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.