The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. |
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Page 9
Some years afterwards , “ business , " says Sprat , passed of course into other
hands ; " and Cowley , being no longer ... Nor let him then enjoy supreme
command , But fall untimely by some hostile hand , And lie unburied on the
barren sand .
Some years afterwards , “ business , " says Sprat , passed of course into other
hands ; " and Cowley , being no longer ... Nor let him then enjoy supreme
command , But fall untimely by some hostile hand , And lie unburied on the
barren sand .
Page 47
... All hand in hand do decently advance , And to my song with smooth and equal
measure dance ; While the dance lasts , how long soe ' er it be , My musick ' s
voice shall bear it company ; Till all gentle notes be drown ' d In the last trumpet '
s ...
... All hand in hand do decently advance , And to my song with smooth and equal
measure dance ; While the dance lasts , how long soe ' er it be , My musick ' s
voice shall bear it company ; Till all gentle notes be drown ' d In the last trumpet '
s ...
Page 349
Dryden and his friends laughed at the length of time , and the number of hands ,
employed upon this performance ; in which , though by ... there is no opportunity
of making , or is to be fetched from books and pamphlets not always at hand .
Dryden and his friends laughed at the length of time , and the number of hands ,
employed upon this performance ; in which , though by ... there is no opportunity
of making , or is to be fetched from books and pamphlets not always at hand .
Page 366
His last work was his Fables , published in consequence , as is supposed , of a
contract now in the hands of Mr . Tonson ; by which he obliged himself , in
consideration of three hundred pounds , to finish for the press ten thousand
verses .
His last work was his Fables , published in consequence , as is supposed , of a
contract now in the hands of Mr . Tonson ; by which he obliged himself , in
consideration of three hundred pounds , to finish for the press ten thousand
verses .
Page 409
In the battle , his terms seem to have been blown away ; but he deals them
liberally in the dock : So here some pick out bullets from the side , Some drive old
okum through each seam and rift : Their left - hand does the calking - iron guide ,
The ...
In the battle , his terms seem to have been blown away ; but he deals them
liberally in the dock : So here some pick out bullets from the side , Some drive old
okum through each seam and rift : Their left - hand does the calking - iron guide ,
The ...
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admired afterwards answer appears beauties beginning better called character common considered Cowley criticism death delight desire Dryden Earl easily elegance English equal excellence expected expression fancy formed friends genius give given hand hope images imagination Italy kind King knowledge known labour Lady language Latin learning least less light lines lived Lord lost manners means mention Milton mind nature never numbers observation once opinion original passages passions performance perhaps person play pleasing pleasure poem poet poetical poetry praise present probably produced publick published raised reader reason received relates remarks rhyme says seems sent sentiments sometimes supplied supposed tell thing thou thought tion tragedy translation true truth verses virtue Waller whole write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 173 - The want* of human interest is always felt. Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation ; we desert / our master, and seek for companions.
Page 417 - 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 2 - ... he became, as he relates, irrecoverably a poet. Such are the accidents which, sometimes remembered, and perhaps sometimes forgotten, produce that particular designation of mind, and propensity for some certain science or employment, which is commonly called genius. The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction.
Page 173 - This, being necessary, was therefore defensible ; and he should have secured the consistency of his system, by keeping immateriality out of sight, and enticing his reader to drop it from his thoughts. But he has unhappily perplexed his poetry with his philosophy. His infernal and celestial powers are sometimes pure spirit, and sometimes animated body.
Page 63 - His spear, — to equal which, the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral, were but a wand...
Page 97 - ... wrong ; the next is an acquaintance with the history of mankind, and with those examples which may be said to embody truth, and prove by events the reasonableness of opinions. Prudence and justice are virtues and excellences of all times and of all places ; we are perpetually moralists, but we are geometricians only by chance.
Page 395 - 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. From those sounds which we hear on small or on coarse occasions, we do not easily receive strong impressions, or delightful images ; and words to which we are nearly strangers, whenever they occur, draw that attention on themselves...
Page 418 - As when some great and gracious monarch dies, Soft whispers, first, and mournful murmurs rise Among the sad attendants ; then the sound Soon gathers voice, and spreads the news around, Through town and country, till the dreadful blast Is blown to distant colonies at last...
Page 436 - I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran.
Page 408 - These fight like husbands, but like lovers those : These fain would keep, and those more fain enjoy...