During a severe sickness, John Donne, Dean of St Paul’s, asked of God three boons.

In time of crisis, so the legend goes, Sir Francis Drake will come to our aid again, as once he did against the Spanish Armada.

Juliet complains that the man she loves has the wrong name, and the man she loves hears her doing it.

A destitute and friendless farmer, turned from the tradesman’s entrance, tries his luck at the front door.

John Gay reflects that in matters of friendship, quality is preferable to quantity.

Like the ideal Christian, the ideal teacher is one who spreads joy in everything, great or small.