James Shirley

James Shirley (or Sherley) (September 1596 – October 29, 1666) was an English poet and dramatist.

James Shirley

Quotes

• Devouring Famine, Plague, and War,
  Each able to undo mankind,
  Death's servile emissaries are;
  Nor to these alone confined,
  He hath at will
  More quaint and subtle ways to kill;
  A smile or kiss, as he will use the art,
  Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart.
  • Poem The Last Conqueror.

• Death calls ye to the crowd of common men.
  • Cupid and Death.

The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses

• The honour is overpaid,
  When he that did the act is commentator.
  • sc. i.

• The glories of our blood and state
  Are shadows, not substantial things;
  There is no armour against fate;
  Death lays his icy hand on kings:
  Sceptre and Crown
  Must tumble down,
  And in the dust be equal made
  With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
  • sc. iii.

• Only the actions of the just
  Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.
  • sc. iii. Compare: "The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust", Tate and Brady, Psalm cxxii.