John Dryden

If confidence presage a victory, Eugenius, in his own opinion, has already triumphed over the Ancients: nothing seems more easy to him than to overcome those whom it is our greatest praise to have imitated well; for we do not only build …

So close behind some promontory lie The huge Leviathan to attend their prey, And give no chance, but swallow in the fry, Which through their gaping jaws mistake the way.

And threat'ning France, plac'd like a painted Jove, Kept idle thunder in his lifted hand.

Here lies my wife: here let her lie! Now she's at rest, and so am I.

He was exhaled; his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew.

Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught. The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.

Lord of yourself, uncumbered with a wife.

Words, once my stock, are wanting to commend So great a poet and so good a friend.

there is still a vast difference betwixt the slovenly Butchering of a Man, and the fineness of a stroke that separates the Head from the Body, and leaves it standing in its place.

Be kind to my remains; and oh defend, Against your judgment, your departed friend!

Genius must be born, and never can be taught.

Thus all below is strength, and all above is grace.

So softly death succeeded life in her, She did but dream of heaven, and she was there.

Truth is the foundation of all knowledge, and the cement of all societies.

Fairest Isle, all isles excelling, Seat of pleasures, and of loves; Venus here will choose her dwelling, And forsake her Cyprian groves.

Three poets, in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy, and England did adorn. The first in loftiness of thought surpassed; The next, in majesty; in both the last. The force of Nature could no further go. To make a third, she joined the …

And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.

Our vows are heard betimes! and Heaven takes care To grant, before we can conclude the prayer: Preventing angels met it half the way, And sent us back to praise, who came to pray.

Her wit was more than man, her innocence a child.

O gracious God! how far have we Profaned thy heavenly gift of poesy!

Since heaven's eternal year is thine.

Men met each other with erected look, The steps were higher that they took; Friends to congratulate their friends made haste, And long inveterate foes saluted as they passed.

Wit will shine Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.

Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence.