Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, to the Works of the English Poets: DrydenJ. Nichols, 1779 - English poetry |
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Page 87
... attempted any vigorous defence ; for , though he was perhaps fometimes injurioufly cen- fured , he would by denying part of the charge have confeffed the reft ; and as his adverfaries had the proof in their own hands , he , who knew ...
... attempted any vigorous defence ; for , though he was perhaps fometimes injurioufly cen- fured , he would by denying part of the charge have confeffed the reft ; and as his adverfaries had the proof in their own hands , he , who knew ...
Page 92
... it equalled but by Sacheverel's trial . The reafon of this general perufal Addison has attempted to derive from the delight which the mind feels in the invefti- inveftigation of fecrets ; and thinks that curiofity to decypher +92 DR Y DE N.
... it equalled but by Sacheverel's trial . The reafon of this general perufal Addison has attempted to derive from the delight which the mind feels in the invefti- inveftigation of fecrets ; and thinks that curiofity to decypher +92 DR Y DE N.
Page 178
... attempted the Iliad , fome years afterwards , he departed from his own decifion , and again tranflated into rhyme . When he has any objection to ob- viate , or any licenfe to defend , he is not very scrupulous about what he af- ferts ...
... attempted the Iliad , fome years afterwards , he departed from his own decifion , and again tranflated into rhyme . When he has any objection to ob- viate , or any licenfe to defend , he is not very scrupulous about what he af- ferts ...
Page 192
... attempted ; we had few elegancies or flowers of fpeech , the rofes had not yet been plucked from the bramble , or different colours had not been joined to enliven one another . It may be doubted whether Waller and Denham could have over ...
... attempted ; we had few elegancies or flowers of fpeech , the rofes had not yet been plucked from the bramble , or different colours had not been joined to enliven one another . It may be doubted whether Waller and Denham could have over ...
Page 211
... attempted it ; and fo fuccefsfully laboured , that though at laft it gives the mind more perplexity than pleasure , and feems hardly worth the ftudy that it cofts , yet it must be valued as a proof of a mind at once fubtle and ...
... attempted it ; and fo fuccefsfully laboured , that though at laft it gives the mind more perplexity than pleasure , and feems hardly worth the ftudy that it cofts , yet it must be valued as a proof of a mind at once fubtle and ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abfalom againſt Almanzor anſwer becauſe cauſe cenfure character Charles Dryden compariſon compofition confidered Cowley criticiſm criticks defign defire dramatick Dryden Duke of Lerma eafily elegant Elkanah Settle Engliſh excellence Fables fafe faid fame fatire fays fecond feems feldom felf fenfe fentence fentiments fhall fhew fhip fhould fince firft firſt fome fomething fometimes fouls ftudied fubject fuccefs fuch fuffered fufficient fuppofed fure genius heroick himſelf inftruction itſelf John Dryden juft Juvenal labour laft laſt leaſt lefs lines lord mind moft moſt muft muſt neceffary never numbers obferved occafion paffages paffions pafs perfon perhaps play pleafing pleaſe pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry praife praiſe preface profe publick publiſhed purpoſe racter raiſed reaſon refentment reft reprefented rhyme ſeems Shakeſpeare Sir Robert Howard Sophocles ſtage thefe theſe thofe thoſe thought tion Tonfon tragedy tranflated Tyrannick Love uſe verfes verfification verfion verſe Virgil whofe whoſe writing written
Popular passages
Page 214 - To see this fleet upon the ocean move, Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies; And heaven, as if there wanted lights above, For tapers made two glaring comets rise.
Page 253 - As only buz to Heaven with evening wings ; Strike in the dark, offending but by chance ; Such are the blindfold blows of Ignorance : They know not beings,, and but hate a name ; To them the Hind and Panther are the same.
Page 239 - From harmony, from heavenly harmony, This universal frame began: When nature underneath a heap of jarring atoms lay, And could not heave her head, The tuneful voice was heard from high, Arise ye more than dead. Then cold and hot, and moist and dry, In order to their stations leap, And music's power obey. From harmony, from heavenly harmony, This universal frame began: From harmony to harmony Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in man.
Page 178 - Of him that knows much, it is natural to suppose that he has read with diligence ; yet I rather believe that the knowledge of Dryden was gleaned from accidental intelligence and various conversation, by a quick apprehension, a judicious selection, and a happy memory, a keen appetite of knowledge, and a powerful digestion...
Page 190 - He is to exhibit his author's thoughts in such a dress of diction as the author would have given them, had his language been English...
Page 274 - Works of imagination excel by their allurement and delight ; by their power of attracting and detaining the attention. That book is good in vain, which the reader throws away. He only is the master, who keeps the mind in pleasing captivity...
Page 164 - To judge rightly of an author, we must transport ourselves to his time, and examine what were the wants of his contemporaries, and what were his means of supplying them.
Page 254 - Proffering the Hind to wait her half the way: That, since the sky was clear, an hour of talk Might help her to beguile the tedious walk. With much good-will the motion was embrac'd...
Page 248 - A milk-white Hind, immortal and unchang'd, Fed on the lawns, and, in the forest rang'd : Without unspotted, innocent within, She fear'd no danger, for she knew no sin. Yet had she oft been chas'd with horns and hounds, And Scythian shafts, and many winged wounds Aim'd at her heart ; was often forc'd to fly, And doom'd to death, though fated not to die.
Page 185 - There was therefore before the time of Dryden no poetical diction, no system of words at once refined from the grossness of domestic use, and free from the harshness of terms appropriated to particular arts. Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.