Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1674, by JOHN DRYDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Poets, your subjects, have their parts assigned Last Line: As what should be beyond what is, extends. Subject(s): Oxford University; Plays & Playwrights ; Poetry & Poets; Theater & Theaters; Dramatists; Stage Life | ||||||||
POETS, your Subjets, have their Parts assign'd, T' unbend and to divert their Sov' reign's Mind: When, tyr'd with following Nature, you think fit To seek repose in the cool shades of Wit, And from the sweet Retreat, with Joy survey What rests, and what is conquer'd, of the way. Here, free your selves from Envy, Care, and Strife, You view the various Turns of humane Life; Safe in our Scene, through dangerous Courts you go, And undebauch'd the Vice of Cities know. Your Theories are here to Practice brought, As in Mechanick Operations wrought; And Man, the little World, before you set, As once the Sphere of Chrystal Shew'd the Great. Blest sure are you above all Mortal Kind, If to your Fortunes you can suit your Mind; Content to see, and shun, those ills we show, And Crimes, on Theatres alone, to know. With joy we bring what our dead Authors writ, And beg from you the value of their Wit: That Shakespear's, Fletcher's, and great Johnson's Claim May be renew'd from those who gave them Fame. None of our living Poets dare appear; For Muses so severe are worshipt here That, conscious of their Faults, they shun the Eye, And, as Prophane, from sacred Places fly, Rather than see th' offended God, and dye. We bring no Imperfections, but our own; Such Faults as made are by the Makers shown. And you have been so kind that we may boast, The greatest Judges still can pardon most. Poets must stoop, when they would please our Pit, Debas'd even to the Level of their Wit; Disdaining that which yet they know will take, Hating themselves what their Applause must make. But when to Praise from you they would aspire, Though they like Eagles mount, your Jove is higher. So far your Knowledge all their Pow'r transcends, As what should be beyond what Is, extends. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 1. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 2. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL ELEGY IN A THEATRICAL WAREHOUSE by KENNETH FEARING LOGIC AND 'THE MAGIC FLUTE' (IMPRESSIONS OF A PREMIERE) by MARIANNE MOORE DEPRESSION DAYS (2) by PAT MORA BOY AND MOM AT THE NUTCRACKER BALLET by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE EYES LIKE LEEKS by LINDA GREGERSON A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY by JOHN DRYDEN A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING by JOHN DRYDEN |
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