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Frustration is one of the greatest things in art; satisfaction is nothing.

quote by Malcom Mclaren
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The Greatest

[Intro]
(The the, the the, the the, the the)
Don't throw no roses on my grave, boo
That's not a soldier, it's more like an angel
You got no where to run, no one to pray to
Jesus and Moses ain't comin' to save you
(The greatest, the the the greatest)
I flow like a butterfly, I sting like a hornet
They won't let me have it
Not even if no one else want it
And if I try to take it
They wanna break me down and strip me naked
They write a brand new rule and break it
They lie, they cheat, they steal, they fake it
But I'mma make it, Lord I can take it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Cut the drama boy, save it for your mama
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
I can't sweat it, know I got to get it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Without no doubt, my name will survive
(The greatest the the greatest man alive)
(The greatest man)
(The greatest, the the)
I'mma make it, Lord I can take it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Cut the drama boy, save it for your mama
I'm the (The gratest man alive)
I can't sweat it, I know I got to get it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Without no doubt, my name will survive
(The, the greatest man alive)
(The greatest, the the greatest man)
(The the, the greatest man alive)
(The, the the greatest, the the the greatest man)
(The greatest man alive)
I'mma make it, know that I can take it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Cut the drama boy, save it for your mama
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
I can't sweat it, I know I gotta get it
I'm the (The greatest man alive)
Without no doubt my name will survive
(The greatest man, the greatest man alive)
It only gets harder
It always seems so far away
The sky's getting darker
Another storm is on the way
(The the greatest, the the the greatest,the the)
Another storm is on the way

[...] Read more

song performed by Everlast
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The Greatest Sex

From beyond this bed of mine I see
Ceiling fans with you on top of me
And the window blinds are filled with rays of sun
And all you secret fantasies thy will be done (done)
And inside of your walls there will dwell a Capricorn
(that will feast your body all night)
If we keep this up then a love child will be born
All because
Of the greatest

[chorus]
The greatest you
The greatest me
We have found the greatest chemistry
The greatest touch
The greatest kiss
What came to be is the greatest wish
The greatest show
The greatest song
The greatest words
The greatest all night long
Baby your love stays constantly on my mind
This is the best sex I've ever had

I know twelve ways to make your love come down
And the secret places on you will be found
Like a voyage when the storm begins to roar
There's no telling what this night could have in store (in store)
Cause inside of your walls there will dwell a capricorn
(that will feast your body all night)
And if we keep this up then a love child will be born
All because
Of the greatest

[chorus]
The greatest you
The greatest me
We have found the greatest chemistry
The greatest touch
The greatest kiss
What came to be is the greatest wish
The greatest show
The greatest song
The greatest words
The greatest all night long
Baby your love stays constantly on my mind
This is the best sex I've ever had
[repeat 3x]

Something that happened out the day for the sake of our love

[...] Read more

song performed by R. Kelly from TP-2.COM
Added by Lucian Velea
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Greatest Sex

From beyond this bed of mine I see
Ceiling fans with you on top of me
And the window blinds are filled with rays of sun
And all you secret fantasies thy will be done done
And inside of your walls there will dwell a capricorn
That will feast your body all night
If we keep this up then a love child will be born
All because
Of the greatest
Chorus
The greatest you
The greatest me
We have found the greatest chemistry
The greatest touch
The greatest kiss
What came to be is the greatest wish
The greatest show
The greatest song
The greatest words
The greatest all night long
Baby your love stays constantly on my mind
This is the best sex Ive ever had
I know twelve ways to make your love come down
And the secret places on you will be found
Like a voyage when the storm begins to roar
Theres no telling what this night could have in store in store
Cause inside of your walls there will dwell a capricorn
That will feast your body all night
And if we keep this up then a love child will be born
All because
Of the greatest
Chorus
The greatest you
The greatest me
We have found the greatest chemistry
The greatest touch
The greatest kiss
What came to be is the greatest wish
The greatest show
The greatest song
The greatest words
The greatest all night long
Baby your love stays constantly on my mind
This is the best sex Ive ever had
Repeat 3x
Something that happened out the day for the sake of our love
Like a hand and glove we go together this love is forever oooh
This sex is so good Ive got to break it down

song performed by R. Kelly
Added by Lucian Velea
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The greatest sin

