William Congreve
William Congreve
William Congrevewas an English playwright and poet...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth24 January 1670
sir winning
Well, Sir Joseph, you have such a winning way with you.
estate good man sir
If I marry, Sir Sampson, I'm for a good estate with any man, and for any man with a good estate.
against critics mortal please scarcely sure
There are come Critics so with Spleen diseased,They scarcely come inclining to be pleased:And sure he must have more than mortal Skill,Who please one against his Will.
ill impudence malice manners pass
Where modesty's ill manners, 'tis but fitThat impudence and malice pass for wit.
Would she could make of me a saint,Or I of her a sinner.
free hopes sinner win
Wou'd I were free from this restraint, Or else had hopes to win her; Wou'd she cou'd make me a saint, Or I of her a sinner
becomes best picture sort tenderness
Yes, but tenderness becomes me best - a sort of dyingness - you see that picture has a sort of a - ha, Foible? A swimmingness in the eyes.
alluring couch disorder meet rise
Rise to meet him in a pretty disorder - yes- O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.
leisure married repent
Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
almost looks sweet treats whom
Whom she refuses, she treats still / With so much sweet behaviour, / That her refusal, through her skill, / Looks almost like a favour.
men rest wives
Wife, spouse, my dear, joy, jewel, love, sweet-heart and the rest of that nauseous cant, in which men and their wives are so fulsomely familiar.
english-poet
A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.
anger fury heaven hell love nor rage woman
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.
A wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant.