Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Press
How shall I speak thee, or thy power address,
Thou god of our idolatry, the Press?
By thee religion, liberty, and laws,
Exert their influence, and advance their cause;
By thee, worse plagues than Pharaoh’s land befell,
Diffused, make earth the vestibule of hell;
Thou fountain, at which drink the good and wise;
Thou ever bubbling spring of endless lies:
Like Eden’s dread probationary tree,
Knowledge of good and evil is from thee!
Cowper.—Progress of Error, Line 460.
Lies have possess’d the press so, as their due,
’Twill scarce, I fear, henceforth print Bibles true.
Cowley.—The Puritan and Papist.
All, all but truth, drops dead-born from the press.
Pope.—Epilogue to Sat., Dialogue II. Line 226.
Did charity prevail, the press would prove
A vehicle of virtue, truth, and love.
Cowper.—Charity, Line 624.