Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROLOGUE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 1681 (1), by JOHN DRYDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The famed italian muse, whose rhymes advance Last Line: Is forced to turn his satire into praise. Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Muses; Oxford University; Praise; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens | ||||||||
THE fam'd Italian Muse, whose Rhymes advance Orlando, and the Paladins of France, Records that, when our Wit and Sense is flown, 'Tis lodg'd within the Circle of the Moon In Earthen Jars, which one, who thither soar'd, Set to his Nose, snufft up, and was restor'd. What e're the Story be, the Moral's true; The Wit we lost in Town we find in you. Our Poets their fled Parts may draw from hence, And fill their windy Heads with sober Sense. When London Votes with Southwark's disagree, Here may they find their long-lost Loyalty, Here busie Senates, to th' old Cause inclin'd, May snuff the Votes their Fellows left behind: Your Country Neighbours, when their Grain grows dear, May come, and find their last Provision here; Whereas we cannot much lament our Loss, Who neither carried back nor brought one Cross. We look'd what Representatives wou'd bring, But they help'd us, just as they did the King. Yet we despair not; for we now lay forth The Sybill's Books to those who know their Worth; And tho the first was Sacrific'd before, These Volumes doubly will the price restore. Our Poet bade us hope this Grace to find, To whom by long Prescription you are kind. He, whose undaunted Muse with Loyal Rage Has never spar'd the Vices of the Age, Here finding nothing that his Spleen can raise, Is forced to turn his Satire into Praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE L,ENVOI: IN OUR TIME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS 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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