The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
Something lingering, with boiling oil in it, I fancy.
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
The flowers that bloom in the spring,
Tra la,
Have nothing to do with the case.
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
I’ve got to take under my wing,
Tra la,
A most unattractive old thing,
Tra la,
With a caricature of a face.
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
On a tree by a river a little tom-tit
Sang ‘Willow, titwillow, titwillow!’
And I said to him, ‘Dicky-bird, why do you sit
Singing Willow, titwillow, titwillow?’
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
‘Is it weakness of intellect, birdie?’ I cried,
‘Or a rather tough worm in your little inside?’
With a shake of his poor little head he replied,
‘Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!’
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
He sobbed and he sighed, and a gurgle he gave,
Then he plunged himself into the billowy wave,
And an echo arose from the suicide’s grave—
‘Oh willow, titwillow, titwillow!’
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
There’s a fascination frantic
In a ruin that’s romantic;
Do you think you are sufficiently decayed?
‘The Mikado’ (1885) act 2
If you’re anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic line as a man of culture rare.
‘Patience’ (1881) act 1
You must lie upon the daisies and discourse in novel phrases of your complicated state of mind,
The meaning doesn’t matter if it’s only idle chatter of a transcendental kind.
‘Patience’ (1881) act 1
Then a sentimental passion of a vegetable fashion must excite your languid spleen,
An attachment á la Plato for a bashful young potato, or a not too French French bean!
Though the Philistines may jostle, you will rank as an apostle in the high aesthetic band,