01c. 1666 ADTo threats the stubborn sinner oft is hard, / Wrapp'd in his crimes, against the storm prepared; / But, when the milder beams of mercy play, / He melts, and throws his cumbrous cloak away.John Dryden / quote ↗
02c. 1666 ADWe ought to attempt no more than what is in the compass of our genius and according to our vein.John Dryden / quote ↗
07c. 1666 ADThese are the effects of doting age, Vain doubts, and idle cares, and over-caution.John Dryden / quote ↗
08c. 1666 ADHis cares are eased with intervals of bliss: His little children, climbing for a kiss, Welcome their father's late return at night.John Dryden / quote ↗
09c. 1666 ADWhen I consider life, ’tis all a cheat; Yet, fooled with hope, men favour the deceit Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay— To-morrow’s falser than the former day; Lies worse and, while it says we shall be blessed With some new joys, cuts off what we possesst. Strange cozenage! none would live past years again, Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain; And, from the dregs of life, think to receive What the first sprightly running would not give, I’m tired with waiting for this chymic gold, Which fools us young, and beggars us when old.John Dryden / quote ↗
10c. 1666 AD’Tis nothing thou hast given; then add thy tears For a long race of unrepenting years; ’Tis nothing yet, yet all thou hast to give; Then add those may-be years thou hast to live; Yet nothing still; then poor and naked come; Thy Father will receive his unthrift home, And thy blest Saviour’s blood discharge the mighty sum.John Dryden / quote ↗
11c. 1666 ADLook humbly upward, see His will disclose The forfeit first, and then the fine impose; A mulct thy poverty could never pay, Had not eternal wisdom found the way, And with celestial wealth supplied thy store; His justice makes the fine, His mercy quits the score. See God descending in the human frame; The offended suffering in the offender’s name: All thy misdeeds to Him imputed see, And all his righteousness devolved on thee.John Dryden / quote ↗
12c. 1666 ADWhence, but from Heaven, could men unskilled in arts, In several ages born, in several parts, Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie! Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice, Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.John Dryden / quote ↗
13c. 1666 ADWhile no baseness in my breast I find, I have not lost the birthright of my mind.John Dryden / quote ↗
14c. 1666 ADThey tell me ’tis my birthday, and I’ll keep it With double pomp of sadness; ’Tis what the day deserves which brought me forth.John Dryden / quote ↗
15c. 1666 ADThose godlike men, to wanting virtue kind, Bounty well placed preferred, and well designed, To all their titles.John Dryden / quote ↗
16c. 1666 ADUnhappy man, to break the pious laws Of nature, pleading in his children’s cause.John Dryden / quote ↗
17c. 1666 ADAt his first aptness the maternal love Those rudiments of wisdom did improve; The tender age was pliant to command; Like wax it yielded to the forming hand: True to the artificer, the laboured mind With ease was pious, generous, just, and kind; Soft for impression, from the first prepared, Till virtue, with long exercise, grew hard; With every act confirmed and made at last, So durable as not to be effaced, It turned to habit; and from vices free, Goodness resolved into necessity.John Dryden / quote ↗
18c. 1666 ADAll faiths beside, or did by arms ascend; Or sense indulged has made mankind their friend: This only doctrine does our lusts oppose; Unfed by nature’s soil in which it grows; Cross to our interests, curbing sense and sin; Oppressed without and undermined within, It thrives through pain, its own tormentors tires; And with a stubborn patience still aspires. To what can reason such effects assign, Transcending nature, but to laws divine, Which in that sacred volume are contained, Sufficient, clear, and for that use ordained?John Dryden / quote ↗
19c. 1666 ADDesire’s the vast extent of human mind, It mounts above, and leaves poor hope behind.John Dryden / quote ↗
20c. 1666 ADGreat souls forgive not injuries till time Has put their enemies into their power, That they may show forgiveness in their own.John Dryden / quote ↗
21c. 1666 ADPlenteous of grace, descend from high, Rich in thy seven-fold energy! Thou strength of his Almighty hand, Whose power does heaven and earth command.John Dryden / quote ↗
22c. 1666 ADHe made us to His image all agree; That image is the soul, and that must be, Or not the Maker’s image, or be free.John Dryden / quote ↗
23c. 1666 ADHer pious love excelled to all she bore; New objects only multiplied it more; And as the chosen found the pearly grain As much as every vessel could contain: As in the blissful vision, each shall share, As much of glory as his soul can bear, So did she love, and so dispense her care.John Dryden / quote ↗
24c. 1666 ADHe bore his great commission in his look, But sweetly tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. He preached the joys of Heaven, and pains of hell, And warned the sinner with becoming zeal, But on eternal mercy loved to dwell.John Dryden / quote ↗
