Oh Wait a tangled web we weave.

[spainlads]

There is a famous quote by Sir Walter Scott that goes:

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!

But, there is a continuation, not by him that basically says the more you practise it then the better you get.

Any ideas as to what it is??

Thanks

 

[Peter Pedant]

Hi spainlads - I have often wondered if er you are in Spain.

This is the Letter to Dr Arbuthnot,

the final syllable rhymes with know and not knot if you get my meaning

Pope I think

as to the next couplet - I could never memorise poetry with a rhythm, i cd only do prose, so sorry no idea....

[Hippy]

Part of an epic poem called Marmion, telling of fighting on Flodden Field and else. Published in 1808. The full text is available at:

http://www.geocities.com/poeminister/introcanto1.htm

And the bit you are interested in is towards the end in Canto VI verse XVII

 

Oh! what a tangled web we weave

When first we practise to deceive!

A Palmer too! no wonder why

I felt rebuked beneath his eye;

I might have known there was but one

Whose look could quell Lord Marmion.

.

[spainlads]

Still not what I'm think of, but thanks. Peter, I do live in Spain.

[Peter Pedant]

ola guapos!

 

the quote you wre thining of is I think:

O, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
But when we've practised quite a while
How vastly we improve our style.
J.R. Pope, A Word of Encouragement (updating Sir Walter Scott's Marmion)

the only problem I have is that twenty five years ago an A level english student who was reading guess what Epistle to Dr A, assured me that it was in her script,

ho hum.....

 

 

[spainlads]

Gracias mi amigo. Thanks for the answer and the compliment.

[michelene]

There is another ending that goes...

Tis better to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell with doubtful joy...

Any help?