John Dryden ( 10 of 157 )
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.
And heaven had wanted one immortal song.
And heaven had wanted one immortal song.
Ill news is wing'd with fate, and flies apace.
Ill news is wing'd with fate, and flies apace.
A very merry, dancing, drinking,
Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.
A very merry, dancing, drinking,
Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.
The monarch oak, the patriarch of the trees,
Shoots rising up, and spreads by slow degrees.
Three read more
The monarch oak, the patriarch of the trees,
Shoots rising up, and spreads by slow degrees.
Three centuries he grows, and three he stays
Supreme in state; and in three more decays.
And after hearing what our Church can say,
If still our reason runs another way,
That private read more
And after hearing what our Church can say,
If still our reason runs another way,
That private reason 'tis more just to curb,
Than by disputes the public peace disturb;
For points obscure are of small use to learn,
But common quiet is mankind's concern.
Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, read more
Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.
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.
