Цитаты из книги The Ring And The Book

“The shattering beam that breaks above the bed “And beats out brains, with nobody to blame “Except the wormy age which eats even oak —

Bless the fools! And ’tis just this way they are blessed, And the world wags still — because fools are sure

Accordingly, one word on the other side Tips over the piled-up fabric of a tale.

What an elaborate theory have we here, Ingeniously nursed up, pretentiously Brought forth, pushed forward amid trumpet-blast, To account for the thawing of an icicle, Show us there needed Ætna vomit flame Ere run the chrystal into dew-drops!

Death was the heart of life, and all the harm My folly had crouched to avoid, now proved a veil Hiding all gain my wisdom strove to grasp: As if the intense centre of the flame Should turn a heaven to that devoted fly Which hitherto, sophist alike and sage,

Saint Thomas with his sober grey goose-quill, And sinner Plato by Cephisian reed, Would fain, pretending just the insect’s good, Whisk off, drive back, consign to shade again.