Having supremely spell binding eyes was simply not a sin at all; but
pretending that you were gruesomely blind; unable to see a step
further even after possessing them right since innocent childhood;
was the greatest sin,

Having robust complexioned feet was simply not a sin at all; but
pretending that you couldn't walk even an inch forward; had not the
slightest of capacity to run even after possessing them right since
innocent childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having tenaciously knotted fingers projecting from the palm was
simply not a sin at all; but pretending that you had grave difficulty
in hoisting objects; didn't posses the most minuscule of power to
defend yourself even after possessing them right since innocent
childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having dangling earlobes delectably cascading from the periphery of
your rubicund cheek was simply not a sin at all; but pretending that
you couldn't bear the tiniest of sound; floundered miserably to
decipher the intricacy of voice even after possessing them right
since innocent childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having a perfectly throbbing heart palpitating in marvellous
synchrony inside your chest was simply not a sin at all; but
pretending that you just didn't have the power to love; the virtue to
embrace other humans of your kind even after possessing it right
since innocent childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having dual pairs of luscious lips was simply not a sin at all; but
pretending that you couldn't speak a single word; abysmally stuttered
to convey the most infinitesimal of message to your compatriots even
after possessing them right since innocent childhood; was the
greatest sin,

Having ravishing clusters of hair on your scalp was simply not a sin
at all; but pretending that God had kept you disdainfully bald; that
your head shivered uncontrollably in cold even after possessing them
right since innocent childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having boundless lines on your glowing palm was simply not a sin at
all; but pretending that your entire life was ruined; your progress
had come to an abrupt standstill even after possessing them right
since innocent childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having pompously bulging muscle in your arms was simply not a sin at
all; but pretending that you were as feeble as a mosquito; couldn't
lift your very own body even after having them right since innocent
childhood; was the greatest sin,

Having thousands of voluptuously tantalizing eyelashes extruding from

[...] Read more

poem by Nikhil Parekh
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Click Your Heels Until Your Feet Numbs

It 'is' the greatest.
It 'is' the greatest.
It 'is' the greatest.

'Pretend it's steak.'

It 'is' the greatest.
It 'is' the greatest.

'Pretend that and vegetables,
Are on your plate.'

It 'is' the greatest.
It 'is' the greatest.

'Now 'see' yourself not homeless.
See yourself in a mansion,
High upon the hill!

Dance among the flowers scenting.
Go ahead,
Pick a few of those blooming daffodils.

Don't be discouraged,
By your sightings of those who have not!
Look upon them as the true victims.
And ignoring them will speed up your visions.
To forget you are jobless,
Helpless and your teeth rot!

Remember this,
Keep your need to greed wished.
Click your heels until your feet numbs.
And your deceit and thieving ways...
On this land 'will' return.
And those days of gluttony,
For you and everyone...
Will finally to all,
Someday come.

Close your eyes...
Repeat.
And pass me the pepper,
Gravy.
And salt to throw over my shoulder to toss!
Repeat,
With me...

It 'is' the greatest.
It 'is' the greatest.

