William Davenant
William Davenant
Sir William Davenant, also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil War and during the Interregnum...
wise children ambition
Be not with honor's gilded baits beguil'd, Nor think ambition wise, because 'tis brave; For though we like it, as a forward child, 'Tis so unsound, her cradle is the grave.
death wise dark
O harmless Death! whom still the valiant brave, The wise expect, the sorrowful invite, And all the good embrace, who know the grave A short dark passage to eternal light.
wise ambition thinking
Think not ambition wise, because 't is brave.
summer wise stars
To a Mistress Dying Lover. YOUR beauty, ripe and calm and fresh As eastern summers are, Must now, forsaking time and flesh, Add light to some small star. Philosopher. Whilst she yet lives, were stars decay'd, Their light by hers relief might find; But Death will lead her to a shade Where Love is cold and Beauty blind. Lover. Lovers, whose priests all poets are, Think every mistress, when she dies, Is changed at least into a star: And who dares doubt the poet wise? Philosopher. But ask not bodies doom'd to die To what abode they go; Since Knowledge is but Sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know.
wise men soul
The assembled souls of all that men held wise.
wise prayer ocean
Praise and Prayer PRAISE is devotion fit for mighty minds, The diff'ring world's agreeing sacrifice; Where Heaven divided faiths united finds: But Prayer in various discord upward flies. For Prayer the ocean is where diversely Men steer their course, each to a sev'ral coast; Where all our interests so discordant be That half beg winds by which the rest are lost. By Penitence when we ourselves forsake, 'Tis but in wise design on piteous Heaven; In Praise we nobly give what God may take, And are, without a beggar's blush, forgiven.
hide lazy number peace
For I must go where lazy PeaceWill hide her drowsy head;And, for the sport of kings, increaseThe number of the dead.
hide increase lazy number peace
For I must go where lazy Peace Will hide her drowsy head; And, for the sport of kings, increase The number of the dead.
soul stills subjects
Generous souls Are still most subject to credulity.
rivers afar fame
Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.
art taught comfort
For in a dearth of comforts, we art taught To be contented with the least.
spring moving sloth
To be rich be diligent; move on Like heav'ns great movers that enrich the earth; Whose moment's sloth would show the world undone; And make the spring straight bury all her birth. Rich are the diligent who can command Time--nature's stock.
faith dark light
Faith lights us through the dark to Deity.
beautiful grief sorrow
How beautiful is sorrow when it is dressed by virgin innocence! it makes felicity in others seem deformed.