The rough pursuits of the merely athletic repel him, yet he has the knack of assuming an interest where he feels it not, and is able to prattle quite pleasantly about sports in which he takes little or no active part.

Surely it is no sufficient refutation of a criminal charge, that the criminal repels what is alleged against him with volubility of speech, and intrepidity of manner.

When the good appears, it immediately attracts to itself; the evil repels from itself.

Since false Laomedon's tyrannic sway, That durst defraud the immortals of their pay, Her guardian gods renounced their patronage, Nor would the fierce invading foe repel; 50 To my resentment, and Minerva's rage, The guilty king and the whole people fell.

150 The ship at anchor, like a fixed rock, Breaks the proud billows which her large sides knock; Whose rage restrainèd, foaming higher swells, And from her port the weary barge repels, Threat'ning to make her, forcèd out again, Repeat the dangers of the troubled main.