[...] Read more

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Ready An Willing

(coverdale/lord/moody/murray/paice)
I wanna be loved,
Dont wanna be teased.
I dont want no woman
Getting down on her knees.
Im ready an willing
To reach for the sun,
So I can get me some loving
Before Im gone.
I want more, more, more, more,
I want some more
Sweet satisfaction to soothe my soul.
I want you to rock me
All night long.
Rope an ride me, baby,
Do me wrong.
Roll me over, make be bleed,
Id dance with the devil
To get what I need.
I need more, more, more, more,
I need some more of that
Sweet satisfaction to soothe my soul.
I get this crazy feeling inside my soul,
And its driving me insane.
I get this crazy feeling,
Can you feel it, baby,
Its driving me out of my mind.
Im talking about sweet satisfaction,
Im ready an willing, sweet satisfaction.
Im ready an willing, sweet satisfaction.
Sweet satisfaction, sweet satisfaction.
Im ready an willing.
I get this crazy feeling inside my soul,
And its driving me insane.
I get this crazy feeling,
Can you feel it, baby,
Its driving me out of my mind.
I keep on looking for
Sweet satisfaction, Im ready an willing.
Sweet satisfaction, Im ready an willing.
Sweet satisfaction, I keep on looking.
Sweet satisfaction, I keep on looking...

song performed by Whitesnake
Added by Lucian Velea
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We Are The Greatest

We are the greatest.
There will be scooter in the house we gonna rock you tonite
And the incredible h.p. is gonna make you feel right.
There is ricky on the case and wicked axel too.
So come on join the party. make your body move.
All those sexy girls are dancing to the beat on the floor
And the crazy guys are freaking out like never before.
Turn up the volume and make the speakers blast.
Move your body to the rhythm like this day is your last.
Theres a party in the place and youll be rock it tonite
So bring your body with your baby and I make you feel right.
Its a pretty celebration of a natural kind
And a pleasure your experience will blow your mind.
Everybody will be dancing to the beat on the floor.
You really come to situations never part of before.
Satisfaction guaranteed if you know what I mean
And if you walk in through that door its such a freaky scene.
We are the greatest. we are the greatest.
We are the greatest. we are the ...
We are the greatest. we are the greatest.
We are the greatest. we are the greatest.
We are the greatest.
Everybody will be dancing to the beat on the floor.
You really come to situations never part of before.
Satisfaction guaranteed if you know what I mean
And if you walk in through that door its such a freaky scene.
We are the greatest. we are the greatest.
We are the greatest. we are the greatest.

song performed by Scooter
Added by Lucian Velea
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Intrigue

THOU art my love
And thou art the peace of sundown
When the blue shadows soothe
And the grasses and the leaves sleep
To the song of the little brooks
Woe is me.

Thou art my love,
And thou art a storm
That breaks black in the sky
And, sweeping headlong,
Drenches and cowers each tree
And at the panting end
There is no sound
Save the melancholy cry of a single owl
Woe is me!

Thou art my love
And thou art a tinsel thing
And I in my play
Broke thee easily
And from the little fragments
Arose my long sorrow
Woe is me.

Thou art my love
And thou art a weary violet
Drooping from sun-caresses.
Answering mine carelessly
Woe is me.

Thou art my love
And thou art the ashes of other men's love
And I bury my face in these ashes
And I love them
Woe is me.

Thou art my love
And thou art the beard
On another man's face
Woe is me.

Thou art my love
And thou art a temple
And in this temple is an altar
And on this altar is my heart
Woe is me.

Thou art my love
And thou art a wretch.

[...] Read more

poem by Stephen Crane
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Hall Of Mirrors

The young man stepped into the hall of mirrors
Where he discovered a reflection of himself
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass
Sometimes he saw his real face
And sometimes a stranger at his place
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass
He fell in love with the image of himself
and suddenly the picture was distorted
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass
He made up the person he wanted to be
And changed into a new personality
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass
The artist is living in the mirror
With the echoes of himself
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass

song performed by Kraftwerk
Added by Lucian Velea
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The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

