The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. |
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Page 42
Of those songs dedicated to festivity and gaiety , in which even the morality is
voluptuous , and which teach nothing but the enjoyment of the present day , he
has given rather a pleasing than a faithful representation , having retained their ...
Of those songs dedicated to festivity and gaiety , in which even the morality is
voluptuous , and which teach nothing but the enjoyment of the present day , he
has given rather a pleasing than a faithful representation , having retained their ...
Page 64
The diction , being the vehicle of the thoughts , first presents itself to the
intellectual eye : and if the first appearance offends , a further knowledge is not
often sought . Whatever professes to benefit by pleasing , must please at once .
The diction , being the vehicle of the thoughts , first presents itself to the
intellectual eye : and if the first appearance offends , a further knowledge is not
often sought . Whatever professes to benefit by pleasing , must please at once .
Page 65
The words do and did , which so much degrade in present estimation the line that
admits them , were in the time of Cowley little censured or avoided ; how often he
used them , and with how bad an effect , at least to our ears , will appear by a ...
The words do and did , which so much degrade in present estimation the line that
admits them , were in the time of Cowley little censured or avoided ; how often he
used them , and with how bad an effect , at least to our ears , will appear by a ...
Page 308
Our present writers are by these wretches re . duced to the same condition Virgil
was , when the centurion seized on his estate . But I don ' t doubt but I can fix
upon the Męcenas of the present age , that will retrieve them from it . But ,
whatever ...
Our present writers are by these wretches re . duced to the same condition Virgil
was , when the centurion seized on his estate . But I don ' t doubt but I can fix
upon the Męcenas of the present age , that will retrieve them from it . But ,
whatever ...
Page 344
The design , ” says he , “ you great , the story English , and neither too near the
present times , nor too distant from them . " All for Love , or the World well Lost (
1678 ) , a tragedy founded upon the story of Antony and Cleopatra , he tells us , “
is ...
The design , ” says he , “ you great , the story English , and neither too near the
present times , nor too distant from them . " All for Love , or the World well Lost (
1678 ) , a tragedy founded upon the story of Antony and Cleopatra , he tells us , “
is ...
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Common terms and phrases
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...
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 9 of The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, Francesco Bartolozzi |
| Author | Samuel Johnson |
| Illustrated by | Samuel Freeman, Francesco Bartolozzi |
| Contributors | George Walker, John Haddon |
| Publisher | G. Walker ... [and 9 others], 1820 |
| Original from | Harvard University |
| Digitized | 18 Jan 2008 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |