A fiery soul, which, working out its way, Fretted the pygmy-body to decay, And o'er-inform'd the tenement of clay. A daring pilot in extremity; Pleas'd with the danger, when the waves went high He sought the storms. Part i. Line 156.

More from Absalom and Achitophel

• A man so various, that he seem'd to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon. Part i. Line 545.
• And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeather'd two-legged thing, a son. Part i. Line 169.
• And heaven had wanted one immortal song. Part i. Line 197.
• Beware the fury of a patient man. Part i. Line 1005.
• But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand, And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land. Part i. Line 198.
• For every inch that is not fool is rogue. Part ii. Line 463.