John Dryden

Birth: 1631-08-09 , Aldwincle

Death: 1700-05-01 , Londres

John Dryden (1631-1700) was an English poet, playwright, and literary critic. A dominant figure in the literary life of Restoration England, he was appointed the first Poet Laureate in 1668. His work spans a wide range of genres, including satire, religious poetry, plays, and translations. Dryden is known for his mastery of the heroic couplet and his influence on English poetry and drama. He became a master of the English language, shaping its development through his clear and powerful prose and verse. His work often reflects the political and religious turmoil of his time.

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Arms, and the man I sing, who, forced by fate,

All heiresses are beautiful.

The Truth has such a face and such a mien, / As to be loved needs only to be seen.

Plots, true or false, are necessary things, / To raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.

Not to ask is not to be denied.

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; / He who would search for pearls must dive below.

Pity melts the mind to love.

As poetry is the harmony of words, so music is that of notes.

Raw in the fields the rude militia swarms, / Mouth without hands; maintained at vast expense, / In peace a charge, in war a weak defence.

Heaven be thanked, we live in such an age, / When no man dies for love, but on the stage.

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John Dryden was born on August 9, 1631, in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire. Educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, he became involved with the London literary scene in the mid-1650s. His career was marked by a remarkable ability to adapt to political changes, which earned him patronage and official positions. He became one of the most influential writers of his time, known for his incisive satires such as 'Mac Flecknoe' and his adaptations of classics. His work as a translator of Virgil and Ovid was also highly acclaimed. Dryden died on May 12, 1700, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His work continues to be studied and appreciated for its poetic beauty, wit, and historical insight.