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 557
... Chaucer's Treatise of the Astrolabe , are sufficient witnesses . But Chaucer was likewise an astrologer , as were Virgil , Horace , Persius , and Manilius . Both writ with wonderful facility and clearness ; neither were great inventors ...
... Chaucer's Treatise of the Astrolabe , are sufficient witnesses . But Chaucer was likewise an astrologer , as were Virgil , Horace , Persius , and Manilius . Both writ with wonderful facility and clearness ; neither were great inventors ...
Page 564
... Chaucer what need they had of introducing such characters , where obscene words were proper in their mouths , but ... Chaucer's language , which is so obsolete that his sense is scarce to be under- stood ; and you have likewise ...
... Chaucer what need they had of introducing such characters , where obscene words were proper in their mouths , but ... Chaucer's language , which is so obsolete that his sense is scarce to be under- stood ; and you have likewise ...
Page 566
... Chaucer so as to understand him perfectly ! And if imperfectly , then with less profit and no pleasure . ' Tis not for the use of some old Saxon friends that I have taken these pains with him . Let them neglect my version , because they ...
... Chaucer so as to understand him perfectly ! And if imperfectly , then with less profit and no pleasure . ' Tis not for the use of some old Saxon friends that I have taken these pains with him . Let them neglect my version , because they ...
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