John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
danced days witness
Witness ye days and nights, and all ye hours, / That danced away with down upon your feet.
affect gravity men name solid wanting wit
Those wanting wit affect gravity and go by the name of solid men
married past three within
I am to be married within these three days; married past redemption.
allied bounds divide great madness near sure thin wits
Great wits are sure to madness near allied - And thin partitions do their bounds divide
literature madness wit
Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide.
wit wanted frugal
One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it.
long wit
Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.
language well-said wit
A thing well said will be wit in all languages.
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
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.