John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
affect gravity men name solid wanting wit
Those wanting wit affect gravity and go by the name of solid men
want unknowing
He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.
men good-man want
Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence.
giving want poverty
If we from wealth to poverty descend, Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend.
wit wanted frugal
One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it.
power want sin
Repentance is but want of power to sin.
want praise dare
He wants worth who dares not praise a foe.
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.