Citatepedia^®.com

A Ghost At The Dancing

A WIND-SWEPT tulip-bed--a colored cloud
Of butterflies careering in the air--
A many-figured arras stirred to life,
And merry unto midnight music dumb--
So the dance whirls. Do any think of thee,
Amiel, Amiel?
Friends greet each other--countless rills of talk
Meander round, scattering a spray of smiles.
Surely--the news was false. One minute more
And thou wilt stand here, tall and quiet-eyed,
Shakespearian beauty in they pensive face,
Amiel, Amiel.

Many here knew and loved thee--I nor loved,
Scarce knew--yet in thy place a shadow glides,
And a face shapes itself from empty air,
Watching the dancers, grave and quiet-eyed--
Eyes that now see the angels evermore,
Amiel, Amiel.

[...] Read more

poem by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Absalom and Achitophel

In pious times, e'er Priest-craft did begin,
Before Polygamy was made a sin;
When man, on many, multiply'd his kind,
E'r one to one was, cursedly, confind:
When Nature prompted, and no law deny'd
Promiscuous use of Concubine and Bride;
Then, Israel's monarch, after Heaven's own heart,
His vigorous warmth did, variously, impart
To Wives and Slaves; And, wide as his Command,
Scatter'd his Maker's Image through the Land.
Michal, of Royal blood, the Crown did wear,
A Soyl ungratefull to the Tiller's care;
Not so the rest; for several Mothers bore
To Godlike David, several Sons before.
But since like slaves his bed they did ascend,
No True Succession could their seed attend.
Of all this Numerous Progeny was none
So Beautifull, so brave as Absalon:
Whether, inspir'd by some diviner Lust,
His father got him with a greater Gust;

[...] Read more

poem by John Dryden
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

A thousand things advance, nine hundred and ninety-eight fall back, this is progress.

Henri-Frederic Amiel in Journal Intime (1882), translated by Mary Augusta Ward
Added by Dan Costinaş
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Spanish | In Romanian

Tell me what you think you are and I will tell you what you are not.

classic quote by Henri-Frederic Amiel
Added by Dan Costinaş
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Spanish | In Romanian

An error is the more dangerous in proportion to the degree of truth which it contains.

classic quote by Henri-Frederic Amiel
Added by Dan Costinaş
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Spanish | In Romanian

Order is power.

quote by Henri Frederic Amiel
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

All appears to change when we change.

quote by Henri-Frederic Amiel
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Hope is only the love of life.

quote by Henri-Frederic Amiel
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Analysis kills spontaneity.

quote by Henri-Frederic Amiel
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Uncertainty is the refuge of hope.

quote by Henri Frederic Amiel
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!