Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets: With Critical Observations on Their Works, Volume 2 |
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Page 30
... expects an humble style from the subject , or a great subject from the style . It pleases the more universally , because it is agreeable to the taste both of the grave and the merry ; but more particularly so to those who have a relish ...
... expects an humble style from the subject , or a great subject from the style . It pleases the more universally , because it is agreeable to the taste both of the grave and the merry ; but more particularly so to those who have a relish ...
Page 31
... expected , and to the honour of being put upon a work of which he did not think himself capable ; but the event showed his modesty . And it was reasonable to hope that he , who could raise mean subjects so high , should still be more ...
... expected , and to the honour of being put upon a work of which he did not think himself capable ; but the event showed his modesty . And it was reasonable to hope that he , who could raise mean subjects so high , should still be more ...
Page 53
... expected the author with his book , and had prepared to reward him with a place of three hundred pounds a year . Smith , by pride , or caprice , or indolence , or bashfulness , neglected to attend him , though doubtless warned and ...
... expected the author with his book , and had prepared to reward him with a place of three hundred pounds a year . Smith , by pride , or caprice , or indolence , or bashfulness , neglected to attend him , though doubtless warned and ...
Page 78
... expected . There is in his few productions no want of such conceits as he thought excellent ; and of those our judg- ment may be settled by the first that appears in his praise of Cromwell , where he says that Cromwell's " fame , like ...
... expected . There is in his few productions no want of such conceits as he thought excellent ; and of those our judg- ment may be settled by the first that appears in his praise of Cromwell , where he says that Cromwell's " fame , like ...
Page 81
... expected may properly be propor- tioned not to his influence in the state , but to his rank among the writers of verse.1 Charles Montague was born April 16 , 1661 , at Horton , in Northamptonshire , the son of Mr. George Montague , a ...
... expected may properly be propor- tioned not to his influence in the state , but to his rank among the writers of verse.1 Charles Montague was born April 16 , 1661 , at Horton , in Northamptonshire , the son of Mr. George Montague , a ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison afterwards appeared Beggar's Opera Blackmore Cato censure character College Congreve Court criticism death dedication Dennis died Dryden Duchess Duchess of Marlborough Duke Earl Earl of Dorset elegance endeavoured Essay excellence favour folio friends Garth genius Halifax honour Iliad imagination imitation Johnson Journal to Stella Juba King William Lady letter lived London Lord Lord Bolingbroke Lord Halifax Love Marlborough Matthew Prior Montague nature never observed occasion opinion Oxford Parnell perhaps Philips Pindar play pleased pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope Pope's praise Preface Prince printed Prior published Queen reader reason received remarks Richard Savage satire Savage says seems Sempronius sometimes Spectator Spence by Singer Spence.-JOHNSON Steele supposed Swift Syphax Tatler Thomas Parnell thought Tickell tion told Tonson tragedy translated Tyrconnel verses virtue Westminster Westminster Abbey Whig write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 145 - The marriage, if uncontradicted report can be credited, made no addition to his happiness ; it neither found them nor made them equal. She always temembered her own rank, and thought herself entitled to treat with very little ceremony the tutor of her son.
Page 75 - A true Account and Declaration of the horrid Conspiracy against the late King, his present Majesty, and the present Government ; a performance which he thought convenient, after the Revolution, to extenuate and excuse.
Page 351 - Spanish, but with little better success than before; for though it was received and acted, yet it appeared so late in the year that the author obtained no other advantage from it than the acquaintance of Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Wilks, by whom he was pitied, caressed, and relieved. Sir Richard Steele, having declared in his favour with all the ardour of benevolence which constituted his character, promoted his interest with the utmost zeal, related his misfortunes, applauded his merit, took all...
Page 413 - Once, when he was without lodging, meat, or clothes, one of his friends, a man not indeed remarkable for moderation in his prosperity, left a message, that he desired to see him about nine in the morning. Savage knew that his intention was to...
Page 58 - James, whose skill in physic will be long remembered ; and with David Garrick, whom I hoped to have gratified with this character of our common friend. But what are the hopes of man ? I am disappointed by that stroke of death which has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.
Page 137 - The danger was soon over. The whole nation was at that time on fire with faction. The Whigs applauded every line in which liberty was mentioned, as a satire on the Tories ; and the Tories echoed every clap, to show that the satire was unfelt.
Page 154 - Button had been a servant in the Countess of Warwick's family, who, under the patronage of Addison, kept a coffee-house on the south side of Russell Street, about two doors from Covent Garden. Here it was that the wits of that time used to assemble.
Page 131 - To teach the minuter decencies and inferior duties, to regulate the practice of daily conversation, to correct those depravities which are rather ridiculous than criminal, and remove those grievances which, if they produce no lasting calamities, impress hourly vexation...
Page 292 - Opera the gangs of robbers were evidently multiplied. Both these decisions are surely exaggerated. The play, like many others, was plainly written only to divert, without any moral purpose, and is therefore not likely to do good; nor can it be conceived, without more speculation than life requires or admits, to be productive of much evil.
Page 288 - will make you sure of a clean shirt and a shoulder of mutton every day." This counsel was rejected : the profit and principal were lost, and Gay sunk under the calamity so low that his life became in danger.