Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets: With Critical Observations on Their Works, Volume 1 |
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Page ix
... known man ambitious of literary distinction . He was willing to have obtained other favours of a like character , for the pro- gress of his undertaking had brought him to the task of writing the lives of his contemporaries , and of some ...
... known man ambitious of literary distinction . He was willing to have obtained other favours of a like character , for the pro- gress of his undertaking had brought him to the task of writing the lives of his contemporaries , and of some ...
Page x
... known truths by his manner of adorning them . He seized at once the leading features , and though he may have omitted a pimple or a freckle , his likeness is unmistakeable - defined yet general , summary yet exact . The industry of ...
... known truths by his manner of adorning them . He seized at once the leading features , and though he may have omitted a pimple or a freckle , his likeness is unmistakeable - defined yet general , summary yet exact . The industry of ...
Page xii
... known that it appeared while Charles the Second was yet alive ; states positively - and in two places- that Dryden translated only one of Ovid's Epistles , whereas he translated at least two ; attributes to Settle what is by Por- dage ...
... known that it appeared while Charles the Second was yet alive ; states positively - and in two places- that Dryden translated only one of Ovid's Epistles , whereas he translated at least two ; attributes to Settle what is by Por- dage ...
Page xiv
... known can seldom be immediately told ; and when it might be told , it is no longer known . The delicate features of the mind , the nice discriminations of character , and the minute peculiarities of con- duct are soon obliterated ; and ...
... known can seldom be immediately told ; and when it might be told , it is no longer known . The delicate features of the mind , the nice discriminations of character , and the minute peculiarities of con- duct are soon obliterated ; and ...
Page xv
... known Ford " ( Hogarth's Ford ) are cited in sup- port of passages in his Life of Broome . Mr. Locker of the Leather - sellers ' Company , and Mr. Clark of Lincoln's Inn , are two more authorities to whom he refers , and of whom I have ...
... known Ford " ( Hogarth's Ford ) are cited in sup- port of passages in his Life of Broome . Mr. Locker of the Leather - sellers ' Company , and Mr. Clark of Lincoln's Inn , are two more authorities to whom he refers , and of whom I have ...
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admired afterwards appears called character Charles Church common considered copy Court Cowley criticism daughter death delight desire died Dryden Earl English Essay excellence expression favour Fcap formed friends give given hand History hope Italy John Johnson kind King knowledge known Lady language Latin learning least leave less letter lines Lives London Lord Lost manner mean mention Milton mind nature never Notes numbers observed once opinion original Paradise performance perhaps person play poem poet poetical poetry Pope Portrait Post 8vo praise Preface present printed produced published reader reason received relates remarks rhyme says Second Edition seems sometimes supposed tells things third thought tion told translation verses Vols Waller whole Woodcuts write written
Popular passages
Page 341 - All the images of nature were still present to him, and he drew them not laboriously, but luckily; when he describes anything, you more than see it, you feel it too. Those who accuse him to have wanted learning* give him the greater commendation: he was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read nature; he looked inwards, and found her there.
Page 364 - 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 141 - Nothing can less display knowledge, or less exercise invention, than to tell how a shepherd has lost his companion, and must now feed his flocks alone, without any judge of his skill in piping ; and how one god asks another god what is become of Lycidas, and how neither god can tell. He who thus grieves will excite no sympathy ; he who thus praises will confer no honour.
Page 21 - To write on their plan it was, at least, necessary to read and think. No man could be born a metaphysical poet, nor assume the dignity of a writer, by descriptions copied from descriptions, by imitations borrowed from imitations, by traditional imagery, and hereditary similes, by readiness of rhyme, and volubility of syllables n.
Page 162 - How charming is divine Philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo's lute, And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns.
Page 74 - O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o'er-flowing full.
Page 380 - 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 364 - 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 timeful voice was heard from high. Arise ye more than dead.
Page 76 - 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 cloaths, did wear.
Page xiv - If a life be delayed till interest and envy are at an end, we may hope for impartiality, but must expect little intelligence; for the incidents which give excellence to biography are of a volatile and evanescent kind, such as soon escape the memory, and are rarely transmitted by tradition.