Sir John Denham. 1615-1668.
Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,
Whose foam is amber and their gravel gold;
His genuine and less guilty wealth t' explore,
Search not his bottom, but survey his shore.
Cooper's Hill. Line 165.
Oh, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme!
Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;
Strong without rage; without o'erflowing, full.
Cooper's Hill. Line 189.
[258]
Actions of the last age are like almanacs of the last year.
The Sophy. A Tragedy.
But whither am I strayed? I need not raise
Trophies to thee from other men's dispraise;
Nor is thy fame on lesser ruins built;
Nor needs thy juster title the foul guilt
Of Eastern kings, who, to secure their reign,
Must have their brothers, sons, and kindred slain.[258:1]
On Mr. John Fletcher's Works.
Footnotes
[258:1]
Poets are sultans, if they had their will;
For every author would his brother kill.
Orrery: Prologues (according to Johnson).
Should such a man, too fond to rule alone,
Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne.
Pope: Prologue to the Satires, line 197.