Quote#Politics & Power
Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain
Quote byJohn Dryden · 1631–1700
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Alexander's Feast (1697), ll. 66–70.
English (original)
Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o'er again; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.
— John Dryden
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An horrid stillness first invades the ear, And in that silence we the tempest fear.
But Shakespeare's magic could not copied be; Within that circle none durst walk but he.
So softly death succeeded life in her, She did but dream of heaven, and she was there.
Thus all below is strength, and all above is grace.
All things are hush'd, as Nature's self lay dead, The Mountains seem to nod their drowsy head; The little Birds in dreams their Songs repeat, And sleeping Flowers, beneath the night-dew sweat; Even Lust and Envy sleep.
Their heavenly harps a lower strain began, And in soft music mourn the fall of man.