James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
August 9Dryden
By Craven Langstroth Betts (1853–1941)John Dryden, born August 9, 1631.
T
Sipping his cordial or his cup of tea;
Fair primed with aphorisms choice or free,
The “glorious John,” who trimmed to every air!
The biggest brawn on the arena there,
He shook the town with vauntings, then on knee
Bartered his birthright for a huckster’s fee,
And thrust his muse aneath a lordling’s care.
Might bide the baited gladiator’s blows;
His ponderous truncheon crushed the foe at bay;
How grand to watch him on McFlecnoe close!
The drums resound, the trumpets loudly bray
As down the age that lordly galleon goes!