“Preventing angels met it half the way,
And sent us back to praise, who came to pray.”

— John Dryden

Britannia Rediviva (1688), line 1.
Context: Our vows are heard betimes! and Heaven takes care
To grant, before we can conclude the prayer:
Preventing angels met it half the way,
And sent us back to praise, who came to pray.

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John Dryden 196

English poet and playwright of the XVIIth century 1631–1700

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