I die,--but first I have possess'd,
And come what may, I have been bless'd.

I die,--but first I have possess'd,
And come what may, I have been bless'd.

The proud daughter of that monarch to whom when it grows
[elsewhere] the sun never sets.
[Lat., Altera read more

The proud daughter of that monarch to whom when it grows
[elsewhere] the sun never sets.
[Lat., Altera figlia
Di quel monarea a cui
Ne anco, quando annotta, il Sol tramonta.]

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their read more

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their Dominions.

Providence has given to the French the empire of the land, to the
English that of the sea, to read more

Providence has given to the French the empire of the land, to the
English that of the sea, to the Germans that of--the air!

When I behold what pleasure is Pursuit,
What life, what glorious eagerness it is,
Then mark how read more

When I behold what pleasure is Pursuit,
What life, what glorious eagerness it is,
Then mark how full Possession falls from this,
How fairer seems the blossom than the fruit,--
I am perplext, and often stricken mute.
Wondering which attained the higher bliss,
The wing'd insect, or the chrysalis
It thrust aside with unreluctant foot.

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
read more

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
And a few Friends, and many Books both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too.
And since Love ne'er will from me flee,
A mistress moderately fair,
And good as Guardian angels are,
Only belov'd and loving me.

This is the truth as I see it, my dear,
Out in the wind and the rain:
read more

This is the truth as I see it, my dear,
Out in the wind and the rain:
They who have nothing have little to fear,
Nothing to lose or to gain.

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Possession means to sit astride the world
Instead of having it astride of you.

Possession means to sit astride the world
Instead of having it astride of you.