Sir John Denham. 1615-1669. John Bartlett, comp. 1919. Familiar Quotations, 10th ed.

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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Sir John Denham. (1615–1669)

Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,
Whose foam is amber and their gravel gold;
His genuine and less guilty wealth t’ explore,
Search not his bottom, but survey his shore.

Cooper’s Hill. Line 165.

Oh, 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.

Cooper’s Hill. Line 189.

Actions of the last age are like almanacs of the last year.

The Sophy. A Tragedy.

But whither am I strayed? I need not raise
Trophies to thee from other men’s dispraise;
Nor is thy fame on lesser ruins built;
Nor needs thy juster title the foul guilt
Of Eastern kings, who, to secure their reign,
Must have their brothers, sons, and kindred slain. 1

On Mr. John Fletcher’s Works.

Note 1.
Poets are sultans, if they had their will;
For every author would his brother kill.
Orrery: Prologues (according to Johnson).

Should such a man, too fond to rule alone,
Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne.
Alexander Pope: Prologue to the Satires, line 197. [back]

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