Quote#Work
Softly sweet, in Lydian measures
Quote byJohn Dryden · 1631–1700
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Alexander's Feast (1697), ll. 97–106.
English (original)
Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Soon he soothed his soul to pleasures. War, he sung, is toil and trouble; Honor but an empty bubble; Never ending, still beginning, Fighting still, and still destroying. If all the world be worth thy winning. Think, oh think it worth enjoying: Lovely Thaïs sits beside thee, Take the good the gods provide thee.
— John Dryden
More from John Dryden
But Shakespeare's magic could not copied be; Within that circle none durst walk but he.
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.
Thus all below is strength, and all above is grace.
An horrid stillness first invades the ear, And in that silence we the tempest fear.
So softly death succeeded life in her, She did but dream of heaven, and she was there.
Their heavenly harps a lower strain began, And in soft music mourn the fall of man.