Ovid's a rake, as half his verses show him,
Anacreon's morals are a still worse sample,
Catullus scarcely has a decent poem,
I don't think Sappho's Ode a good example,
Although Longinus tells us there is no hymn
Where the sublime soars forth on wings more ample;
But Virgil's songs are pure, except that horrid one
Being with "Formosum Pastor Corydon."
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Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they prosper and die in the hands of politicians.
Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they prosper and die in the hands of politicians.
A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds
A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds
Who all in raptures their own works rehearse,
And drawl out measur'd prose, which they call verse.
Who all in raptures their own works rehearse,
And drawl out measur'd prose, which they call verse.
The poet and the politician have this in common: their greatness depends on the courage with which they face the read more
The poet and the politician have this in common: their greatness depends on the courage with which they face the challenges of life
Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., read more
Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., Heureux qui, dans ses vers, sait d'une voix legere
Passer du grave au doux, du plaisant au severe.]
God's prophets of the Beautiful,
These Poets were.
God's prophets of the Beautiful,
These Poets were.
He koude songes make and well endite.
He koude songes make and well endite.
Poets alone are sure of immortality; they are the truest diviners
of nature.
Poets alone are sure of immortality; they are the truest diviners
of nature.
A subject for a great poet would be God's boredom after the seventh day of creation.
A subject for a great poet would be God's boredom after the seventh day of creation.
