Also Johnn Lydgate Wryteth after an hyer rate; It is dyffuse to fynde The sentence of his mynde, Yet wryteth he in his kynd, No man that can amend Those maters that he hath pende; Yet some men fynde a faute, And say he wryteth too haute.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Some say Lydgate writes in a complex way that is hard to understand, yet he cannot be improved upon in his own style, though some claim he writes too lofty.
- In plain terms
- His writing is hard to grasp but hard to better, even if it seems too highbrow.
- What can you take from it?
- Complex style can be praised and criticized at once.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is complex writing always better?
Another view
Clarity might be more valuable than complexity.
More from John Lydgate
For hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues.
Permalink to quote #16 Comparable with Chawcer, yet more occupyed in supersticious and odde matters than was requesite in so good a wytte.
Permalink to quote #18 The wheel of Fortune tourneth as a ball; Sodeyn clymbyng axeth a sodeyn fall.
Permalink to quote #15
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