Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes;

Flow gently, I 'll sing thee a song in thy praise.

Robert Burns (1759-1796): Flow gently, sweet Afton.

Cursed be the verse, how well so e'er it flow,

That tends to make one worthy man my foe.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot. Prologue to the Satires. Line 283.

Oh, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream

My great example, as it is my theme!

Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;

Strong without rage; without o'erflowing, full.

Sir John Denham (1615-1668): Cooper's Hill. Line 189.

There St. John mingles with my friendly bowl,

The feast of reason and the flow of soul.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): Satires, Epistles, and Odes of Horace. Satire i. Book ii. Line 127.