The greatest romance thats ever been sold
So what do u know, u and me
Finally face 2 face
Checking each other up and down
In all of the obvious places
Was there ever a reason 4 us 2 be apart?
The air that fills up this room says, not hardly
So this is where u end, and u and I begin ...
(thats where u and i, u and I begin)
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
Baby, baby
Now your mind is open
2 poetry seldom heard
Ur heart has never been broken
Until uve heard these words:
Your body was designed 2 respond 2 mine
In spite of your desire 2 mold me
And in the middle of it all -
We kiss and like rain (like rain) we fall into ...
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
Oh, I know u can feel me,know that u can dance
But what do you know about the greatest romance?
Not what u think, but what u believe
What was the real reason that adam never left eve?
And if the truth sounds like a memory
Then u know it was meant to be (meant 2 be), meant 2 be
Leave your inhibitions behind come on, come on, and see
So this is where u end (this is where u end)
And u and I begin ... (u-hu)
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
The greatest romance thats ever been sold
I know u can feel, I know that u can dance
But what do you know about the greatest romance?
(the greatest romance ...)
Not what u think, but what u believe
Can u tell me the reason (reason) that adam never left eve?
(the greatest (greatest) romance (romance) ...)
Listen 2 me
(... thats ever been sold)
U brought me
The grapes from the vine, yes u did
(the greatest romance ...)
Can I talk 2 u
(... thats ever been sold)
Listen
U help me 2 remember the secrets of time
And u - u - u, u offer me your love, your love, your love
So divine

[...] Read more

song performed by Prince
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The Believer's Jointure : Chapter II.

Containing the Marks and Characters of the Believer in Christ; together with some further privileges and grounds of comfort to the Saints.

Sect. I.

Doubting Believers called to examine, by marks drawn from their love to Him and his presence, their view of his glory, and their being emptied of Self-Righteousness, &c.

Good news! but, says the drooping bride,
Ah! what's all this to me?
Thou doubt'st thy right, when shadows hide
Thy Husband's face from thee.

Though sin and guilt thy spirit faints,
And trembling fears thy fate;
But harbour not thy groundless plaints,
Thy Husband's advent wait.

Thou sobb'st, 'O were I sure he's mine,
This would give glad'ning ease;'
And say'st, Though wants and woes combine,
Thy Husband would thee please.

But up and down, and seldom clear,
Inclos'd with hellish routs;
Yet yield thou not, nor foster fear:
Thy Husband hates thy doubts.

Thy cries and tears may slighted seem,
And barr'd from present ease;
Yet blame thyself, but never dream
Thy Husband's ill to please.

Thy jealous unbelieving heart
Still droops, and knows not why;
Then prove thyself to ease thy smart,
Thy Husband bids the try.

The following questions put to the
As scripture-marks, may tell
And shew, what'er thy failings be,
Thy Husband loves thee well.

MARKS.

Art thou content when he's away?
Can earth allay thy pants?
If conscience witness, won't it say,
Thy Husband's all thou wants?

[...] Read more

poem by Ralph Erskine
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Driving Satisfaction

Dont lay there dead, cmon boy get up!
Give me that driving satisfaction,
I need your positive reaction,
Hey you, standing in the (door? ),
Like you dont know where to go,
(hey you), aint got no money to spend,
A dog wouldnt be your friend.
Give me that driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction,
Give me that driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction.
Hey you, the night is cold,
Hey you, Im all alone,
I need somebody to hold,
Youre right, youre wrong,
Youre stuck in the middle of the road,
Youre up, youre down way down there below,
Youre right, youre wrong,
Youre stuck in the middle of the road,
Youre up, youre down, way down there below.
Get up boy!
And give me that driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction,
Give me that driving satisfaction.
In the middle of the night in a certain kind of heat,
If the odds are against you,
Youre facing sure defeat, yeah.
Youre life is (greed? ), you still cant make a move,
Get up my friend, youve got something to prove,
Youre life is (greed? ), youre stuck in the middle of the road,
Youre up, youre down, way down there below.
Driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction, yeah boy,
Give me that driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction.
Hey you, hey you Im talking to you,
(yeah boy), give me what you promised me,
Take me for a ride,
Hey you, Im talking to you,
Hey you, (I wont hurt you baby),
Im burning, Im burning, burning with desire.
Give me that driving satisfaction,
I need a positive reaction, (yeah boy),
(baby now), looking for your driving satisfaction,
I need your positive reaction,
Give it to me, give it to me now,
I said now, I want it!

song performed by Grace Jones
Added by Lucian Velea
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Satisfaction

