Sir John Denham

'Tis the most certain sign, the world's accurst
That the best things corrupted, are the worst;
'Twas read more

'Tis the most certain sign, the world's accurst
That the best things corrupted, are the worst;
'Twas the corrupted Light of knowledge, hurl'd
Sin, Death, and Ignorance o'er all the world;
That Sun like this (from which our sight we have)
Gaz'd on too long, resumes the light he gave.

Night was our friend, our leader was Despair.

Night was our friend, our leader was Despair.

Youth, what man's age is like to be, doth show;
We may our ends by our beginnings know.

Youth, what man's age is like to be, doth show;
We may our ends by our beginnings know.

Sure there are poets which did never dream
Upon Parnassus, nor did taste the stream
Of Helicon; read more

Sure there are poets which did never dream
Upon Parnassus, nor did taste the stream
Of Helicon; we therefore may suppose
Those made not poets, but the poets those.

O, could I flow like thee! and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme;
read more

O, 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.