The collection / 54 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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01c. 1724 AD

These as they change, Almighty Father! these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of Thee.

James Thomson / quote

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02c. 1724 AD

Shade, unperceiv'd, so softening into shade.

James Thomson / quote

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03c. 1724 AD

From seeming evil still educing good.

James Thomson / quote

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04c. 1724 AD

Come then, expressive silence, muse His praise.

James Thomson / quote

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05c. 1724 AD

A pleasing land of drowsyhed it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye; And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, Forever flushing round a summer sky: There eke the soft delights that witchingly Instil a wanton sweetness through the breast, And the calm pleasures always hover'd nigh; But whate'er smack'd of noyance or unrest Was far, far off expell'd from this delicious nest.

James Thomson / quote

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06c. 1724 AD

O fair undress, best dress! it checks no vein, But every flowing limb in pleasure drowns, And heightens ease with grace.

James Thomson / quote

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07c. 1724 AD

Plac'd far amid the melancholy main.

James Thomson / quote

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08c. 1724 AD

Scoundrel maxim.

James Thomson / quote

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09c. 1724 AD

A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems.

James Thomson / quote

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10c. 1724 AD

A little round, fat, oily man of God.

James Thomson / quote

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11c. 1724 AD

I care not, Fortune, what you me deny: You cannot rob me of free Nature's grace, You cannot shut the windows of the sky Through which Aurora shows her brightening face; You cannot bar my constant feet to trace The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve: Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace, And I their toys to the great children leave: Of fancy, reason, virtue, naught can me bereave.

James Thomson / quote

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12c. 1724 AD

Health is the vital principle of bliss, And exercise, of health.

James Thomson / quote

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13c. 1724 AD

Forever, Fortune, wilt thou prove An unrelenting foe to love; And when we meet a mutual heart, Come in between and bid us part?

James Thomson / quote

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14c. 1724 AD

Whoe'er amidst the sons Of reason, valour, liberty, and virtue Displays distinguish'd merit, is a noble Of Nature's own creating.

James Thomson / quote

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15c. 1724 AD

O Sophonisba! Sophonisba, O!

James Thomson / quote

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16c. 1724 AD

When Britain first, at Heaven's command, Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of her land, And guardian angels sung the strain: Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Britons never shall be slaves.

James Thomson / quote

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17Undated

Waking one morning In a pleasant land, By a river flowing Over golden sand:— Whence flow ye, waters, O’er your golden sand? We come flowing From the Silent Land. Whither flow ye, waters, O’er your golden sand? We go flowing To the Silent Land. And what is this fair realm? A grain of golden sand In the great darkness Of the Silent Land.

James Thomson / quote

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18Undated

He came to the desert of London town Grey miles long; He wander’d up and he wander’d down, Singing a quiet song, He came to the desert of London Town, Mirk miles broad; He wandered up and he wandered down, Ever alone with God. There were thousands and thousands of human kind In this desert of brick and stone: But some were deaf and some were blind, And he was there alone. At length the good hour came; he died As he had lived, alone: He was not miss’d from the desert wide,— Perhaps he was found at the Throne.

James Thomson / quote

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19Undated

And since (man) cannot spend and use aright The little time here given him in trust. But wasteth it in weary undelight Of foolish toil and trouble, strife and lust. He naturally claimeth to inherit The everlasting Future, that his merit May have full scope; as surely is most just.

James Thomson / quote

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20Undated

As I came through the desert thus it was, As I came through the desert: Eyes of fire Glared at me throbbing with a starved desire; The hoarse and heavy and carnivorous breath Was hot upon me from deep jaws of death; Sharp claws, swift talons, fleshless fingers cold Plucked at me from the bushes, tried to hold: But I strode on austere; No hope could have no fear.

James Thomson / quote

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21Undated

“Oh, what are you waiting for here, young man? What are you looking for over the bridge?” A little straw hat with streaming blue ribbons; —And here it comes dancing over the bridge!

James Thomson / quote

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22Undated

Thou hast lived in pain and woe, Thou hast lived in grief and fear; Now thine heart can dread no blow, Now thine eyes can shed no tear: Storms round us shall beat and rave; Thou art sheltered in the grave. Thou for long, long years hast borne, Bleeding through Life’s wilderness, Heavy loss and wounding scorn; Now thine heart is burdenless: Vainly rest for ours we crave; Thine is quiet in the grave.

James Thomson / quote

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23Undated

The wine of Love is music, And the feast of Love is song : And when Love sits down to the banquet, Love sits long: : * * * * * Sits long and rises drunken, But not with the feast and the wine; He reeleth with his own heart, That great, rich Vine.

James Thomson / quote

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24Undated

Rule Britannia Britannia rule the waves Britains never will be slaves.

James Thomson / quote

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