John Dryden

Name: The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02
Author: John Dryden

The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

Summary

Volume 02 of The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes compiles the poet’s dramatic and poetic writings, highlighting his command of verse, comedy, and the dynamic between love, power, and moral struggle.

Featuring characters such as Philocles, Loveby, and Timorous, the volume delves into themes of royal intrigue, personal sacrifice, and the conflict between individual will and societal norms. Dryden’s rhythmic prose and vivid dialogues demonstrate his versatility, merging lyrical grace with incisive social commentary, offering a glimpse of his lasting impact on 17th-century literary expression.

Quotes from The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes… (John Dryden)

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Where all may judge, and each defect may spy.
Humour is that, which every day we meet,
And therefore known as every public street;
In which, if e'er the poet go astray,
You all can point, 'twas there he lost his way.
But, what's so common, to make pleasant too,
Is more than any wit can always do.
For 'tis like Turks, with hen and rice to treat;
To make regalios out of common meat.
But, in your diet, you grow savages:
Nothing but human flesh your taste can please;
And, as their feasts with slaughtered slaves began,
So you, at each new play, must have a man. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Spaniards, you See your own deplored estate:
What dare you do to reconcile your fate?
Vasq. All that despair, with courage joined, can do.
Odm. An easy way to victory I'll shew;
When all are buried in their sleep or joy,
I'll give you arms, burn, ravish, and destroy;
For my own share one beauty I design;
Engage your honour that she shall be mine.
Piz. I gladly swear.
Vasq.—And I; but I request That, in return, one, who has touched my breast, Whose name I know not, may be given to me.
Odm. Spaniard, 'tis just; she's yours, whoe'er she be. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ I just approach to all I would possess:
Death only stands 'twixt me and happiness.
Alm. Your father, with his life, has lost his throne: Your country's freedom and renown is gone. Honour requires your death; you must obey.
Cyd. Do you die first, and shew me then the way.
Alm. Should you not follow, my revenge were lost.
Cyd. Then rise again, and fright me with your ghost.
Alm. I will not trust to that; since death I chuse,
I'll not leave you that life which I refuse:
If death's a pain, it is not less to me;
And if 'tis nothing, 'tis no more to thee. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Zemp. Beauty has wrought compassion in your mind!
Trax. And you to valour are become as kind. To former services there's something due, Yet be advised—
Zemp. Yes, by myself, not you.
Trax. Princes are sacred.
Zemp. True, whilst they are free:
But power once lost, farewell their sanctity:
'Tis power, to which the gods their worship owe,
Which, uncontrouled, makes all things just below:
Thou dost the plea of saucy rebels use;
They will be judge of what their prince must chuse:
Hard fate of monarchs, not allowed to know
When safe, but as their subjects tell them so. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Julia is yours by inclination;
And I, by conquest, am Honoria's.
Hon. 'Tis the most glorious one that e'er was made: And I no longer will dispute my happiness.
Rod. Julia, you know my peevish jealousies; I cannot promise you a better husband Than you have had a servant.
Jul. I receive you With all your faults.
Rod. And think, when I am froward,
My sullen humour punishes itself:
I'm like a day in March, sometimes o'ercast
With storms, but then the after clearness is
The greater. The worst is, where I love most,
The tempest falls most heavy.
Jul. Ah! what a little time to love is lent! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ O wretched Philocles! whither would love Hurry thee headlong?
Lys. Cease these exclamations.
There's no danger on your side: 'tis but to
Live without my sister; resolve that,
And you have shot the gulf.
Phil. To live without her! Is that nothing, think you? The damned in hell endure no greater pain, Than seeing heaven from far with hopeless eyes.
Cand. Candiope must die, and die for you:— See it not unrevenged at least.
Phil. Ha, unrevenged! On whom should I revenge it?—
