prefaces, biographical and critical, to the works of the english poets.1781 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 22
Page 11
samuel johnson. whofe work he had then never read * So little fometimes is criticism the effect of judgement . It is neceffary to inform the reader , that about this time he was introduced by Congreve to Montague , then Chancellor of the ...
samuel johnson. whofe work he had then never read * So little fometimes is criticism the effect of judgement . It is neceffary to inform the reader , that about this time he was introduced by Congreve to Montague , then Chancellor of the ...
Page 32
... fometimes embellished , and fometimes aggravated , the originals are partly known , and partly forgotten . But to fay that they united the plans of two or three eminent writers , is to give them but a fmall part of their due praife ...
... fometimes embellished , and fometimes aggravated , the originals are partly known , and partly forgotten . But to fay that they united the plans of two or three eminent writers , is to give them but a fmall part of their due praife ...
Page 48
... fometimes intem- perate , was often irrefragable . While Cato was upon the stage , ano- ther daily paper called the Guardian was published by Steele . To this Addi- fon gave great affiftance , whether occa- fionally or by previous ...
... fometimes intem- perate , was often irrefragable . While Cato was upon the stage , ano- ther daily paper called the Guardian was published by Steele . To this Addi- fon gave great affiftance , whether occa- fionally or by previous ...
Page 58
... fometimes with argument , fometimes with mirth . In argument he had many equals ; but his humour was fingular and matchlefs . Bigotry itself must be delighted with the Tory Fox- hunter . There are however fome ftrokes lefs elegant , and ...
... fometimes with argument , fometimes with mirth . In argument he had many equals ; but his humour was fingular and matchlefs . Bigotry itself must be delighted with the Tory Fox- hunter . There are however fome ftrokes lefs elegant , and ...
Page 94
... fome- times with little that delights , but sel- dom with any thing that offends . ... Of this kind feem to be his poems to Dryden , to Somers , and to the King . His ode on St. Cecilia has been imitated by Pope , and has fomething in ...
... fome- times with little that delights , but sel- dom with any thing that offends . ... Of this kind feem to be his poems to Dryden , to Somers , and to the King . His ode on St. Cecilia has been imitated by Pope , and has fomething in ...
Other editions - View all
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.