Saturday, August 19, 2017

HB John Dryden 19Aug 1631 - 1st poet laureate of England

You hoard not health for your own private use,
But on the public spend the rich produce.
When, often urged, unwilling to be great,
Your cuntry calls you from your loved retreat,
And sends to senates, charged with common care,
Which none more shuns, and none can better bear:
Where could they find another formed so fit,
To poise, with solid sense, a sprightly wit
John Dryden - Epistle 15

His grandeur he deriv'd from heaven alone,
For he was great e'er fortune made him so
And wars like mists that rise against the sun
Made him but greater seem, not greater grow.
|No borrow'd bays his temple did adorn,
But to our Crown he did fresh jewels bring;
Nor was his virtue poison'd soon as born,
With the too early thoughts of being King.
John Dryden, Heroick Stanzas consecrated to his Highness Oliver.

Few know the use of life before 'tis past.--John Dryden, quo. J. R. Lowell, "My Study Windows"

If passion rules, how weak does reason prove! --John Dryden (1631-1700) _The Rival Ladies_ [1664]

If this were the last day of your life, my friend
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?
Stand up to the blow, that fate has struck upon you?
Make the most of all you still have coming to you? or
Lay down on the ground and let the tears flow from you
Crying to the grass and trees
And heaven finally on your knees:

Nor is the people's judgement always true,
The most may err as grossly as the few."
John Dryden, _Absalom and Achitophel_

Great wits are sure to madness near allied,
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.
John Dryden,, Absalom and Achitophel. Part i. Line 163.

Death in itself is nothing; but we fear
To be we know not what, we know not where.
John Dryden. 1631-1701. Aurengzebe. Act iv. Sc. 1.

They can conquer who believe they can-- John Dryden. Book V of Virgil's Aeneid.

If passion rules, how weak does reason prove!--John Dryden (1631-1700)_The Rival Ladies_ [1664]

Mrs. Dryden     Lord, Mr. Dryden, how can you always be poring over these musty books. I wish I were a book, and then I should have more of your company.
Dryden              Pray, my dear; if you become a book let it be an almanack,for then I shall change you every year - Dictionary of Biographical Quotations, Sphere Reference 1985.

Look round the habitable world, how few
Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue.-John Dryden

Beware of the fury of the patient man. -- John Dryden, Absolem and Achitophel

Welcome as kindly showers to the long parched earth.--Dryden

Here lies my wife: here let her lie!
Now she's at rest, and so am I.-John Dryden (1631-1700) (Epitaph intended for his wife)

So softly death succeeded life in her, 

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