But yet she dies, and I may hinder it?
'Tis I then murder my Candiope:—
And yet, should I take arms against my queen! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ A noise within of ISABELLA and FRANCES.
Enter FRANCES, thrusting back ISABELLA and TIMOROUS.
Franc. How now, what's the matter?
Isa. Nay, sweet mistress, be not so hard-hearted; all I desire of you is but harbour for a minute: you cannot, in humanity, deny that small succour to a gentlewoman.
Franc. A gentlewoman! I thought so; my house, affords no harbour for gentlewomen: you are a company of proud harlotries: I'll teach you to take place of tradesmen's wives, with a wannion to you.
Lov. How's this! Madam Isabella!
Isa. Mr Loveby! how happy am I to meet with you in my distress! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Exeunt Queen and ASTERIA.
Cand. Inhuman queen! Thou canst not be more willing to resign Thy part in me, than I to give up mine.
Phil. Love, how few subjects do thy laws fulfil, And yet those few, like us, thou usest ill!
Cand. The greatest slaves, in monarchies, are they,
Whom birth sets nearest to imperial sway;
While jealous power does sullenly o'erspy,
We play, like deer, within the lion's eye.
'Would I for you some shepherdess had been,
And, but each May, ne'er heard the name of queen! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ From this poor play, be all upon your head.
We neither promise you one dance, or show;
Then plot, and language, they are wanting too:
But you, kind wits, will those light faults excuse,
Those are the common frailties of the muse;
Which, who observes, he buys his place too dear;
For 'tis your business to be cozened here.
These wretched spies of wit must then confess,
They take more pains to please themselves the less.
Grant us such judges, Phoebus, we request,
As still mistake themselves into a jest;
Such easy judges, that our poet may
Himself admire the fortune of his play ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ What prudence will not venture, honour must;
We owe our conquest to the stranger's sword,
Tis just his prisoners be to him restored.
I love Orazia; but a nobler way,
Than for my love my honour to betray.
Zemp. Honour is but an itch of youthful blood,
Of doing acts extravagantly good;
We call that virtue, which is only heat
That reigns in youth, till age finds out the cheat.
Aca. Great actions first did her affections move, And I, by greater, would regain her love.
Zemp. Urge not a suit which I must still deny; Orazia and her father both shall die: Begone, I'll hear no more. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ I never durst in darkness be alone:
I beg, I throw me humbly at your feet.
Cort. You must not go where you may dangers meet. The unruly sword will no destinction make; And beauty will not there give wounds, but take.
Alm. Then stay and take me with you; tho' to be
A slave to wait upon your victory.
My heart unmoved can noise and horror bear:
Parting from you is all the death I fear.
Cort. Almeria, 'tis enough I leave you free: You neither must stay here, nor go with me.
Aim. Then take my life, that will my rest restore: 'Tis all I ask, for saving yours before. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Mont. 'Twas our furious love.—
Aca. Love, which I hid till I had set you free,
And bought your pardon with my liberty;
That done, I thought, I less unjustly might
With Montezuma, for Orazia, fight;
He has prevailed, and I must now confess
His fortune greater, not my passion less;
Yet cannot yield you, till his sword remove
A dying rival, that holds fast his love.
Oraz. Whoever falls, 'tis my protector still,
And then the crime's as great, to die as kill.—
Acacis, do not hopeless love pursue;
But live, and this soft malady subdue.
Aca. You bid me live, and yet command me die! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Candiope, prince Lysimantes' sister!
Ast. Your favour, madam, may encourage him,—
And yet he loves in a high place for him:
A princess of the blood; and, what is more,
Beyond comparison the fairest lady
Our isle can boast.
Queen. How!—she the fairest Beyond comparison!—'Tis false! you flatter her; She is not fair.
Ast. I humbly beg forgiveness on my knees, If I offended you:—But next yours, madam, Which all must yield to.
Queen. I pretend to none.
Ast. She passes for a beauty.
Queen. Ay, she may pass:—But why do I speak of her?— Dear Asteria, lead me, I am not well o' the sudden. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Oraz. How are things ordered, that the wicked should
