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 271
... breast Like a fair flower , in furrowed fields oppressed By the keen share , or poppy on the plain Whose heavy head is overcharged with rain . Disdain , despair , and deadly vengeance vowed , Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile crowd ...
... breast Like a fair flower , in furrowed fields oppressed By the keen share , or poppy on the plain Whose heavy head is overcharged with rain . Disdain , despair , and deadly vengeance vowed , Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile crowd ...
Page 625
... breast , his inward pains increase , All means are used , and all without success . The clotted blood lies heavy on his heart , Corrupts , and there remains in spite of art ; ° Nor breathing veins , nor cupping , will prevail ; ° All ...
... breast , his inward pains increase , All means are used , and all without success . The clotted blood lies heavy on his heart , Corrupts , and there remains in spite of art ; ° Nor breathing veins , nor cupping , will prevail ; ° All ...
Page 665
... breast , to glut the tyrant's eyes , Closed the severe command : for , ( slaves to pay ) What kings decree , the soldier must obey : Waged against foes ; and , when the wars are o'er Fit only to maintain despotic power : Dangerous to ...
... breast , to glut the tyrant's eyes , Closed the severe command : for , ( slaves to pay ) What kings decree , the soldier must obey : Waged against foes ; and , when the wars are o'er Fit only to maintain despotic power : Dangerous to ...
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