That air and harmony of shape express,

Fine by degrees, and beautifully less.

Matthew Prior (1664-1721): Henry and Emma.

The devil hath power

To assume a pleasing shape.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act ii. Sc. 2.

So dear to heav'n is saintly chastity,

That when a soul is found sincerely so,

A thousand liveried angels lackey her,

Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,

And in clear dream and solemn vision

Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,

Till oft converse with heav'nly habitants

Begin to cast a beam on th' outward shape.

John Milton (1608-1674): Comus. Line 453.

Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 681.

The other shape,

If shape it might be call'd that shape had none

Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;

Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd,

For each seem'd either,—black it stood as night,

Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,

And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head

The likeness of a kingly crown had on.

Satan was now at hand.

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 666.

The other shape,

If shape it might be call'd that shape had none

Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;

Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd,

For each seem'd either,—black it stood as night,

Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,

And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head

The likeness of a kingly crown had on.

Satan was now at hand.

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book ii. Line 666.

O God! it is a fearful thing

To see the human soul take wing

In any shape, in any mood.

Lord Byron 1788-1824: Prisoner of Chillon. Stanza 8.

O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you!

She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes

In shape no bigger than an agate-stone

On the fore-finger of an alderman,

Drawn with a team of little atomies

Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Romeo and Juliet. Act i. Sc. 4.

Whom neither shape of danger can dismay,

Nor thought of tender happiness betray.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850): Character of the Happy Warrior.

Beware

Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in,

Bear 't that the opposed may beware of thee.

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;

Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,

But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;

For the apparel oft proclaims the man.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act i. Sc. 3.

What man dare, I dare:

Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,

The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger,—

Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves

Shall never tremble.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Macbeth. Act iii. Sc. 4.

Abash'd the devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue in her shape how lovely.

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book iv. Line 846.