John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
writing men may
Railing in other men may be a crime, But ought to pass for mere instinct in him: Instinct he follows and no further knows, For to write verse with him is to transprose.
iron may leisure
We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.
evil may valiant
I am devilishly afraid, that's certain; but ... I'll sing, that I may seem valiant.
may littles mysterious
Much malice mingled with a little wit Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ.
justice may murder
Murder may pass unpunishd for a time, But tardy justice will oertake the crime.
may oblivion crime
Among our crimes oblivion may be set.
may poet elegant
Virgil, above all poets, had a stock which I may call almost inexhaustible, of figurative, elegant, and sounding words.
chose discourse nearest rugged verse
And this unpolished rugged verse I chose / As fittest for discourse and nearest prose.
though warm
And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm
poor ten thousand torture word
And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.
child thus
And thus the child imposes on the man.
image scattered wide
And, wide as his command, / Scattered his Maker's image through the land.
age genius includes particular studies universal
Every age has a kind of universal genius, which includes those that live in it to some particular studies
glorious sons treason
During his office, treason was no crime. / The sons of Belial had a glorious time.