42 quotes
Who shootes at the midday Sunne, though he be sure, he shall never hit the marke; yet as sure he is, he shall shoot higher than who ayms but at a bush.
The scourge of life, and death's extreme disgrace,
The smoke of hell,—that monster callèd Paine.
Woman was formed to admire, man to be admirable. His are the glories of the sun at noon-day; hers the softened splendour of the midnight moon.
Porter (1807)
Certainly, I must confess my own barbarousness, I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet.
An Apology of Poetry, or The Defence of Poesy (1595)
Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature: delight hath a joy in it either permanent or present; laughter hath only a scornful tickling.
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite:
"Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart and write."
Astrophel and Stella (1591)
Poetry, a speaking picture... to teach and delight
An Apology of Poetry, or The Defence of Poesy (1595)
Have I caught my heav'nly jewel.
Astrophel and Stella (1591)
Come sleep, O sleep, the certain knot of peace,
The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe,
The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release,
The indifferent judge between the high and low.
Astrophel and Stella (1591)
With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb'st the skies!
How silently, and with how wan a face!
As in geometry, the oblique must be known, as well as the right; and in arithmetic, the odd as well as the even; so in actions of life, who seeth not the filthiness of evil, wanteth a great foil to perceive the beauty of virtue.
Nature never set forth the earth in so rich tapestry as divers poets have done; neither with pleasant rivers, fruitful trees, sweet-smelling flowers, nor whatsoever else may make the too-much-loved earth more lovely; her world is brazen, the poets only deliver a golden.
Thy fair hair my heart enchained.
Take thou of me, sweet pillowes, sweetest bed;
A chamber deafe of noise, and blind of light,
A rosie garland and a weary hed.
The truly great and good, in affliction, bear a countenance more princely than they are wont; for it is the temper of the highest hearts, like the palm tree, to strive most upward when they are most burdened.
To hear him speak, and sweetly smile
You were in Paradise the while.
Our poor eyes were so enriched as to behold, and our low hearts so exalted as to love, a maid who is such, that as the greatest thing the world can show is her beauty, so the least thing that may be praised in her is her beauty.
Stella, think not that I by verse seek fame,
Who seek, who hope, who love, who live but thee;
Thine eyes my pride, thy lips mine history:
If thou praise not, all other praise is shame.
Astrophel and Stella (1591)
So when thou saw'st in nature's cabinet
Stella thou straight'st look'st babies in her eyes.
Thy necessity is yet greater than mine