It Provokes The Desire, But It Takes

Can You Nominate In Order Now The Degrees Of The Lie? I Will Name You The Degrees. The First, The Retort Courteous; The Second, The Quip Modest; The Third, The Reply Churlish; The Fourth, The Reproof Valiant; The Fifth; The Countercheck Quarrelsome; The Sixth, The Lie With Circumstance; The Seventh, The Lie Direct. All These You May Avoid But The Lie Direct; And You May Avoid That Too, With An If. . . . Your If Is The Only Peace-maker; Much Virtue In If.

The Moon Of Rome, Chaste As The Icicle That's Curded By The Frost From Purest Snow.

Which Can Say More Than This Rich Praise, That You Alone Are You?

He Is Well Paid That Is Well Satisfied.

For My Part, If A Lie May Do Thee Grace, I'll Gild It With The Happiest Terms I Have.