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So beautiful, so brave, as Absalom: by John Dryden — Analysis & Translation

2 min read English

Original Poem

So beautiful, so brave, as Absalom: Whether, inspir'd by some diviner lust, His father got him with a greater gust; Or that his conscious destiny made way,

Translation (English)

So attractive and bold like Absalom: Whether, moved by some divine longing, His father conceived him with more excitement; Or that his known fate paved the way,

About the Poet

John Dryden (17th century, Restoration period)

John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England. He was appointed England's first Poet Laureate in 1668.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Historical Context

Literary Form
Heroic couplets
When Written
1681
Background
The poem 'Absalom and Achitophel' is a political satire that uses the Biblical story of Absalom's rebellion against King David to comment on the political situation in England during the Exclusion Crisis. It allegorically represents King Charles II and the political tensions surrounding the succession.

Sources: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44172/absalom-and-achitophel, https://www.gradesaver.com/absalom-and-achitophel/study-guide/poem-text, https://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/content/absalom-and-achitophel, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absalom_and_Achitophel

Detailed Explanation

This excerpt is from John Dryden's 'Absalom and Achitophel,' a satirical poem that uses the Biblical story of Absalom's rebellion against King David to comment on the political situation in England during the Exclusion Crisis. The poem is written in heroic couplets, a popular form during the Restoration period. In these lines, Dryden describes Absalom as both beautiful and brave, suggesting that his qualities might have been divinely inspired or that his destiny was so significant that it influenced his very conception. The poem uses Absalom's story as an allegory for contemporary political figures and events, particularly focusing on King Charles II and the political tensions of the time.

Themes

  • political satire
  • fate and destiny
  • beauty and valor

Literary Devices

  • allusion: references the Biblical story of Absalom
  • allegory: uses the story to comment on contemporary politics
  • metaphor: compares Absalom's qualities to divine inspiration

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
brave courageous showing courage brayv
inspir'd inspired filled with a feeling or thought in-spy-erd
diviner more divine more god-like or spiritual di-vy-ner
lust desire a very strong desire lust
gust enthusiasm a burst of enthusiasm gust
conscious aware aware of something kon-shus
destiny fate the events that will happen to a person des-ti-nee

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