John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
infinity finite
But how can finite grasp Infinity?
art vices slave
If thou dost still retain the same ill habits, the same follies, too, still thou art bound to vice, and still a slave.
death morning dying
He was exhaled; his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew.
age taste youth
For age but tastes of pleasures youth devours.
love past storm
Calms appear, when Storms are past; Love will have his Hour at last: Nature is my kindly Care; Mars destroys, and I repair; Take me, take me, while you may, Venus comes not ev'ry Day.
sex grace vain
To so perverse a sex all grace is vain.
men virtue crime
Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.
mind virtue weak
Repentance is the virtue of weak minds.
women heart sorrow
A woman's counsel brought us first to woe, And made her man his paradise forego, Where at heart's ease he liv'd; and might have been As free from sorrow as he was from sin.
truth lying evil
Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will; and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie than the will can choose an apparent evil.
art oxford london
So poetry, which is in Oxford made An art, in London only is a trade.
kind imitation cattle
Imitators are but a servile kind of cattle.
care
Music, Music for a while Shall all your cares beguile. Alexander's Feast
law indictment gentiles
That, if the Gentiles, (whom no Law inspir'd,) By Nature did what was by Law requir'd; They, who the written Rule and never known, Were to themselves both Rule and Law alone: To Natures plain Indictment they shall plead; And, by their Conscience, be condemn'd or freed.