John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
fond harmless household meant nature silly
Nature meant me a wife, a silly harmless household Dove, fond without art; and kind without deceit.
married past three within
I am to be married within these three days; married past redemption.
necessary raise revolutions-and-revolutionaries ruin true
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, to raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.
deserves worlds
She deserves / More worlds than I can lose.
draw knows rant single
She knows her man, and when you rant or swear, / Can draw you to her with a single hair.
again bleed fight lay rise wounded
I'm a little wounded but I'm not slain; I will lay me down for to bleed awhile, Then I'll rise and fight with you again
found messiah
They found the new Messiah by the star.
dies heaven man stage
For, Heaven be thank'd, we live in such an age, when no man dies for love, but on the stage
above bore fool fools-and-foolishness till tired wings
Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings / I bore this wren till I was tired with soaring, / And now he mounts above me.
action common graceful interest seldom
Youth, beauty, graceful action, seldom fail:/ But common interest always will prevail.
beginnings mighty small viewing
By viewing Nature, Nature's handmaid, art, makes mighty things from small beginnings grow.
estate found whom
Beggared by fools! whom still he found too late, He had his jest, but they had his estate
pious polygamy sin
In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, before polygamy was made a sin
men judging long
When a man's life is under debate, The judge can ne'er too long deliberate.