V.

Vacuity.

He trudged along, unknowing what he sought,

And whistled as he went, for want of thought.

1984

DRYDEN:

Cym. and Iph.,

Line 84.

Valentine.

Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say,

Birds choose their mates, and couple too, this day;

But by their flight I never can divine

When I shall couple with my Valentine.

1985

HERRICK:

Aph. To His Valentine.

Valor.

Fear to do base unworthy things is valor;

If they be done to us, to suffer them,

Is valor too.

1986

BEN JONSON:

New Inn,

Act iv., Sc. 3.

Vanity.

Light vanity, insatiate cormorant

Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.

1987

SHAKS.:

Richard II.,

Act ii., Sc. 1.

What dotage will not Vanity maintain?

What web too weak to catch a modern brain?

1988

COWPER:

Expostulation,

Line 630.

Vapor.

A wing vapor melting in a tear.

1989

POPE:

Odyssey,

Bk. xix., Line 143.

Variety.

Variety's the very spice of life,

That gives it all its flavor.

1990

COWPER:

Task,

Bk. ii., Line 606.

Vault.

Heaven's ebon vault

Studded with stars unutterably bright.

1991

SHELLEY:

Queen Mab.

Vengeance.

In high vengeance there is noble scorn.

1992

GEORGE ELIOT:

Spanish Gypsy,

Bk. iv.

Venice.

I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs,

A palace and a prison on each hand.

1993

BYRON:

Ch. Harold,

Canto iv., St. 1.

In Venice, Tasso's echoes are no more,

And silent rows the songless gondolier.

1994

BYRON:

Ch. Harold,

Canto iv., St. 3.

Venus.

Love seldom haunts the breast where learning lies,

And Venus sets ere Mercury can rise.

1995

POPE:

Wife of Bath, Her Prologue,

Line 369.

Verse.

Whoe'er offends at some unlucky time

Slides into verse, and hitches in a rhyme.

1996

POPE: Satire i., Bk. ii., Line 76.

Verse sweetens toil, however rude the sound;

She feels no biting pang the while she sings.

1997

RICHARD GIFFORD:

Contemplation.

Vice.

There is no vice so simple, but assumes

Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.

1998

SHAKS.:

M. of Venice,

Act iii., Sc. 2.

I hate when vice can bolt her arguments,

And virtue has no tongue to check her pride.

1999

MILTON:

Comus,

Line 760.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

2000

POPE:

Essay on Man,

Epis. ii., Line 217.

Victory.

Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,

And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.

2001

SHAKS.:

3 Henry VI.,

Act v., Sc. 3.

"But what good came of it at last?"

Quoth little Peterkin.

"Why, that I cannot tell," said he;

"But 'twas a famous victory."

2002

ROBERT SOUTHEY:

Battle of Blenheim.

Village.

Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain.

2003

GOLDSMITH:

Des. Village.

Suburban villas, highway-side retreats,

That dread th' encroachment of our growing streets,

Tight boxes neatly sash'd, and in a blaze

With all a July sun's collected rays,

Delight the citizen, who gasping there,

Breathes clouds of dust, and calls it country air.

2004

COWPER:

Retirement,

Line 481.

Villain.

Which is the villain? Let me see his eyes;

That when I note another man like him

I may avoid him.

2005

SHAKS.:

Much Ado,

Act v., Sc. 1.

Vine.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,

Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!

2006

SHAKS.:

Ant. and Cleo.,

Act ii., Sc. 7.

Violet.

A violet by a mossy stone

Half hidden from the eye;

Fair as a star, when only one

Is shining in the sky.

2007

WORDSWORTH:

She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways.

Odors, when sweet violets sicken,

Live within the sense they quicken.

2008

SHELLEY:

Music, When Soft Voices Die.

What thought is folded in thy leaves!

What tender thought, what speechless pain!

I hold thy faded lips to mine,

Thou darling of the April rain!

2009

THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH:

The Faded Violet.

Virtue.

Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do;

Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues

Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not.

2010

SHAKS.:

M. for M.,

Act i., Sc. 1.

Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues

We write in water.

2011

SHAKS.:

Henry III.,

Act iv., Sc. 2.

Assume a virtue if you have it not.

2012

SHAKS.:

Hamlet,

Act iii., Sc. 4.

Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt;

Surpris'd by unjust force, but not enthrall'd;

Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm,

Shall in the happy trial prove most glory.

2013

MILTON:

Comus,

Line 589.

Sometimes virtue starves while vice is fed,

What then? Is the reward of virtue bread?

2014

POPE:

Essay on Man,

Epis. iv., Line 149.

Vision.

And in clear dream and solemn vision

Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear.

2015

MILTON:

Comus,

Line 453.

Voice.

Her voice was ever soft,

Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in woman.

2016

SHAKS.:

King Lear,

Act v., Sc. 3.

Vows.

Unheedful vows may needfully be broken.

2017

SHAKS.:

Two Gent. of V.,

Act ii., Sc. 6.

It is the hour when lovers' vows

Seem sweet in every whisper'd word.

2018

BYRON:

Parisina,

St. 1.