“The rest to some faint meaning make pretense,
But Shadwell never deviates into sense.
Some beams of wit on other souls may fall,
Strike through and make a lucid interval;
But Shadwell's genuine night admits no ray,
His rising fogs prevail upon the day.”

— John Dryden

Source: Mac Flecknoe (1682), l. 19–24.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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John Dryden 196

English poet and playwright of the XVIIth century 1631–1700

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