(m. jagger/k. richards)
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'cause i try and i try and i try and i try
I can't get no, i can't get no
When i'm drivin' in my car
And that man comes on the radio
He's tellin' me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can't get no, oh no no no
Hey hey hey, that's what i say
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'cause i try and i try and i try and i try
I can't get no, i can't get no
When i'm watchin' my tv
And that man comes on to tell me
How white my shirts can be
But he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The same cigarrettes as me
I can't get no, oh no no no
Hey hey hey, that's what i say
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no girl reaction
'cause i try and i try and i try and i try
I can't get no, i can't get no
When i'm ridin' round the world
And i'm doin' this and i'm signing that
And i'm tryin' to make some girl
Who tells me baby better come back later next week
'cause you see i'm on losing streak
I can't get no, oh no no no
Hey hey hey, that's what i say
I can't get no, i can't get no
I can't get no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction

song performed by Rolling Stones
Added by Lucian Velea
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(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

I can't get no - satisfaction
I can't get no - satisfaction
'Cause I try', and I try
Yes I try, I try
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
When i'm cruisin' in my car
And the man comes on the radio
He's tellin' me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
And I can 't get no satisfaction
Oh, no, no, no
Hey, hey, hev
Ooh baby tell me what I say
Oh well when I'm watching my TV
And this man comes on and tells me
What drink would be good for me
But he can't be a man, cause' he doesn't smoke
The same cigars as me
And I can't get no satisfaction
No, no, no
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell me what I say
When I'm ridin' round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to meet some girl
Who tells me baby, baby come back maybe next week
Can't you see I'm on a losing streak
I can't get no satisfaction
Oh, no, no, no,
Hey, hey, hey
Baby tell me what i say
Come here baby
What do ya mean
You don't know what will satisfy me
Yes you do
I've been all around the world
Looking for some girl
And I can't get no satisfaction
and I've got to have some satisfaction

song performed by Tom Jones
Added by Lucian Velea
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Satisfaction

I can't get no - satisfaction
I can't get no - satisfaction
'Cause I try', and I try
Yes I try, I try
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
When i'm cruisin' in my car
And the man comes on the radio
He's tellin' me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
And I can 't get no satisfaction
Oh, no, no, no
Hey, hey, hev
Ooh baby tell me what I say
Oh well when I'm watching my TV
And this man comes on and tells me
What drink would be good for me
But he can't be a man, cause' he doesn't smoke
The same cigars as me
And I can't get no satisfaction
No, no, no
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell me what I say
When I'm ridin' round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to meet some girl
Who tells me baby, baby come back maybe next week
Can't you see I'm on a losing streak
I can't get no satisfaction
Oh, no, no, no,
Hey, hey, hey
Baby tell me what i say
Come here baby
What do ya mean
You don't know what will satisfy me
Yes you do
I've been all around the world
Looking for some girl
And I can't get no satisfaction
and I've got to have some satisfaction

song performed by Tom Jones
Added by Lucian Velea
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Paradise Regained

THE FIRST BOOK

I, WHO erewhile the happy Garden sung
By one man's disobedience lost, now sing
Recovered Paradise to all mankind,
By one man's firm obedience fully tried
Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled
In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,
And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness.
Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite
Into the desert, his victorious field
Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence 10
By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,
As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute,
And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds,
With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds
Above heroic, though in secret done,
And unrecorded left through many an age:
Worthy to have not remained so long unsung.
Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice
More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried
Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand 20
To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked
With awe the regions round, and with them came
From Nazareth the son of Joseph deemed
To the flood Jordan--came as then obscure,
Unmarked, unknown. But him the Baptist soon
Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore
As to his worthier, and would have resigned
To him his heavenly office. Nor was long
His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized
Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove 30
The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice
From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son.
That heard the Adversary, who, roving still
About the world, at that assembly famed
Would not be last, and, with the voice divine
Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom
Such high attest was given a while surveyed
With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage,
Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air
To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy consistory; and them amidst,
With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:--
"O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World
(For much more willingly I mention Air,
This our old conquest, than remember Hell,
Our hated habitation), well ye know
How many ages, as the years of men,

[...] Read more

poem by John Milton
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The Rosciad

Unknowing and unknown, the hardy Muse
Boldly defies all mean and partial views;
With honest freedom plays the critic's part,
And praises, as she censures, from the heart.

