Robert Blair

Robert Blair (1699 – 4 February 1746) was a Scottish poet.

Quotes

The Grave (1743)

• The Grave, dread thing!
  Men shiver when thou 'rt named: Nature, appall'd,
  Shakes off her wonted firmness.
  • Part I, line 9.

• The Schoolboy, with his satchel in his hand,
  Whistling aloud to bear his courage up.
  • Part I, line 58. Compare: "Whistling to keep myself from being afraid", John Dryden, Amphitryon Act iii, scene 1.

• Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul!
  Sweetener of life! and solder of society!
  • Part I, line 88.

• Of joys departed,
  Not to return, how painful the remembrance!
  • Part I, line 109.

• But if there be an hereafter,
  And that there is, conscience, uninfluenc'd
  And suffer'd to speak out, tells every man,
  Then must it be an awful thing to die;
  More horrid yet to die by one's own hand.
  • Part I, line 398.

• Our time is fixed, and all our days are number'd;
  How long, how short, we know not:—this we know,
  Duty requires we calmly wait the summons,
  Nor dare to stir till Heaven shall give permission.
  • Part I, line 417.

• The cup goes round:
  And who so artful as to put it by!
  'T is long since Death had the majority.
  • Part II, line 449.

• The good he scorn'd
  Stalk'd off reluctant, like an ill-used ghost,
  Not to return; or if it did, in visits
  Like those of angels, short and far between.
  • Part II, line 586. Compare: "Like angels’ visits, short and bright", John Norris, The Parting.

• The common damn'd shun their society.
  • Referring to suicides in Hell. Attributed to Lamb, but not found in his works.