John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
dream love-and-friendship golden
My whole life Has been a golden dream of love and friendship.
age
Virgil and Horace [were] the severest writers of the severest age.
passion men views
Moderate sorrow Fits vulgar love, and for a vulgar man: But I have lov'd with such transcendent passion, I soar'd, at first, quite out of reason's view, And now am lost above it.
soul shields enough
I have a soul that like an ample shield Can take in all, and verge enough for more.
firsts students authorship
He who proposes to be an author should first be a student.
autumn joy pears
When bounteous autumn rears her head, he joys to pull the ripened pear.
men bravery chance
The bravest men are subject most to chance.
character farce action
A farce is that in poetry which grotesque (caricature) is in painting. The persons and actions of a farce are all unnatural, and the manners false, that is, inconsistent with the characters of mankind; and grotesque painting is the just resemblance of this.
waiting fortune cheerfulness
Let cheerfulness on happy fortune wait.
christian pride honor
The fortitude of a Christian consists in patience, not in enterprises which the poets call heroic, and which are commonly the effects of interest, pride and worldly honor.
wise gambling fool
Bets at first were fool-traps, where the wise like spiders lay in ambush for the flies.
rewards virtue
Virtue is her own reward.
taken giving perfection
Want is a bitter and a hateful good, Because its virtues are not understood; Yet many things, impossible to thought, Have been by need to full perfection brought. The daring of the soul proceeds from thence, Sharpness of wit, and active diligence; Prudence at once, and fortitude it gives; And, if in patience taken, mends our lives.
triumph praise commendation
The commendation of adversaries is the greatest triumph of a writer, because it never comes unless extorted.