preface biograpical and critical, to the works of the english poets |
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Page 11
... saysPrior , « improved our versification , “ and Dryden perfected it . ” He has
given specimens of various composition , descriptive , ludicrous , didactick , and
sublime . He appears to have had , in common with almost 2 He D E N H A M. IL.
... saysPrior , « improved our versification , “ and Dryden perfected it . ” He has
given specimens of various composition , descriptive , ludicrous , didactick , and
sublime . He appears to have had , in common with almost 2 He D E N H A M. IL.
Page 2
In his dedication to Dr. Wilkins he appears a very willing and liberal encomiast ,
both of the living and the dead . : He implores his pa· tron's excuse of his verses ,
both as falling so infinitely below the full and sublime genius of that excellent ...
In his dedication to Dr. Wilkins he appears a very willing and liberal encomiast ,
both of the living and the dead . : He implores his pa· tron's excuse of his verses ,
both as falling so infinitely below the full and sublime genius of that excellent ...
Page 9
... withstanding the want of morality in the original design , and the despicable
scenes of vile comedy with which he has diverlified his tragick action . By
comparing this with his Orphan , it will appear 3 appear that his images were by
time be .
... withstanding the want of morality in the original design , and the despicable
scenes of vile comedy with which he has diverlified his tragick action . By
comparing this with his Orphan , it will appear 3 appear that his images were by
time be .
Page 7
samuel johnson. W A L S H. WILLIAM WALSH , the LLIAM WALSH , the fon of
Joseph Walsh , Esq ; of Abberley in Worcestershire , was born in 1663 , as
appears from the account of Wood ; who relates , that at the age of fifteen he
became , in ...
samuel johnson. W A L S H. WILLIAM WALSH , the LLIAM WALSH , the fon of
Joseph Walsh , Esq ; of Abberley in Worcestershire , was born in 1663 , as
appears from the account of Wood ; who relates , that at the age of fifteen he
became , in ...
Page 28
easier to make a great thing appear little , than a little one great : Cotton and
others of a very low genius have done the former ; but Philips , Garth , and
Boileau only the latter . A picture in miniature is every painter's talent ; but a piece
for a ...
easier to make a great thing appear little , than a little one great : Cotton and
others of a very low genius have done the former ; but Philips , Garth , and
Boileau only the latter . A picture in miniature is every painter's talent ; but a piece
for a ...
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Preface Biograpical and Critical, to the Works of the English Poets Samuel Johnson No preview available - 2016 |
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Popular passages
Page 14 - Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike; Alike...
Page 62 - 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...
Page 24 - Blank verse, left merely to its numbers, has little operation either on the ear or mind ; it can hardly support itself without bold figures and striking images.
Page 62 - His studies had been so various, that I am not able to name a man of equal knowledge. His acquaintance with books was great; and what he did not immediately know, he could at least tell where to find.
Page 18 - The lines are in themselves not perfect, for most of the words thus artfully opposed are to be understood simply on one side of the comparison, and metaphorically on the other ; and if there be any language which does not express intellectual operations by material images, into that language they cannot be translated.
Page 24 - Horace's wit and Virgil's state He did not steal, but emulate, And when he would like them appear, Their garb, but not their clothes, did wear...
Page 1 - Having been compelled by his necessities to contract debts, and hunted, as is supposed, by the terriers of the law, he retired to a publick house on Tower-hill, where he is said to have died of want ; or, as it is related by one of his biographers, by swallowing, after a long fast, a piece of bread which charity had supplied. He went out, as is reported, almost naked, in the rage of hunger, and, finding a gentleman in a neighbouring coffeehouse, asked him for a shilling.
Page 14 - That fervile path thou nobly doft decline, "• Of tracing word by word, and line by line. " Thofe are the labour'd births of...
Bibliographic information
| Title | preface biograpical and critical, to the works of the english poets |
| Author | samuel johnson |
| Published | 1779 |
| Original from | Oxford University |
| Digitized | 31 Jul 2007 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |