The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 1, l. 559
Youth, beauty, graceful action seldom fail:
But common interest always will prevail:
And pity never ceases to be shown
To him, who makes the people’s wrongs his own.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 1, l. 723
For who can be secure of private right,
If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might?
Nor is the people’s judgement always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 1, l. 779
Never was patriot yet, but was a fool.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 1, l. 968
Beware the fury of a patient man.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 1, l. 1005
Doeg, though without knowing how or why,
Made still a blund’ring kind of melody;
Spurred boldly on, and dashed through thick and thin,
Through sense and nonsense, never out nor in;
Free from all meaning, whether good or bad,
And in one word, heroically mad.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 2, l. 412
Rhyme is the rock on which thou art to wreck.
‘Absalom and Achitophel’ (1681) pt. 2, l. 486
Happy, happy, happy, pair!
None but the brave,
None but the brave,
None but the brave deserves the fair.
‘Alexander’s Feast’ (1697) l. 4
With ravished ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.
‘Alexander’s Feast’ (1697) l. 42
Drinking is the soldier’s pleasure;
Rich the treasure;
Sweet the pleasure;
Sweet is pleasure after pain.
‘Alexander’s Feast’ (1697) l. 57