The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘New Scientist’ 21 May 1964
7.103 Christopher Smart 1722-71
Now the winds are all composure,
But the breath upon the bloom,
Blowing sweet o’er each enclosure,
Grateful off’rings of perfume.
Tansy, calaminth and daisies
On the river’s margin thrive;
And accompany the mazes
Of the stream that leaps alive.
‘Hymns and Spiritual Songs’ (1765) ‘St Mark’
Nature’s decorations glisten
Far above their usual trim;
Birds on box and laurels listen,
As so near the cherubs hymn.
‘Hymns and Spiritual Songs’ (1765) ‘The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’
God all-bounteous, all-creative,
Whom no ills from good dissuade,
Is incarnate, and a native
Of the very world he made.
‘Hymns and Spiritual Songs’ (1765) ‘The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’
For in my nature I quested for beauty, but God, God hath sent me to sea for pearls.
‘Jubilate Agno’ Fragment B, l. 30
For sincerity is a jewel which is pure and transparent, eternal and inestimable.
‘Jubilate Agno’ Fragment B, l. 40
For Charity is cold in the multitude of possessions, and the rich are covetous of their crumbs.
‘Jubilate Agno’ Fragment B, l. 154
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffrey.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
‘Jubilate Agno’ Fragment B, l. 695
For when his day’s work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord’s watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
‘Jubilate Agno’ Fragment B, l. 717
Ye beauties! O how great the sum
Of sweetness that ye bring;