[PW] Re: "mirror that reflects the marsh-fires of pestilence"

[Bye, Dan J]

There's an 1851 publication available through Google Book Search called "Tupper's Complete Poetical Works".  In the section "Proverbial Philosophy" is a poem called "Of Honesty", and on page 227 the following lines appear:

"Many a man of honest heart, but ignorant of self and God,
Hath followed the marsh-fires of pestilence, esteeming them the lights of truth".

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org 
> [mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On 
> Behalf Of schmidt at tarleton.edu
> Sent: 06 December 2006 20:22
> To: stumpers
> Subject: [PW] "mirror that reflects the marsh-fires of pestilence"
> 
> I have come across a quote used in a newspaper story dated 
> August 20, 1864:
> 
> ~~~~~
> That "mirror that reflects the marsh-fires of pestilence," 
> the Police Calendar ....
> 
> ~~~~~
> 
> Since the phrase is in quotations, I am guessing the reporter 
> is trying to quote or paraphrase from a work that originated 
> prior to 1864.
> I've had no luck with google on an exact quote or a close paraphrase.
> Any ideas would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> Barbara
> 
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