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Lapsus Calami (Aug 1891)/To W. H.

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4667945Lapsus Calami — To W. H.James Kenneth Stephen
THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE EXPRESSED DIFFERENTLY, ERRORS OF JUDGMENT, IMPROMPTUS, &c.

To W. H.

What are the habits of the ruby floodWe reek with? man had questioned many a year:And William Harvey spoke in accents clearThese words: "the circulation of the blood."Man owned that this was so, and asked for food;And fate bestowed upon him beef and beer:But beef was coarse, indelicate and sere:So Harvey proffered Sauce and made it good.My friend! be worthy of thy forbears' glory,And if old truths thou canst not rediscover,Yet canst thou live those truths out here on earthMake stagnant conversations, void of mirth,To circulate with quip and crank and story,Make life's dull dish with piquant sauce run over.