The lives of the most eminent English poets; with critical observations on their works, Volume 21864 |
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Page 6
Samuel Johnson. Lord Buckhurst may do what he will , yet is never in the wrong . " If such a man attempted poetry , we cannot wonder that his works were praised . Dryden , whom , if Prior tells truth , he distinguished by his beneficence ...
Samuel Johnson. Lord Buckhurst may do what he will , yet is never in the wrong . " If such a man attempted poetry , we cannot wonder that his works were praised . Dryden , whom , if Prior tells truth , he distinguished by his beneficence ...
Page 15
... never denied to be tolerable , even by those who do not allow its supreme excellence . It is indeed the poem of a scholar , all inexpert of war , of a man who writes books from books , and studies the world in a college . He seems to ...
... never denied to be tolerable , even by those who do not allow its supreme excellence . It is indeed the poem of a scholar , all inexpert of war , of a man who writes books from books , and studies the world in a college . He seems to ...
Page 17
... never lofty , nor does he often surprise with unexpected excel- lence ; but perhaps to his last poem may be applied what Tully said of the work of Lucretius , that " it is written with much art , though with few blazes of genius . " The ...
... never lofty , nor does he often surprise with unexpected excel- lence ; but perhaps to his last poem may be applied what Tully said of the work of Lucretius , that " it is written with much art , though with few blazes of genius . " The ...
Page 30
... never in such esteem , either for elegy or congratula- tion , as when he contributed most largely to them ; and it was natural for those who knew his peculiar way of writing , to turn to his share in the work as by far the most ...
... never in such esteem , either for elegy or congratula- tion , as when he contributed most largely to them ; and it was natural for those who knew his peculiar way of writing , to turn to his share in the work as by far the most ...
Page 33
... never tired with aspiring . Hence it was , that , though he writ as young as Cowley , he had no puerilities , and his earliest pro- ductions were so far from having anything in them mean and trifling , that , like the junior ...
... never tired with aspiring . Hence it was , that , though he writ as young as Cowley , he had no puerilities , and his earliest pro- ductions were so far from having anything in them mean and trifling , that , like the junior ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison afterwards appeared battle of Ramillies Blackmore Cato censure character College comedy Congreve considered contempt court criticism death declared diligence Dryden Duke Earl easily elegance endeavoured excellence expected favour fortune friends genius Georgic honour House of Hanover imagined imitation Juba justly kind King William Kit-cat Club known Lady likewise lived London Lord Chamberlain Lord Tyrconnel mankind Matthew Prior ment mentioned merit mind nature never numbers observed occasion once opinion Oxford panegyric passion performance perhaps Philips Pindaric play pleased pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope pounds a-year praise present Prince Prior published Queen Queen Anne racter reader reason received regard remarkable reputation Savage says seems seldom Sempronius sent shew shewn solicited sometimes Spence Steele Stepney supposed Syphax Tatler thought Tickell tion told tragedy Tyrconnel verses Virgil virtue Whig write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 379 - Wanderer, the man of exalted sentiments, extensive views, and curious observations, the man whose remarks on life might have assisted the statesman, whose ideas of virtue might have enlightened the moralist, whose eloquence might have influenced senates, and whose delicacy might have polished courts.
Page 212 - The cause of Congreve was not tenable : whatever glosses he might use for the defence or palliation of single passages, the general tenour and tendency of his plays must always be condemned. It is acknowledged, with universal conviction, that the perusal of his works will make no man better ; and that their ultimate effect is to represent pleasure in alliance with vice, and to relax those obligations by which life ought to be regulated.
Page 379 - He lodged as much by accident as he dined, and passed the night sometimes in mean houses, which are set open at night to any casual wanderers, sometimes in cellars, among the riot and filth of the meanest and most profligate of the rabble...
Page 148 - Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds, They're thrown neglected by; but, if it fails, They're sure to die like dogs, as you shall do. Here, take these factious monsters, drag them forth To sudden death.
Page 319 - In this walk they happened unluckily to discover a light in Robinson's coffee-house, near Charing-Cross, and therefore went in. Merchant with some rudeness demanded a room, and was told that there was a good fire in the next parlour, which the company were about to leave, being then paying their reckoning. Merchant, not satisfied with this answer, rushed into the room, and was followed by his companions.
Page 217 - Looking tranquillity ! it strikes an awe And terror on my aching sight ; the tombs And monumental caves of death look cold, And shoot a dullness to my trembling heart.
Page 132 - It is said that when Addison had suffered any vexation from the Countess he withdrew the company from Button's house. From the coffee-house he went again to a tavern, where he often sat late and drank too much wine.
Page 124 - The lords might think their dignity diminished by improper advancements, and particularly by the introduction of twelve new peers at once, to produce a majority of tories in the last reign ; an act of authority violent enough, yet certainly legal, and by no means to be compared with that contempt of national right with which, some time afterwards, by the instigation of whiggism, the commons, chosen by the people for three years, chose themselves for seven.
Page 259 - He began on it ; and when first he mentioned it to Swift, the doctor did not much like the project. As he carried it on, he showed what he wrote to both of us, and we now and then gave a correction, or a word or two of advice ; but it was wholly of his own writing. — When it was done, neither of us thought it would succeed. We showed it to Congreve ; who, after reading it over, said, it would either take greatly, or be damned confoundedly.
Page 418 - He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself; he therefore never prosecuted any scheme of advantage, nor endeavoured even to secure the! profits which his writings might have afforded him.