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 431
... tears thy warm desires to grant , For tears will pierce a heart of adamant . If tears will not be squeezed , then rub your eye , Or ' noint the lids and seem at least to cry . Kiss , if you can ; resistance if she make , And will not ...
... tears thy warm desires to grant , For tears will pierce a heart of adamant . If tears will not be squeezed , then rub your eye , Or ' noint the lids and seem at least to cry . Kiss , if you can ; resistance if she make , And will not ...
Page 547
... tears began to flow . CHORUS Revolving in his altered soul The various turns of chance below ; And now and then , a sigh he stole , And tears began to flow . V The mighty master smiled , to see That love was in the next degree ; ' Twas ...
... tears began to flow . CHORUS Revolving in his altered soul The various turns of chance below ; And now and then , a sigh he stole , And tears began to flow . V The mighty master smiled , to see That love was in the next degree ; ' Twas ...
Page 598
... tears , and heard their cries , Which moved compassion more ; he shook his head , And softly sighing to himself he said : ' Curse on the unpardoning prince , whom tears can draw To no remorse , who rules by lion's law ; And deaf to ...
... tears , and heard their cries , Which moved compassion more ; he shook his head , And softly sighing to himself he said : ' Curse on the unpardoning prince , whom tears can draw To no remorse , who rules by lion's law ; And deaf 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