Both ways deceitful is the wine of power; But see, how oft ambitious aims are crost; Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell, POPE. POPE. The fiery soul abhorr'd in Catiline, POPE. She points the arduous height where glory lies, POPE. In vain for life he to the altar fled; Thy cruel and unnatural lust of power In me, as yet, ambition had no part; Has sunk thy father more than all his years, Pride had not sour'd, nor wrath debased, my And made him wither in a green old age. 'Tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face : They ween'd To win the mount of God, and on his throne To set the envier of his state, the proud Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain. But when he once attains the upmost round, Of all the passions which possess the soul, The light of them, that nothing can control EARL OF STIRLING: Darius. Well I deserved Evadne's scorn to prove, That to ambition sacrificed my love. WALLER. Alas! ambition makes my little less, Embitt'ring the possess'd: why wish for more? Wishing of all employments is the worst; Philosophy's reverse, and health's decay! YOUNG: Night Thoughts. ANCESTRY. Heralds stickle, who got whoSo many hundred years ago. BUTLER: Hudibras. He that to ancient wreaths can bring no more From his own worth, dies bankrupt on the score. JOHN CLEAVELAND. 'Twas no false heraldry when madness drew Her pedigree from those who too much knew. SIR J. DENHAM. Were virtue by descent, a noble name Vain are their hopes who fancy to inherit, Old captains and dictators of their race. DRYDEN. Long galleries of ancestors Challenge nor wonder or esteem from me: "Virtue alone is true nobility." DRYDEN. Do then as your progenitors have done, Thus, born alike, from virtue first began |