The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

4.0 D
4.1 Samuel Daniel 1563-1619
Princes in this case
Do hate the traitor, though they love the treason.
‘The Tragedy of Cleopatra’ (1594) act 4, sc. 1.
Custom that is before all law, Nature that is above all art.
‘A Defence of Rhyme’
And who, in time, knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue, to what strange shores
This gain of our best glory shall be sent,
T’enrich unknowing nations with our stores?
What worlds in th’yet unformed Occident
May come refined with th’ accents that are ours?
‘Musophilus’ (1599) l. 957
But years hath done this wrong,
To make me write too much, and live too long.
‘Philotas’ (1605) ‘To the Prince’ (dedication) l. 108
Care-charmer Sleep, son of the sable Night,
Brother to Death, in silent darkness born:
Relieve my languish, and restore the light,
With dark forgetting of my care return,
And let the day be time enough to mourn
The shipwreck of my ill adventured youth:
Let waking eyes suffice to wail their scorn,
Without the torment of the night’s untruth.
‘Sonnets to Delia’ (1592) no. 54
Unless above himself he can
Erect himself, how poor a thing is man!
‘To the Lady Margaret, Countess of Cumberland’ st. 12
4.2 Dante Alighieri 1265-1321
Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita.
In the middle of the road of our life.
‘Divina Commedia’ ‘Inferno’ canto 1, l. 1
Per me si va nella citt dolente,
Per me si va nell’ etorno dolore,
Per me si va tra la perduta gente...