The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

World-besotted traveller; he
Served human liberty.
‘Swift’s Epitaph’.
But where’s the wild dog that has praised his fleas?
‘To a Poet, Who would have Me Praise certain bad Poets, Imitators of His and of Mine’
Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days!
Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways.
‘To the Rose upon the Rood of Time’
A woman of so shining loveliness
That men threshed corn at midnight by a tress,
A little stolen tress.
‘To the Secret Rose’
When shall the stars be blown about the sky,
Like the sparks blown out of a smithy, and die?
Surely thine hour has come, thy great wind blows,
Far off, most secret, and inviolate Rose?
‘To the Secret Rose’
Does the imagination dwell the most
Upon a woman won or woman lost?
If on the lost, admit you turned aside
From a great labyrinth out of pride.
‘The Tower’ pt. 2
Measurement began our might:
Forms a stark Egyptian thought,
Forms that gentler Phidias wrought.
Michaelangelo left a proof
On the Sistine Chapel roof,
Where but half-awakened Adam
Can disturb globe-trotting Madam
Till her bowels are in heat,
Proof that there’s a purpose set
Before the secret working mind:
Profane perfection of mankind.
‘Under Ben Bulben’ pt. 4
Irish poets, learn your trade,
Sing whatever is well made,
Scorn the sort now growing up
All out of shape from toe to top,
Their unremembering hearts and heads
Base-born products of base beds.