Appear more kind and gentle than the good?
Her passion seems to make her kinder prove,
And I seem cruel through excess of love:
She loves, and would prevent his death; but I,
That love him better, fear he should not die.
My jealousy, immortal as my love,
Would rob my grave below, and me above,
Of rest.—Ye gods, if I repine, forgive!
You neither let me die in peace, nor live.
Enter ACACIS, Jailor, and Indian.
Jail. They are just gone, sir.
Aca. 'Tis well: Be faithful to my just design, And all thy prince's fortune shall be thine. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Burr. What, he keeps up his old humour still?
Fail. Yes, certain; he admires eating and drinking well, as much as ever, and measures every man's wit by the goodness of his palate.
Burr. Who dines here besides?
Fail. Jack Loveby.
Bib. O, my guest.
Burr. He has ever had the repute of a brave clear-spirited fellow.
Fail. He's one of your Dear Hearts, a debauchee.
Burr. I love him the better for't: The best heraldry of a gentleman is a clap, derived to him from three generations. What fortune has he?
Fail. Good fortune at all games; but no estate: He had one; but he has made a devil on't long ago. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Slaves, perhaps you grieve to see Your young prince glorious, 'cause he sprang from me; Had he been one of base Amexia's brood, Your tongues, though silent now, had then been loud.
Enter TRAXALLA.
Traxalla, welcome; welcomer to me
Than what thou bring'st, a crown and victory.
Trax. All I have done is nothing; fluttering
fame
Now tells no news, but of the stranger's name,
And his great deeds; 'tis he, they cry, by whom
Not men, but war itself is overcome;
Who, bold with his success, dares think to have
A prince to wear his chains, and be his slave.
Zemp. What prince? ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Lov. Have you no more manners than to overlook a man when he's a writing?—Oh! is't you, Sir Timorous? You may stand still; now I think on't, you cannot read written hand.
Burr. You are very familiar with Sir Timorous.
Lov. So am I with his companions, sir.
Burr. Then there's hopes you and I may be better acquainted. I am one of his companions.
Lov. By what title? as you are an ass, sir?
Const. No more, Loveby.
Lov. I need not, madam. Alas! this fellow is only the solicitor of a quarrel, 'till he has brought it to an head; and will leave the fighting part to the courteous pledger. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ SCENE II. Enter LOVEBY and BOY; followed by FRANCES, BIBBER'S wife.
Lov. Nay, the devil take thee, sweet landlady, hold thy tongue: Was't not enough thou hast scolded me from my lodging, which, as long as I rent it, is my castle; but to follow me here to Mr Trice's, where I am invited; and to discredit me before strangers, for a lousy, paltry sum of money?
Fran. I tell you truly, Mr Loveby, my husband and I cannot live by love, as they say; we must have wherewithal, as they say; and pay for what we take; or some shall smoke fort. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ To suffer, but my fate must pull yours on.
My breast is armed against all sense of fear;
But where your image lies, 'tis tender there.
Inca. Forbear thy saucy love, she cannot be So low, but still she is too high for thee.
Zemp. Be gone, and do as I command; away!
Mont. I ne'er was truly wretched till this day.
Oraz. Think half your sorrows on Orazia fall, And be not so unkind to suffer all: Patience, in cowards, is tame hopeless fear, But, in brave minds, a scorn of what they bear. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

John Dryden, The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes…

“ Were I not Roderick's first, I should be yours;
My violent love for him, I know, is faulty;
Yet passion never can be placed so ill,
But that to change it is the greater crime.
Inconstancy is such a guilt, as makes
That very love suspected, which it brings;
It brings a gift, but 'tis of ill-got wealth,
The spoils of some forsaken lover's heart.
Love, altered once, like blood let out before,
Will lose its virtue, and can cure no more.
Gons. In those few minutes which I have to live,
To be called yours, is all I can enjoy. ”

John Dryden

Summary

Quotes from The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes… (John Dryden)

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