prefaces, biographical and critical, to the works of the english poets.1781 |
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Page 24
... Spectator ; a feries of effays of the fame kind , but written with lefs levity , upon a more regular plan , and published daily . Such an un- dertaking fhewed the writers not to dif- truft their own copiousness of materials or facility ...
... Spectator ; a feries of effays of the fame kind , but written with lefs levity , upon a more regular plan , and published daily . Such an un- dertaking fhewed the writers not to dif- truft their own copiousness of materials or facility ...
Page 25
... Spectator , in one of the firft papers , fhewed the political tenets of its authors ; but a refolution was foon taken of courting general ap- probation by general topicks , and sub- jects on which faction had produced no diverfity of ...
... Spectator , in one of the firft papers , fhewed the political tenets of its authors ; but a refolution was foon taken of courting general ap- probation by general topicks , and sub- jects on which faction had produced no diverfity of ...
Page 26
samuel johnson. be read by the Queen , it was reprinted in the Spectator . To teach the minuter decencies and inferior duties , to regulate the practice of daily converfation , to correct those depravities which are rather ridiculous ...
samuel johnson. be read by the Queen , it was reprinted in the Spectator . To teach the minuter decencies and inferior duties , to regulate the practice of daily converfation , to correct those depravities which are rather ridiculous ...
Page 27
... Spectator , if the writers for the theatre are excepted , England had no mafters of common . life . No writers had yet undertaken to reform either the favageness of neglect , or the impertinence of civility ; to teach when when to speak ...
... Spectator , if the writers for the theatre are excepted , England had no mafters of common . life . No writers had yet undertaken to reform either the favageness of neglect , or the impertinence of civility ; to teach when when to speak ...
Page 30
... Spectator had the fame ten- dency they were published at a time . when two parties , loud , restless , and violent , each with plaufible declarations , and each perhaps without any distinct termination of its views , were agitating the ...
... Spectator had the fame ten- dency they were published at a time . when two parties , loud , restless , and violent , each with plaufible declarations , and each perhaps without any distinct termination of its views , were agitating the ...
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Common terms and phrases
Addiſon afterwards againſt almoft Arians becauſe Blackmore Cato cenfure character compofitions confidered criticiſm critick defign defire Dennis diſcovered Dryden eafily Effay elegance Engliſh faid fame fatire fays fcene fecond feems feen felf fent fentiments feve fhall fhew fhort fhould fimile fince fingle firft firſt fome fometimes foon friends ftill ftudies fubject fucceffion fuch fuffer fupplied fuppofed fure genius guards himſelf houſe inftruction intereft Juba Juba's kindneſs king King Arthur laft leaſt lefs likewife lord lord chamberlain lord Halifax mafter Marcia moft moſt Mufe muft muſt nature neceffary never obferved occafion paffage paffed paffion paſs perfon perhaps pleafing pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry Pope praife praiſe prefent profe publick publiſhed purpoſe racter raiſed reader reafon ſcene ſeems Sempronius Spectator Spence ſtage Steele Syphax Tatler thefe theſe thofe thoſe thought Tickell tion topicks tragedy tranflated uncon uſe verfes verfion Whig whofe whoſe write
Popular passages
Page 155 - He copies life with so much fidelity that he can be hardly said to invent : yet his exhibitions have an air so much original that it is difficult to suppose them not merely the product of imagination.
Page 158 - What he attempted, he performed ; he is never feeble, and he did not wish to be energetic ; he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor affected brevity ; his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and easy. Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Page 149 - It is not uncommon for those who have grown wise by the labour of others to add a little of their own, and overlook their masters. Addison is now despised by some who perhaps would never have seen his defects but by the lights which he afforded them.
Page 156 - All the enchantment of fancy, and all the cogency of argument, are employed to recommend to the reader his real interest, the care of pleasing the Author of his being.
Page 114 - Whatever pleasure there may be in seeing crimes punished and virtue rewarded, yet, since wickedness often prospers in real life, the poet is certainly at liberty to give it prosperity on the stage. For if poetry has an imitation of reality, how are its laws broken by exhibiting the world in its true form? The stage may sometimes gratify our wishes ; but, if it be truly " the mirror of life," it ought to show us sometimes what we are to expect.
Page 127 - Sempronius lead us in our flight, We'll force the gate, where Marcus keeps his guard, And hew down all that would oppose our passage ; A day will bring us into Caesar's camp.
Page 150 - That general knowledge which now circulates in common talk was in his time rarely to be found. Men not professing learning were not ashamed of ignorance; and in the female world any acquaintance with books was distinguished only to be censured.
Page 75 - He taught us how to live; and, oh! too high The price of knowledge, taught us how to die.
Page 129 - Thou shalt have Juba's dress, and Juba's guards The doors will open, when Numidia's prince Seems to appear before them.
Page 114 - ... since wickedness often prospers in real life, the poet is certainly at liberty to give it prosperity on the stage. For if poetry has an imitation of reality, how are its laws broken by exhibiting the world in its true form? The stage may sometimes gratify our wishes; but if it be truly the "MIRROR OF LIFE," it ought to show us sometimes what we are to expect.