John DrydenDryden's poetry is straightforward, bold, and energetic. He was in the public eye for some forty years, holding positions at court for a long period of time. He was indisputably perceived as the leading writer of his day. He excelled in all the types of writing practiced at the time. He wrote more, and in more genres than anyone. He accumulated to himself (it is a odd distinction) a huge mass of attacks, ranging from the reasoned to the scabrous. Dryden explained his attitudes and intentions in a large number of prologues, epilogues, prefaces, defences, and vindications-thereby quite casually producing the first body of what we now call 'criticism' in English. And yet his life and character remain something of a mystery. |
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Page 584
... Arcite of Thebes was known in arms long since , And honoured by this young Thessalian prince . Theseus , to gratify his friend and guest , Who made our Arcite's freedom his request , Restored to liberty the captive knight , But on these ...
... Arcite of Thebes was known in arms long since , And honoured by this young Thessalian prince . Theseus , to gratify his friend and guest , Who made our Arcite's freedom his request , Restored to liberty the captive knight , But on these ...
Page 589
... Arcite cannot Arcite find , The world may search in vain with all their eyes , But never penetrate through this disguise . Thanks to the change which grief and sickness give , In low estate I may securely live , O And see , unknown , my ...
... Arcite cannot Arcite find , The world may search in vain with all their eyes , But never penetrate through this disguise . Thanks to the change which grief and sickness give , In low estate I may securely live , O And see , unknown , my ...
Page 622
... Arcite's aid , And Palamon with odds was overlaid : 630 640 For turning short , he struck with all his might Full on the helmet of the unwary knight . Deep was the wound ; he staggered with the blow , And turned him to his unexpected ...
... Arcite's aid , And Palamon with odds was overlaid : 630 640 For turning short , he struck with all his might Full on the helmet of the unwary knight . Deep was the wound ; he staggered with the blow , And turned him to his unexpected ...
Contents
To John Hoddesdon on his Divine Epigrams I | 1 |
Astraea Redux | 9 |
Absalom and Achitophel | 177 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel Aeneas Aeneid ancient Arcite Aristotle arms bear beauty behold Ben Jonson betwixt blessed blood breast Caeneus Chaucer Cinyras courser cried crime crown death Dryden e'en earth English eyes fair fame fate father fear fight fire flames force Georgics give goddess gods grace Greek ground hand haste head heart heaven honour Iliad John Dryden Jove kind king labour leave light live lord lover Lucretius maid Metamorphoses mighty mind mortal muse nature never night numbers o'er once Ovid pain Palamon passion Pindar Pirithous plain play pleased poem poet praise Priam prince pursue queen race rage rest rhyme Roman sacred Satire of Juvenal seas Sejanus sighed sight sire skies soul stood sweet sword tears thee Theseus thou thought translation Twas verse Virgil vows wife wind words youth