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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 65
Page 475
... rage , The sovereign of the heavens has set on high The moon , to mark the changes of the sky ; When southern blasts should cease , and when the swain Should near their folds his feeding flocks restrain . For ere the rising winds begin ...
... rage , The sovereign of the heavens has set on high The moon , to mark the changes of the sky ; When southern blasts should cease , and when the swain Should near their folds his feeding flocks restrain . For ere the rising winds begin ...
Page 646
... rage were one Within her soul ; at last ' twas rage alone ; Which burning upwards , in succession dries The tears that stood considering in her eyes . There lay a log unlighted on the hearth : When she was labouring in the throes of ...
... rage were one Within her soul ; at last ' twas rage alone ; Which burning upwards , in succession dries The tears that stood considering in her eyes . There lay a log unlighted on the hearth : When she was labouring in the throes of ...
Page 855
... rage , DIANA . MOMUS . MARS . And free from crime . } A very merry , dancing , drinking , Laughing , quaffing , and unthinking time . Chorus of all Then our age was in its prime , Free from rage , and free from crime ; A very merry ...
... rage , DIANA . MOMUS . MARS . And free from crime . } A very merry , dancing , drinking , Laughing , quaffing , and unthinking time . Chorus of all Then our age was in its prime , Free from rage , and free from crime ; A very merry ...
Contents
To John Hoddesdon on his Divine Epigrams I | 1 |
Astraea Redux | 9 |
Absalom and Achitophel | 177 |
Copyright | |
17 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
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