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Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]
Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]
Steal!--to be sure they may; and egad, serve your best thoughts
as gypsies do stolen children, disfigure them to read more
Steal!--to be sure they may; and egad, serve your best thoughts
as gypsies do stolen children, disfigure them to make 'em pass
for their own.
Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that read more
Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that convict you of theft? Why
do you attempt to associate foxes with lions, and make owls pass
for eagles? Though you had one of Ladas's legs, you would not be
able, blockhead, to run with the other leg of wood.
The bees pillage the flowers here and there but they make honey
of them which is all their own; read more
The bees pillage the flowers here and there but they make honey
of them which is all their own; it is no longer thyme or
marjolaine: so the pieces borrowed from others he will transform
and mix up into a work all his own.
[Fr., Les abeilles pillotent deca dela les fleurs; mais elles en
font aprez le miel, qui est tout leur; ce n'est plus thym, ny
marjolaine: ainsi les pieces empruntees d'aultruy, il les
transformera et confondra pour en faire un ouvrage tout sien.]
He that readeth good writers and pickes out their flowres for his
own nose, is lyke a foole.
He that readeth good writers and pickes out their flowres for his
own nose, is lyke a foole.
When 'Omer smote 'is bloomin' lyre,
He'd 'eard men sing by land an' sea;
An' what he read more
When 'Omer smote 'is bloomin' lyre,
He'd 'eard men sing by land an' sea;
An' what he thought 'e might require,
'E went an' took--the same as me.
It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature, that
a man, having once shown himself read more
It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature, that
a man, having once shown himself capable of original writing, is
entitled thenceforth to steal from the writings of others at
discretion.
Who, to patch up his fame--or fill his purse--
Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse;
read more
Who, to patch up his fame--or fill his purse--
Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse;
Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat be known,
Defacing first, then claiming for his own.
Fine words! I wonder where you stole 'em.
[Lat., Libertas et natale solum.]
Fine words! I wonder where you stole 'em.
[Lat., Libertas et natale solum.]
