I cannot talk with civet in the room

Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Conversation (1782), Line 283.

English (original)

I cannot talk with civet in the room, A fine puss-gentleman that's all perfume.

— William Cowper

140

Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.

845

But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.

993

Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.

343

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.

386

Beware of desp'rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.

499

Oh! I could thresh his old jacket till I made his pension jingle in his pockets.

903