“A drink of asses’ milk would nurture the swine, but wouldst thou then expect his song to change from Want, Want, Want?”
“Some folk, like the bell without a clapper, go clanging on in good faith, believing the good folk can hear them.”
“Were I to tell thee the pudding string were a spinet’s string, thou wouldst make ready for the dance.”
“Thee’lt tie thy God within thy kerchief, else have none of Him, and like unto a bat, hang thyself topsy-turvy to better view His handiwork.”
“’Twould pleg thee sore should thy shadow wear cap and bells.”
“From constant wishing the moon may tip for thee.”
“Wouldst thou have a daisy blossom upon a thistle?”
“Ye who carry pigskins to the well and lace not the hole are a tiresome lot.”
“He who eateth a bannock well made flattereth himself should his belly not sour.”
Aside from the dramatic compositions, some of which are of great length, most of the communications received from Patience have been in verse. There is rarely a rhyme, practically all being iambic blank verse in lines of irregular length. The rhythm is almost uniformly smooth. At some sittings the poetry begins to come as soon as the hands are placed upon the planchette, and the evening is given over to the production of verse. At others, verses are mingled with repartee and epigram, but seldom is an evening spent without at least one poem coming. This was not the case in the earlier months, when many sittings were given up wholly to conversation. The poetry has gradually increased in volume, as if the earlier efforts of the influence had been tentative, while the responsiveness of the intermediary was being tested. So, too, the earlier verses were fragments.