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 13
... Twas Monck whom Providence designed to loose ° Those real bonds false freedom did impose . The blessed saints that watched this turning scene Did from their stars with joyful wonder lean , To see small clews draw vastest weights along ...
... Twas Monck whom Providence designed to loose ° Those real bonds false freedom did impose . The blessed saints that watched this turning scene Did from their stars with joyful wonder lean , To see small clews draw vastest weights along ...
Page 312
... twas only born . Her morals , too , were in her bosom bred , By great examples daily fed , What in the best of books , her father's life , she read : And to be read herself she need not fear ; Each test , and every light , her muse will ...
... twas only born . Her morals , too , were in her bosom bred , By great examples daily fed , What in the best of books , her father's life , she read : And to be read herself she need not fear ; Each test , and every light , her muse will ...
Page 713
... Twas in a further yard without a door ; But , for his ease , well littered was the floor . ' His fellow , who the ... Twas but a dream , and what are dreams but lies ? So thinking changed his side , and closed his eyes . His dream ...
... Twas in a further yard without a door ; But , for his ease , well littered was the floor . ' His fellow , who the ... Twas but a dream , and what are dreams but lies ? So thinking changed his side , and closed his eyes . His dream ...
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