Lord Lytton

No life
Can be pure in its purpose or strong in its strife
And all life not read more

No life
Can be pure in its purpose or strong in its strife
And all life not be purer and stronger thereby.

Meanwhile, there is dancing in yonder green bower,
A swarm of young midges, they dance high and low;
read more

Meanwhile, there is dancing in yonder green bower,
A swarm of young midges, they dance high and low;
'Tis a sweet little species that lives but one hour,
And the eldest was born half an hour ago.

O hour, of all hours, the most blesse'd upon earth,
The bless'd hour of our dinners!

O hour, of all hours, the most blesse'd upon earth,
The bless'd hour of our dinners!

Alas! must it ever be so?
Do we stand in our own light, wherever we go,
And read more

Alas! must it ever be so?
Do we stand in our own light, wherever we go,
And fight our own shadows forever?

News, news, news, my gossiping friends,
I have wonderful news to tell,
A lady by me her read more

News, news, news, my gossiping friends,
I have wonderful news to tell,
A lady by me her compliments sends;
And this is the news from Hell!