Читать книгу The Essential Works of Robert G. Ingersoll - Robert Green Ingersoll - Страница 141

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IN the realm of comparison Shakespeare seems to have exhausted the relations, parallels and similitudes of things, He only could have said:

"Tedious as a twice-told tale

Vexing the ears of a drowsy man."

"Duller than a great thaw.

Dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage."

In the words of Ulysses, spoken to Achilles, we find the most wonderful collection of pictures and comparisons ever compressed within the same number of lines:

"Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,

Wherein he puts alms for oblivion—

A great-sized monster of ingratitudes—

Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devoured

As fast as they are made, forgot as soon

As done; perseverance, dear my lord,

Keeps honor bright: to have done is to hang

Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail

In monumental mockery. Take the instant way;

For honor travels in a strait so narrow

Where one but goes abreast; keep then the path;

For emulation hath a thousand sons

That one by one pursue; if you give way,

Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,

Like to an entered tide, they all rush by

And leave you hindmost:

Or, like a gallant horse fallen in first rank,

Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,

O'errun and trampled on: then what they do in present,

Tho' less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;

For time is like a fashionable host

That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,

And with his arms outstretched as he would fly,

Grasps in the comer: Welcome ever smiles,

And Farewell goes out sighing."

So the words of Cleopatra, when Charmain speaks:

"Peace, peace:

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast

That sucks the nurse asleep?"