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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They best can judge a poet's worth,
Who oft themselves have known
The pangs of a poetic read more
They best can judge a poet's worth,
Who oft themselves have known
The pangs of a poetic birth
By labours of their own.
He koude songes make and well endite.
He koude songes make and well endite.
And spare the poet for his subject's sake.
And spare the poet for his subject's sake.
As a poet and as a mathematician, he would reason well; as a mere mathematician, he could not have reasoned read more
As a poet and as a mathematician, he would reason well; as a mere mathematician, he could not have reasoned at all, and thus would have been at the mercy of the Prefect
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.
And poets by their sufferings grow,--
As if there were no more to do,
To make a read more
And poets by their sufferings grow,--
As if there were no more to do,
To make a poet excellent,
But only want and discontent.
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.
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.
Poets are sultans, if they had their will:
For every author would his brother kill.
Poets are sultans, if they had their will:
For every author would his brother kill.
