John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
3182 Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 3182 |
| AUTHOR: | Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) |
| QUOTATION: | I shall be like that tree,—I shall die at the top. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Scott’s Life of Swift. 1 |
| Note 1. When the poem of “Cadenus and Vanessa” was the general topic of conversation, some one said, “Surely that Vanessa must be an extraordinary woman that could inspire the Dean to write so finely upon her.” Mrs. Johnson smiled, and answered that “she thought that point not quite so clear; for it was well known the Dean could write finely upon a broomstick.”—Samuel Johnson: Life of Swift. [back] |