1 98 The Poets and Nature. 



But when they're once entangled by the gin, 

 With what an eager clasp he draws them in. 

 Nor shall they 'scape till after long delay, 

 And all that sweetens life is drawn away." 



And then as to the brittleness of the laws (Beattie) : . 



1 ' Laws, as we read in ancient sages, 

 Have been like cobwebs in all ages 

 Cobwebs for little flies are spread, 

 And laws for little folks are made ; 

 But if an insect of renown, 

 Hornet or beetle, wasp or drone, 

 Be caught in quest of sport or plunder, 

 The flimsy fetter flies in sunder." 



The statesman's futile subtlety (Garth) : 



" Or spider-like, spin out our precious all, 

 Our more than vitals spin, (if no regard 

 To great futurity) in curious webs 

 Of subtle thought and exquisite design 

 (Fine network of the brain) to catch a fly ! 

 The momentary buzz of vain renown, 

 A name ! a mortal immortality." 



Or Churchill's 



" Henceforth, secure, let ambushed statesmen lie, 

 Spread the court- web, and catch the patriot fly." 



And hopes in general (Wordsworth) : 



" Hopes, what are they? Beads of morning 

 Strung on slender blades of grass ; 

 Or a spider's web adorning 

 In a strait and treacherous pass." 



The simile of the poor poet spinning his brains into 

 " lines " is used more than once, and also applied to other 

 " lines " of thought, as in Cowper, of commentators : 



" Comment after comment, spun as fine 

 As bloated spiders draw the flimsy line," 



and Churchill's critics : 



" Let wits, like spiders, from the tortured brain 

 Fine draw the critic web, with curious pain." 