Roscius deceased, each high aspiring player
Push'd all his interest for the vacant chair.
The buskin'd heroes of the mimic stage
No longer whine in love, and rant in rage;
The monarch quits his throne, and condescends
Humbly to court the favour of his friends;
For pity's sake tells undeserved mishaps,
And, their applause to gain, recounts his claps.
Thus the victorious chiefs of ancient Rome,
To win the mob, a suppliant's form assume;
In pompous strain fight o'er the extinguish'd war,
And show where honour bled in every scar.
But though bare merit might in Rome appear
The strongest plea for favour, 'tis not here;
We form our judgment in another way;
And they will best succeed, who best can pay:
Those who would gain the votes of British tribes,
Must add to force of merit, force of bribes.
What can an actor give? In every age
Cash hath been rudely banish'd from the stage;
Monarchs themselves, to grief of every player,
Appear as often as their image there:
They can't, like candidate for other seat,
Pour seas of wine, and mountains raise of meat.
Wine! they could bribe you with the world as soon,
And of 'Roast Beef,' they only know the tune:
But what they have they give; could Clive do more,
Though for each million he had brought home four?
Shuter keeps open house at Southwark fair,
And hopes the friends of humour will be there;
In Smithfield, Yates prepares the rival treat
For those who laughter love, instead of meat;
Foote, at Old House,--for even Foote will be,
In self-conceit, an actor,--bribes with tea;
Which Wilkinson at second-hand receives,
And at the New, pours water on the leaves.
The town divided, each runs several ways,
As passion, humour, interest, party sways.
Things of no moment, colour of the hair,
Shape of a leg, complexion brown or fair,
A dress well chosen, or a patch misplaced,
Conciliate favour, or create distaste.
From galleries loud peals of laughter roll,
And thunder Shuter's praises; he's so droll.
Embox'd, the ladies must have something smart,

[...] Read more

poem by Charles Churchill
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Fifth Book

AURORA LEIGH, be humble. Shall I hope
To speak my poems in mysterious tune
With man and nature,–with the lava-lymph
That trickles from successive galaxies
Still drop by drop adown the finger of God,
In still new worlds?–with summer-days in this,
That scarce dare breathe, they are so beautiful?–
With spring's delicious trouble in the ground
Tormented by the quickened blood of roots.
And softly pricked by golden crocus-sheaves
In token of the harvest-time of flowers?–
With winters and with autumns,–and beyond,
With the human heart's large seasons,–when it hopes
And fears, joys, grieves, and loves?–with all that strain
Of sexual passion, which devours the flesh
In a sacrament of souls? with mother's breasts,
Which, round the new made creatures hanging there,
Throb luminous and harmonious like pure spheres?–
With multitudinous life, and finally
With the great out-goings of ecstatic souls,
Who, in a rush of too long prisoned flame,
Their radiant faces upward, burn away
This dark of the body, issuing on a world
Beyond our mortal?–can I speak my verse
So plainly in tune to these things and the rest,
That men shall feel it catch them on the quick,
As having the same warrant over them
To hold and move them, if they will or no,
Alike imperious as the primal rhythm
Of that theurgic nature? I must fail,
Who fail at the beginning to hold and move
One man,–and he my cousin, and he my friend,
And he born tender, made intelligent,
Inclined to ponder the precipitous sides
Of difficult questions; yet, obtuse to me,–
Of me, incurious! likes me very well,
And wishes me a paradise of good,
Good looks, good means, and good digestion!–ay,
But otherwise evades me, puts me off
With kindness, with a tolerant gentleness,–
Too light a book for a grave man's reading! Go,
Aurora Leigh: be humble.
There it is;
We women are too apt to look to one,
Which proves a certain impotence in art.
We strain our natures at doing something great,
Far less because it's something great to do,
Than, haply, that we, so, commend ourselves
As being not small, and more appreciable
To some one friend. We must have mediators

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poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from Aurora Leigh (1856)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Canto the Fourth

I.

