Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727)
“So weak thou art, that fools thy power despise;
And yet so strong, thou triumph'st o'er the wise.”
To Love, found in Miss Vanhomrigh's desk after her death, in Swift's handwriting
Jean-Christophe (1904 - 1912), Journey's End: The Burning Bush (1911)
Context: "Thou art not alone, and thou dost not belong to thyself. Thou art one of My voices, thou art one of My arms. Speak and strike for Me. But if the arm be broken, or the voice be weary, then still I hold My ground: I fight with other voices, other arms than thine. Though thou art conquered, yet art thou of the army which is never vanquished. Remember that and thou wilt fight even unto death."
"Lord, I have suffered much!"
"Thinkest thou that I do not suffer also? For ages death has hunted Me and nothingness has lain in wait for Me. It is only by victory in the fight that I can make My way. The river of life is red with My blood."
"Fighting, always fighting?"
"We must always fight. God is a fighter, even He Himself. God is a conqueror. He is a devouring lion. Nothingness hems Him in and He hurls it down. And the rhythm of the fight is the supreme harmony. Such harmony is not for thy mortal ears. It is enough for thee to know that it exists. Do thy duty in peace and leave the rest to the Gods."
“Whoe'er thou art, thy Lord and master see,
Thou wast my Slave, thou art, or thou shalt be.”
Inscription for a Figure representing the God of Love. See Genuine Works. (1732) I. 129. Version of a Greek couplet from the Greek Anthology.
“How art thou out of breath when thou hast breath
To say to me that thou art out of breath?”
Source: Romeo and Juliet
“But who art thou? that Voyce, and beauteous Face,
Not Mortal is; thou art of Heavenly Race.”
The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro (2nd ed. 1654), Virgil's Æneis
IX, 39
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX
“I am sailing with thee through the dizzy sky!
How beautiful thou art!”
Source: Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne
“But O the heavy change, now thou art gone,
Now thou art gone and never must return!”
Source: Lycidas (1637), Line 37
