John Hoole

My endeavour has been to render the sense of my author as nearly as possible, which could never be done merely by translating his words.

— John Hoole

The spotless maid is like the blooming roseAnd all its praise with youths and maidens lost.

— John Hoole

Love what we see can from our sight remove,And things invisible are seen by Love.

— John Hoole

Ah! why so rare does cruel Love inspireTo sow dissension in the human mind?

— John Hoole

What has that wretched damsel left to boast,What good on earth, whose virtuous praise is lost?

— John Hoole

So from a water clear, the trembling lightNow high, now low, and shifts a thousand ways.

— John Hoole

The youth, who pants to gain the amorous prize,And scatter all his solemn vows in air!

— John Hoole

Reflect, ye gentle dames, that much they know,Who gain experience from another's woe.

— John Hoole

What more our folly shows,Than while we others seek, ourselves to lose?

— John Hoole

In blaming others, fools their folly show,And most attempt to speak when least they know.

— John Hoole

For oft the graceOf costly vest improves a beauteous face.

— John Hoole

Of all the sex this certain truth is known,No woman yet was ever content with one.

— John Hoole

To others never doThat which yourselves would wish undone to you.

— John Hoole

Behold the state of man's unstable mind,Where sprung from sense of disappointed love.

— John Hoole

Never let us utter what we never can know,And chiefly when it works another's woe.

— John Hoole

But such their power who rule with tyrant sway,Whom most they loath the people most obey.

— John Hoole

When Fame, O monarch! good or evil tells,Evil or good beyond the truth she swells.

— John Hoole

And Neptune's white herds low above the wave.

— John Hoole

These friendly words awhile consoled the fair;For grief imparted oft alleviates care.

— John Hoole

Not beauty, wealth, or lineage e'er could raiseIf not in action chaste.

— John Hoole

When highest placed on giddy Fortune's wheel,With rapid whirl as sudden touch the ground.

— John Hoole

The toils of honour dignify repose.

— John Hoole

'Tis often constancy to change the mind.

— John Hoole

For while the treason I detest,The traitor still I love.

— John Hoole