The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.G. Walker ... [and 9 others], 1820 |
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Page 11
... stage , than either in Rome or Athens ; and if she excels the Greek and Latin Phædra , I need not say she surpasses the French one , though embellished with whatever regular beauties and moving softness Racine him- self could give her ...
... stage , than either in Rome or Athens ; and if she excels the Greek and Latin Phædra , I need not say she surpasses the French one , though embellished with whatever regular beauties and moving softness Racine him- self could give her ...
Page 22
... stage , with the story of Lady Jane Grey . It is not un- likely that his experience of the inefficacy and in- credibility of a mythological tale might determine him to choose an action from English history , at no great distance from ...
... stage , with the story of Lady Jane Grey . It is not un- likely that his experience of the inefficacy and in- credibility of a mythological tale might determine him to choose an action from English history , at no great distance from ...
Page 62
... stage , where it still keeps its turns of appearing , and pro- bably will long keep them , for there is scarcely any work of any poet at once so interesting by the fable , and so delightful by the language . The story is domestick , and ...
... stage , where it still keeps its turns of appearing , and pro- bably will long keep them , for there is scarcely any work of any poet at once so interesting by the fable , and so delightful by the language . The story is domestick , and ...
Page 64
... stage . His last tragedy ( 1715 ) was Lady Jane Grey . This subject had been chosen by Mr. Smith , whose papers were put into Rowe's hands such as he de- scribes them in his preface . This play has likewise ^ sunk into oblivion . From ...
... stage . His last tragedy ( 1715 ) was Lady Jane Grey . This subject had been chosen by Mr. Smith , whose papers were put into Rowe's hands such as he de- scribes them in his preface . This play has likewise ^ sunk into oblivion . From ...
Page 65
... stage . Being by a competent fortune exempted from any necessity of combating his inclination , he never wrote in distress , and therefore does not appear to have ever written in haste . His works were finished to his own approbation ...
... stage . Being by a competent fortune exempted from any necessity of combating his inclination , he never wrote in distress , and therefore does not appear to have ever written in haste . His works were finished to his own approbation ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison afterwards appeared Battle of Ramillies Beggar's Opera Cato censure character Congreve contempt conversation court criticism death declared delight diligence Dryden Duke Earl elegant endeavoured excellence favour Fenton fortune friends genius honour House of Hanover imagined Juba judgement justly kind King William Kit-cat Club Lady letter likewise lived London lord chamberlain Lord Tyrconnel mankind Matthew Prior mentioned merit mind nature neglect ness never observed obtained occasion once opinion passion performance perhaps play pleased pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope pounds praise present Prior publick published Queen racter reason received regard remarkable reputation Savage Savage's says seems seldom Sempronius sent sentiments Sir Robert Walpole solicited sometimes Spence Steele sthenes supposed Syphax Tatler Theophilus Cibber thought Tickell tion told topicks tragedy Tyrconnel verses virtue Whig write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 141 - His prose is the model of the middle style ; on grave subjects not formal, on light occasions not grovelling ; pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration ; always equable, and always easy, without glowing words or pointed sentences. Addison never deviates from his track to snatch a grace ; he seeks no ambitious ornaments, and tries no hazardous innovations.
Page 114 - No greater felicity can genius attain than that of having purified intellectual pleasure, separated mirth from indecency, and wit from licentiousness; of having taught a succession of writers to bring elegance and gaiety to the aid of goodness; and, if I may use expressions yet more awful, of having turned many to righteousness...
Page 120 - Cato it has been not unjustly determined, that it is rather a poem in dialogue than a drama, rather a succession of just sentiments in elegant language, than a representation of natural affections, or of any state probable or possible in human life. Nothing here " excites or assuages emotion :" here is " no magical power of raising phantastic terror or wild anxiety.
Page 27 - At this man's table I enjoyed many cheerful and instructive hours, with companions such as are not often found — with one who has lengthened, and one who has gladdened life ; with Dr. 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 110 - was particular in this writer, that when he had taken his resolution, or made his plan for what he designed to write, he would walk about a room, and dictate^ into language with as much freedom and ease as any one could write it down, and attend to the coherence and grammar of what he dictated.
Page 410 - ... shall be reminded, that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.
Page 139 - ... general knowledge which now circulates in common talk was in his time rarely to be found. Men not professing learning were not ashamed of ignorance, and in the female world any acquaintance with books was distinguished only to be censured. His purpose was to infuse literary curiosity by gentle and unsuspected conveyance into the gay, the idle, and the wealthy; he therefore presented knowledge in the most alluring form, not lofty and austere, but accessible and familiar.
Page 138 - It is not uncommon for those who have grown wise by the labour of others to add a little of their own, and overlook their masters. Addison is now despised by some who perhaps would never have seen his defects, but by the lights which he afforded them.
Page 399 - The keeper did not confine his benevolence to a gentle execution of his office, but made some overtures to the creditor for his release, though without effect; and continued, during the whole time of his imprisonment, to treat him with the utmost tenderness and civility.
Page 71 - I know not that there can be found in his plays any deep search into nature, any accurate discriminations of kindred qualities or nice display of passion in its progress ; all is general and undefined.