Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off. William Davenant More Quotes by William Davenant More Quotes From William Davenant Anger is blood, poured and perplexed into froth; but malice is the wisdom of our wrath. William Davenant wrath anger blood Go! dive into the Southern Sea, and when William Davenant nice sight men Had laws not been, we never had been blam'd; For not to know we sinn'd is innocence. William Davenant innocence law knows Calamity is the perfect glass wherein we truly see and know ourselves. William Davenant calamity glasses perfect Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know. William Davenant spy sorrow safe All slander must still be strangled in its birth, or time will soon conspire to make it strong enough to overcome the truth. William Davenant birth strong overcoming Actions rare and sudden do commonly proceed from fierce necessity, of else from some oblique design, which is ashamed to show itself in the public road. William Davenant fierce design action Think not ambition wise, because 't is brave. William Davenant ambition wise thinking It is the wit and policy of sin to hate those we have abused. William Davenant abuse sin hate Faith lights us through the dark to Deity. William Davenant light faith dark How beautiful is sorrow when it is dressed by virgin innocence! it makes felicity in others seem deformed. William Davenant sorrow grief beautiful How much pleasure they lose (and even the pleasures of heroic poesy are not unprofitable) who take away the liberty of a poet, and fetter his feet in the shackles of a historian. William Davenant heroic liberty feet Ambition's monstrous stomach does increase William Davenant tolls ambition doe Be not with honor's gilded baits beguil'd, William Davenant ambition wise children To a Mistress Dying Lover. YOUR beauty, ripe and calm and fresh As eastern summers are, Must now, forsaking time and flesh, Add light to some small star. Philosopher. Whilst she yet lives, were stars decay'd, Their light by hers relief might find; But Death will lead her to a shade Where Love is cold and Beauty blind. Lover. Lovers, whose priests all poets are, Think every mistress, when she dies, Is changed at least into a star: And who dares doubt the poet wise? Philosopher. But ask not bodies doom'd to die To what abode they go; Since Knowledge is but Sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know. William Davenant wise summer life Slow seems their speed whose thoughts before them run. William Davenant speed seems running O harmless Death! whom still the valiant brave, William Davenant wise dark death To be rich be diligent; move on William Davenant sloth spring moving Generous souls William Davenant subjects stills soul For in a dearth of comforts, we art taught William Davenant taught comfort art
