writer, best known for his books Euphues,The Anatomy of Wit
and Euphues and His England. Lyly's linguistic style, originating in his first books, is known as Euphuism
.
John Lyly was born in Kent
, England, in 1553/1554. According to Anthony Wood
, at the age of sixteen Lyly became a student at Magdalen College, Oxford
, where he proceeded to earn bachelor's and master's degrees (1573 and 1575), and in 1574 applied to Lord Burghley
"for the queen's letters to Magdalen College to admit him fellow." The fellowship, however, was not granted, and Lyly subsequently left the university.
How at heaven's gates she claps her wings,The morne not waking til she sings.
There can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.
A clere conscience is a sure carde.
As lyke as one pease is to another.
Be valyaunt, but not too venturous. Let thy attyre bee comely, but not costly.
Though the Camomill, the more it is trodden and pressed downe the more it spreadeth.
The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.
I cast before the Moone.
It seems to me (said she) that you are in some brown study.
The soft droppes of rain perce the hard marble; many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks.