John Dryden

Swear, food, or starve; for the dilemma's even;
A tradesman thou! and hope to go to heaven?

Swear, food, or starve; for the dilemma's even;
A tradesman thou! and hope to go to heaven?

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.

Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.

Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.

His ignorance is encyclopedic.

His ignorance is encyclopedic.

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.