Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets: With Critical Observations on Their Works, Volume 1 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 83
Page xi
... opinion , or fidelity to a party , may easily overpower the vigilance of a mind habitually well dis- posed , and prevail over unassisted and unfriended veracity . " 2 ! Dictatorial in conversation and confident in his own resources , he ...
... opinion , or fidelity to a party , may easily overpower the vigilance of a mind habitually well dis- posed , and prevail over unassisted and unfriended veracity . " 2 ! Dictatorial in conversation and confident in his own resources , he ...
Page xx
... opinion from Mr. Croker ( whose knowledge of Pope is undoubted ) will I am sure in no way detract from the value of my judgment in this particular . When Boswell , in conversation with Burke , characterised the ' Life of Young ' as a ...
... opinion from Mr. Croker ( whose knowledge of Pope is undoubted ) will I am sure in no way detract from the value of my judgment in this particular . When Boswell , in conversation with Burke , characterised the ' Life of Young ' as a ...
Page xxi
... opinion of the friends of Lord Lyttelton , and such is the result at which every reader of the Life arrives . It is indeed a sketch reluctantly and hastily put together - reluctantly , because he was willing to have adopted a life by ...
... opinion of the friends of Lord Lyttelton , and such is the result at which every reader of the Life arrives . It is indeed a sketch reluctantly and hastily put together - reluctantly , because he was willing to have adopted a life by ...
Page xxiv
... opinion of his good sense ; for even when wrong , he is still sagacious and penetrating , and the reader never loses ... opinions ; and where understanding alone is sufficient for poetical criticism , the decisions of Johnson are ...
... opinion of his good sense ; for even when wrong , he is still sagacious and penetrating , and the reader never loses ... opinions ; and where understanding alone is sufficient for poetical criticism , the decisions of Johnson are ...
Page xxv
... opinion they have completed them . " 9 His style attained in this way that certain roll and balance so characteristic of him . The original MS . of his Life of Pope ' ( now in Mr. Dillon's possession ) fully confirms the statement of ...
... opinion they have completed them . " 9 His style attained in this way that certain roll and balance so characteristic of him . The original MS . of his Life of Pope ' ( now in Mr. Dillon's possession ) fully confirms the statement of ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel admired Æneid afterwards Albion and Albanius appears Butler censure character Charles Church Cowley Cowley's criticism Cromwell daughter death Dedication delight Denham diction died Donne dramatic Dryden Duke Earl elegance English Essay excellence favour Fcap friends genius Georgics History honour Hudibras Jacob Tonson John John Dryden John Milton Johnson kind King King's known labour Lady language Latin learning letter lines Lives London Lord Lord Roscommon metaphysical poets Milton mind nature never NIHIL numbers observed opinion Paradise Lost Parliament perhaps Pindar play poem poet poetical poetry Pope Portrait Post 8vo pounds praise Preface printed prose published reader reason rhyme satire says Second Edition seems sentiments sometimes Sprat supposed Third Edition thou thought tion told Tonson tragedy translation Tyrannick Love verses versification Virgil Vols Waller Westminster Westminster Abbey Woodcuts words write written wrote
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.