A garland of quotations LXXII

Culled from the finest couplets in literary history, and re-woven every Wednesday

Nice contradiction between fact and fact
Will make the whole read human and exact.
•Robert Graves, “The Devil’s Advice to Story-Tellers” (1938).

And weel I wot, I heard a shepherd sing
That, like a bee, Love hath a little sting.
•Robert Greene, The Scottish History of James the Fourth (c. 1590).

To sene hir part, and folowe I na myght.
Me thought the day was turnyt into nyght.
•James I, The Kingis Quair (1424).

Lust would more common be then any one,
Could it, as other sins, be done alone.
•Thomas Overbury, “A Wife” (1613).

When a Man has married a Wife he finds out whether
Her knees & elbows are only glued together.
•William Blake, notebook (C18?).

His own chance no man knoweth,
But as Fortune it on him throweth.
•John Gower, Confessio Amantis (1390-93).

He knew what’s what, and that’s as high
As metaphysic wit can fly.
•Butler, Hudibras I (1663).

And tombfuls of historic dead
Care not how late I lie abed.
•Ogden Nash, “How to Get Along with Yourself” (1953).

A fox will meet his nemesis
However smart he claims he is!
•Marie de France Fables (c. 1160-1190?).

human wandering through the zoo
what do your cousins think of you
•Don Marquis, archy & mehitabel (1927).

The party is over, it has been for years:
Let’s use the water to wash up, not for tears.
•Men without Hats, “Not for Tears/I Sing Last” (1984).

References: Overbury: Sir Thomas Ouerburie his wife with new elegies vpon his (now knowne) vntimely death: whereunto are annexed, new newes and characters written by himselfe and other learned gentlemen (Griffin, 1616); Blake: David V. Erdman, ed., The Poetry and Prose of William Blake (Doubleday & Co., 1970); Nash: The Private Dining Room (Little, Brown, 1953); Marie: trans. Harriet Spiegel (U Toronto P, 1994); Hats: Folk of the 80s (Part III) (1984); some of this material is copyrighted, and I plead only fair use.