John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
eden paradise sin
Having mourned your sin, for outward Eden lost, find paradise within.
men office proud
Fortune, that with malicious joyDoes man her slave oppress,Proud of her office to destroy,Is seldom pleasd to bless.
kings people design
The people have a right supreme To make their kings, for Kings are made for them. All Empire is no more than Pow'r in Trust, Which when resum'd, can be no longer just. Successionm for the general good design'd, In its own wrong a Nation cannot bind.
slave
Either be wholly slaves or wholly free.
power empires
All empire is no more than power in trust.
blind authorship defects
All authors to their own defects are blind.
wit wanted frugal
One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it.
nature chaucer
Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.
music inarticulate music-is
Music is inarticulate poesy.
believe wish ease
With how much ease believe we what we wish!
long wit
Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.
shining lines cadence
Wit will shine Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.
wicked wickedness misery
We can never be grieved for their miseries who are thoroughly wicked, and have thereby justly called their calamities on themselves.
lying cutting thinking
Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.