A Literary Curiosity.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 155, 29 October 1872, Page 7

A Literary Curiosity.

■ Mrs H. A. Dinning, of San Francisco, is | | said to have occupied a year in searching for ! [ and fitting together the following thirty-eight j I lines from thirty-eight English and American j poets. The authors' names are given at the . foot. LIFE. L Yhv nil this toil for triumphs of an hour ? 2. Life’s a short summer— man a flower ; ;t. By turns, we catch the vital breath ; and die—4. The cradle and the tomb alas so niji. a. To he is better far than not to be. ' fi.-.-Thnuch all man’s life in y seem a tragedy • 7. But light cares speak when mighty griefs are dumb—5. The bottom is but shallow whence they come. ‘ 1 0. Your fate is hut the common f to of all ; 10. Unmingled joys here to no man befall. 1 11. Nature to each allots his jiroper sphere. i 12. Fortune makes folly her peculiar care. 13. Custom does not often reason overrule, 14. And throw a cruel runehinc on a {•*]. ’

16. Live we 1 -how loug or short, permit t» Heaven ; 16. They who forgive moot ah.dl be most for-

given. 17. Sin may he clasped so close we cannot seo

its face 18. Vile intercourse, where virtue has no place. 19. Then keep each passion down, however dear, 20. Thou pendulum betwixt a smile and tear ; 21. Her sensual snares let faithless Pleasure lay, 22. With craft ami skill, to ruin and betray. 23. Soar not too high to fall, but stoop to rise ; 2d. V e masters grow of all that we despise. 26. 0 then renounce that impious self-esteem ; 2G. Riches have wings, and grindure is a dream. 27. Think not ambition wise because *tia brave ; 28. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

g;j. w nat is ambition ? 'i’is a glorious cheat, 30. Only destructive to the brave and great. 31. W hat s all ho gaudy glitter i f a crown ? 32. Pile way to bliss lies in t on 1 e.ls of down. 33. How long we live not years but actions tell; 34. That man lives twice who lives the first life wefi. 35. Make then, while yet ye may, your God your friend. 36. Whom Christians worship, yet do not comprehend. 37. The truth that’s given guard, and to yourself be just ; 38. For live we how we may, yet die we must.

The following are the names of the thirtyeight poets ; —Young, Johnson, Pope, Prior, Sewell, Spenser, Daniel, Raleigh, Longfellow, Southwell, Congreve, Churchill, Rochester, Armstrong, Milton, Baily, Trench, Sumerville, Thomson, Byron, Smollett, Crabbe, Cowley, Massinger, Beattie, Cowper, Davenant,Gray, Willis, Addison, Dryden, Quarles, Watkins, Herrick, W, Mason, Hill, Dana, Shakspeare. These names are given in rotation to correspond with the lines in the poem.