The Lives of the English Poets, Volume 2J.F. Dove, and sold by all the booksellers in England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1826 - English poetry - 420 pages |
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Page 6
... formed the grand alliance against Louis , which at last did not produce effects proportionate to the magnificence of the transaction . He was admitted , to his bachelor's degree in 1686 ; and to his master's , by mandate , in 1700.-N. + ...
... formed the grand alliance against Louis , which at last did not produce effects proportionate to the magnificence of the transaction . He was admitted , to his bachelor's degree in 1686 ; and to his master's , by mandate , in 1700.-N. + ...
Page 22
... formed at once ; the words did not come till they were called , and were then put by constraint into their places , where they do their duty , but do it sul- lenly . In his greater compositions there may be found more rigid stateliness ...
... formed at once ; the words did not come till they were called , and were then put by constraint into their places , where they do their duty , but do it sul- lenly . In his greater compositions there may be found more rigid stateliness ...
Page 23
... formed his new stanza to that of his master these specimens will shew : SPENSER . She flying fast from Heaven's hated face , And from the world that her discovered wide , Fled to the wasteful wilderness apace , From living eyes her open ...
... formed his new stanza to that of his master these specimens will shew : SPENSER . She flying fast from Heaven's hated face , And from the world that her discovered wide , Fled to the wasteful wilderness apace , From living eyes her open ...
Page 28
... formed for a controvertist ; with suf- ficient learning ; with diction vehement and pointed , though often vulgar and incorrect ; with unconquerable pertinacity ; with wit in the highest degree keen and sarcastic ; and with all those ...
... formed for a controvertist ; with suf- ficient learning ; with diction vehement and pointed , though often vulgar and incorrect ; with unconquerable pertinacity ; with wit in the highest degree keen and sarcastic ; and with all those ...
Page 31
... formed a peculiar idea of comic excellence , which he supposed to consist in gay remarks and unexpected answers ; but that which he endeavoured he seldom failed of performing . His scenes exhibit not much of humour , imagery , or pas ...
... formed a peculiar idea of comic excellence , which he supposed to consist in gay remarks and unexpected answers ; but that which he endeavoured he seldom failed of performing . His scenes exhibit not much of humour , imagery , or pas ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aaron Hill acquaintance Addison afterward appeared blank verse Bolingbroke censure character Cibber contempt criticism death delight diction diligence discovered Dryden Duke Dunciad Earl edition Edward Young elegance endeavoured epitaph Essay excellence faults favour Fenton fortune friends friendship genius happy honour Iliad imagination kind King known labour Lady learning letter lines lived Lord Lord Bolingbroke Lord Halifax Lyttelton mentioned mind nature never Night Thoughts numbers observed occasion once Orrery panegyric passion performance perhaps Pindar pleased pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope Pope's pounds praise present printed published Queen racter reader reason received reputation rhyme satire Savage says seems sent shew shewn Sir Robert Walpole solicited sometimes soon stanza sufficient supposed Swift Tatler thing Thomson Tickell tion told tragedy translation Tyrconnel verses virtue whigs write written wrote Young
Popular passages
Page 274 - The style of Dryden is capricious and varied; that of Pope is cautious and uniform. Dryden obeys the motions of his own mind; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition. Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid; Pope is always smooth, uniform, and gentle.
Page 274 - In acquired knowledge, the superiority must be allowed to Dryden, whose education was more scholastic, and who before he became an author had been allowed more time for study, with better means of information. His mind has a larger range, and he collects his images and illustrations from a more extensive circumference of science. Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners.
Page 404 - Church-yard' abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind, and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo.
Page 275 - Pope had only a little, because Dryden had more; for every other writer since Milton must give place to Pope ; and even of Dryden it must be said, that if he has brighter paragraphs, he has not better poems.
Page 275 - If the flights of Dryden therefore are higher, Pope continues longer on the wing. If of Dryden's fire the blaze is brighter, of Pope's the heat is more regular and constant. Dryden often surpasses expectation, and Pope never falls below it. Dryden is read with frequent astonishment, and Pope with perpetual delight.
Page 404 - In the character of his Elegy I rejoice to concur with the common reader; for by the common sense of readers uncorrupted with literary prejudices, after all the refinements of subtilty and the dogmatism of learning, must be finally decided all claim to poetical honours.
Page 289 - Pope had, in proportions very nicely adjusted to each other, all the qualities that constitute genius. He had Invention, by which new trains of events are formed, and new scenes of imagery displayed, as in the Rape of the Lock; and by which extrinsick and adventitious embellishments and illustrations are connected with a known subject, as in the Essay on Criticism...
Page 216 - Iliad. It is certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever seen ; and its publication must therefore be considered as one of the great events in the annals of Learning.
Page 166 - And to urge another argument of a parallel nature: if Christianity were once abolished, how could the free-thinkers, the strong reasoners, and the men of profound learning, be able to find another subject so calculated in all points whereon to display their abilities? What wonderful productions of wit should we be deprived of, from those whose genius by continual practice hath been wholly turned upon raillery and invectives against religion, and would therefore never be able to shine or distinguish...
Page 409 - you shall be my confessor ; when I first set out in the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me ; but I kept my mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground of my future hopes.