Edmund Waller
Edmund Waller
Edmund Waller, FRSwas an English poet and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1624 and 1679. He was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He entered Parliament early and was at first an active member of the opposition. In 1631 he married a London heiress who died in 1634. Later he became a Royalist, and in 1643 was leader in a plot to seize London for Charles I. For this he was imprisoned,...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth3 March 1606
art war age
Ingenious to their ruin, every age improves the art and instruments of rage.
blood flesh vices
But virtue too, as well as vice, is clad in flesh and blood.
hate never-change states
Gods, that never change their state, vary oft their love and hate.
heart return all-things
All things but one you can restore; the heart you get returns no more.
kings light wish
His kingdom come!" For this we pray in vain, Unless He does in our affections reign. How fond it were to wish for such a King, And no obedience to his sceptre bring, Whose yoke is easy, and His burthen light; His service freedom, and His judgments right.
men promise tests
What use of oaths, of promise, or of test, where men regard no God but interest?
flower autumn fades
Fade, flowers, fade! Nature will have it so; 'tis but what we in our autumn do.
hands giving enough
Give us enough but with a sparing hand.
men suffering taught
His love at once and dread instruct our thought; As man He suffer'd and as God He taught.
should mould vulgar
So must the writer, whose productions should Take with the vulgar, be of vulgar mould.
blessed voice listening
For all we know Of what the blessed do above Is, that they sing, and that they love. While I listen to thy Voice.
love sweet share
How small a part of time they share, That are so wondrous sweet and fair!
life believe love-is
To love is to believe, to hope, to know; 'Tis an essay, a taste of Heaven below!
life heart dark
Consent in virtue knit your hearts so fast, That still the knot, in spite of death, does last; For as your tears, and sorrow-wounded soul, Prove well that on your part this bond is whole, So all we know of what they do above, Is that they happy are, and that they love. Let dark oblivion, and the hollow grave, Content themselves our frailer thoughts to have; Well-chosen love is never taught to die, But with our nobler part invades the sky.