The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: The lives of the most eminent English poetsJ. Buckland [and 40 others], 1787 - English literature |
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Page 16
... Poets , Cowley and Milton , of diffimilar genius , of oppofite principles ; but con- curring in the cultivation of Latin poetry , in which the English , till their works and May's poem appeared * feemed unable to conteft the palm with ...
... Poets , Cowley and Milton , of diffimilar genius , of oppofite principles ; but con- curring in the cultivation of Latin poetry , in which the English , till their works and May's poem appeared * feemed unable to conteft the palm with ...
Page 22
... poets ; of whom , in a criticifn on the works of Cowley , it is not improper to give fome account . The metaphyfical poets were men of learning , and to fhew their learning was their whole endeavour ; but , unluckily refolving to fhew ...
... poets ; of whom , in a criticifn on the works of Cowley , it is not improper to give fome account . The metaphyfical poets were men of learning , and to fhew their learning was their whole endeavour ; but , unluckily refolving to fhew ...
Page 42
... poems , he has forgotten or ne glected to name his heroes . In his poem on the death of Harvey , there is much praife , but little paffion , a very juft and ample deline- ation of fuch virtues as a ftudious privacy admits , and fuch ...
... poems , he has forgotten or ne glected to name his heroes . In his poem on the death of Harvey , there is much praife , but little paffion , a very juft and ample deline- ation of fuch virtues as a ftudious privacy admits , and fuch ...
Page 53
... poem on the Sheldonian Theatre , in which all kinds of verse are shaken together , is unhappily inferted in the Mufa Anglicana . Pindarifm prevailed above half a century ; but at laft died gradually away , and other imitations fupply ...
... poem on the Sheldonian Theatre , in which all kinds of verse are shaken together , is unhappily inferted in the Mufa Anglicana . Pindarifm prevailed above half a century ; but at laft died gradually away , and other imitations fupply ...
Page 54
... poem which the author defigned to have extended to twelve books , merely , as he makes no fcruple of declaring , becaufe the Eneid had that number ; but he had lei- fure or perfeverance only to write the third part . Epick poems have ...
... poem which the author defigned to have extended to twelve books , merely , as he makes no fcruple of declaring , becaufe the Eneid had that number ; but he had lei- fure or perfeverance only to write the third part . Epick poems have ...
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Common terms and phrases
againſt anfwer appears becauſe caufe cenfure character Charles Dryden compofitions confidered converfation Cowley criticifm criticks defign defire delight difcovered Dryden eafily Earl elegance English excellence expreffions exprefs fafe faid fame fatire fays fecond feems feen fenfe fent fentiments fhall fhew fhould fince firft firſt fome fomething fometimes foon ftill ftudies ftyle fubject fuch fuffered fufficiently fupply fuppofed fure genius himſelf honour houfe houſe Hudibras itſelf John Dryden King labour laft laſt leaft learning lefs Lord Milton mind moft moſt muft muſt nature neceffary never NIHIL numbers obferved occafion paffages paffed paffions Paradife Loft perfon perhaps Pindar pleafed pleaſe pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry praife praiſe prefent profe publick publiſhed purpoſe racter raiſed reafon reft reprefented rhyme ſeems ſtudy thefe theſe thing thofe thoſe thou thought tion tragedy tranflation univerfally uſed verfes verſes Virgil Waller whofe write written
Popular passages
Page 146 - In this Poem there is no nature, for there is no truth ; there is no art, for there is nothing new. Its form is that of a pastoral, easy, vulgar, and therefore disgusting : whatever images it can supply, are long ago exhausted ; and its inherent improbability always forces dissatisfaction on the mind.
Page 382 - The clauses are never balanced, nor the periods modelled: every word seems to drop by chance, though it falls into its proper place. Nothing is cold or languid; the whole is airy, animated, and vigorous; what is little, is gay; what is great, is splendid.
Page 395 - To see this fleet upon the ocean move, Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies; And heaven, as if there wanted lights above, For tapers made two glaring comets rise.
Page 22 - The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together ; nature and art are ransacked for illustrations, comparisons, and allusions ; their learning instructs and their subtlety surprises ; but the reader commonly thinks his improvement dearly bought, and, though he sometimes admires, is seldom pleased.
Page 165 - 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.
Page 57 - Wash'd from the morning beauties' deepest red ; An harmless flatt'ring meteor shone for hair, And fell adown his shoulders with loose care ; He cuts out a silk mantle from the skies, Where the most sprightly azure...
Page 132 - that though our author had daily about him one or other to read, some persons of man's estate, who, of their own accord, greedily catched at the opportunity of being his readers, that they might as well reap the benefit of what they read to him, as oblige him by the benefit of their reading ; and others of younger years were sent by their parents to the same end...
Page 174 - From his contemporaries he neither courted nor received support : There is in his writings nothing by which the pride of other authors might be gratified, or favour gained ; no exchange of praise, nor solicitation of support.
Page 314 - Latin proverb, were not always the least happy; and as his fancy was quick, so likewise were the products of it remote and new. He borrowed not of any other, and his imaginations were such as could not easily enter into any other man.
Page 146 - We know that they never drove a field, and that they had no flocks to batten; and though it be allowed that the representation may be allegorical, the true meaning is so uncertain and remote, that it is never sought because it cannot be known when it is found.