I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs;
A palace and a prison on each hand:
I saw from out the wave her structures rise
As from the stroke of the enchanter’s wand:
A thousand years their cloudy wings expand
Around me, and a dying glory smiles
O’er the far times when many a subject land
Looked to the wingèd Lion’s marble piles,
Where Venice sate in state, throned on her hundred isles!

II.

She looks a sea Cybele, fresh from ocean,
Rising with her tiara of proud towers
At airy distance, with majestic motion,
A ruler of the waters and their powers:
And such she was; her daughters had their dowers
From spoils of nations, and the exhaustless East
Poured in her lap all gems in sparkling showers.
In purple was she robed, and of her feast
Monarchs partook, and deemed their dignity increased.

III.

In Venice, Tasso’s echoes are no more,
And silent rows the songless gondolier;
Her palaces are crumbling to the shore,
And music meets not always now the ear:
Those days are gone - but beauty still is here.
States fall, arts fade - but Nature doth not die,
Nor yet forget how Venice once was dear,
The pleasant place of all festivity,
The revel of the earth, the masque of Italy!

IV.

But unto us she hath a spell beyond
Her name in story, and her long array
Of mighty shadows, whose dim forms despond
Above the dogeless city’s vanished sway;
Ours is a trophy which will not decay
With the Rialto; Shylock and the Moor,
And Pierre, cannot be swept or worn away -
The keystones of the arch! though all were o’er,
For us repeopled were the solitary shore.

V.

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poem by Byron from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1818)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Sohrab and Rustum

And the first grey of morning fill'd the east,
And the fog rose out of the Oxus stream.
But all the Tartar camp along the stream
Was hush'd, and still the men were plunged in sleep;
Sohrab alone, he slept not; all night long
He had lain wakeful, tossing on his bed;
But when the grey dawn stole into his tent,
He rose, and clad himself, and girt his sword,
And took his horseman's cloak, and left his tent,
And went abroad into the cold wet fog,
Through the dim camp to Peran-Wisa's tent.

Through the black Tartar tents he pass'd, which stood
Clustering like bee-hives on the low flat strand
Of Oxus, where the summer-floods o'erflow
When the sun melts the snows in high Pamere
Through the black tents he pass'd, o'er that low strand,
And to a hillock came, a little back
From the stream's brink--the spot where first a boat,
Crossing the stream in summer, scrapes the land.
The men of former times had crown'd the top
With a clay fort; but that was fall'n, and now
The Tartars built there Peran-Wisa's tent,
A dome of laths, and o'er it felts were spread.
And Sohrab came there, and went in, and stood
Upon the thick piled carpets in the tent,
And found the old man sleeping on his bed
Of rugs and felts, and near him lay his arms.
And Peran-Wisa heard him, though the step
Was dull'd; for he slept light, an old man's sleep;
And he rose quickly on one arm, and said:--

"Who art thou? for it is not yet clear dawn.
Speak! is there news, or any night alarm?"

But Sohrab came to the bedside, and said:--
"Thou know'st me, Peran-Wisa! it is I.
The sun is not yet risen, and the foe
Sleep; but I sleep not; all night long I lie
Tossing and wakeful, and I come to thee.
For so did King Afrasiab bid me seek
Thy counsel, and to heed thee as thy son,
In Samarcand, before the army march'd;
And I will tell thee what my heart desires.
Thou know'st if, since from Ader-baijan first
I came among the Tartars and bore arms,
I have still served Afrasiab well, and shown,
At my boy's years, the courage of a man.
This too thou know'st, that while I still bear on
The conquering Tartar ensigns through the world,

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poem by Matthew Arnold (1853)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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