| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | MacFleck’noe | | |
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in Dryden’s famous satire, is Thomas Shadwell, poet-laureate, whose immortality rests on the not very complimentary line, “Shadwell never deviates into sense.” (1640–1692.) | 1 |
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N.B. Flecknoe was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, doggerel sonneteer, and playwright. Shadwell, according to Dryden, was his double. | 2 |
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| “The rest to some slight meaning make pretence, |
| But Shadwell never deviates into sense.” | |
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Dryden: MacFlecknoe, 19, 20. |
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