whose productions should Take with the vulgar, be of vulgar mould. Edmund Waller mould vulgar should His love at once and dread instruct our thought; As man He suffer'd and as God He taught. Edmund Waller suffering fear men Soft words, with nothing in them, make a song. Edmund Waller song While we converse with her, we mark Edmund Waller dark want thinking Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. Where love presides, not vice alone does find, No entrance there, hut virtues stay behind: Both faith, and hope, and all the meaner train, Of mortal virtues, at the door remain. Love only enters as a native there, For born in heav'n, it does but sojourn here. Edmund Waller angel practice doors Poets may boast (as safely-vain) Their work shall with the world remain: Both bound together, live, or die, The verses and the prophecy. But who can hope his lines shou'd long Last, in a daily changing tongue? While they are new, envy prevails, And as that dies, our language fails. Edmund Waller envy together long
