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.
giant theirs
Theirs was the giant race, before the flood.
authority combat establish general men particular reputation themselves understanding
They who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men
danced days witness
Witness ye days and nights, and all ye hours, / That danced away with down upon your feet.
cousin
Cousin Swift, you will never be a poet.
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.