John Dryden

Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he read more

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.

Love taught him shame; and shame, with love at strife,
Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.

Love taught him shame; and shame, with love at strife,
Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.

And nobler is a limited command,
Given by the love of all your native land,
Than a read more

And nobler is a limited command,
Given by the love of all your native land,
Than a successive title, long and dark,
Drawn from the mouldy rolls of Noah's Ark.

Ay, these look like the workmanship of heaven;
This is the porcelain clay of human kind,
And read more

Ay, these look like the workmanship of heaven;
This is the porcelain clay of human kind,
And therefore cast into these noble moulds.