Letters on Literature, Taste, and Composition: Addressed to His Son |
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Page 66
Respecting what is a mere exertion of fancy , scarcely any rules can be
established , and in this respect even Aristotle ' s poetics have done more harm
than good , particularly in the rules which he pretends to prescribe for dramatic ...
Respecting what is a mere exertion of fancy , scarcely any rules can be
established , and in this respect even Aristotle ' s poetics have done more harm
than good , particularly in the rules which he pretends to prescribe for dramatic ...
Page 72
Perhaps he is not quite equal to his great original , at least as far as respects Tom
Jones , in the skill and address of ... Indeed Tom Jones is in some measure
culpable in this respect ; for actual vice is treated too much as venial levity , and ...
Perhaps he is not quite equal to his great original , at least as far as respects Tom
Jones , in the skill and address of ... Indeed Tom Jones is in some measure
culpable in this respect ; for actual vice is treated too much as venial levity , and ...
Page 73
... adapted by nature , should have been wasted on the compilation of a dull , and
in all respects very indifferent history . ... ther as truth or fiction , is difficult to
determine ; nor does it much signify with respect to so contemptible a
performance .
... adapted by nature , should have been wasted on the compilation of a dull , and
in all respects very indifferent history . ... ther as truth or fiction , is difficult to
determine ; nor does it much signify with respect to so contemptible a
performance .
Page 157
I cordially agree with our great critic in condemning what the poet has urged with
respect to the sound being an echo to the sense , as the weakest part of the
poem . Rapin ' s Poem on Gardening I have never seen . Du Fresnoy ' s Poem on
...
I cordially agree with our great critic in condemning what the poet has urged with
respect to the sound being an echo to the sense , as the weakest part of the
poem . Rapin ' s Poem on Gardening I have never seen . Du Fresnoy ' s Poem on
...
Page 282
believe will be found to result from the nature of the subject , which is less
susceptible of beauties ; and unfortunately all the most interesting parts of the
poem are the first read . One sensation I have felt with respect to Virgil , whether it
may ...
believe will be found to result from the nature of the subject , which is less
susceptible of beauties ; and unfortunately all the most interesting parts of the
poem are the first read . One sensation I have felt with respect to Virgil , whether it
may ...
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Popular passages
Page 65 - WE were now treading that illustrious Island, which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge, and the blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be impossible, if it were endeavoured, and would be foolish, if it were possible.
Page 167 - Who wickedly is wise, or madly brave, Is but the more a fool, the more a knave. Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains, Like good Aurelius let him reign, or bleed Like Socrates, that man is great indeed. What's fame? a fancied life in others' breath, A thing beyond us, ev'n before our death.
Page 90 - AWAKE, my St John ! leave all meaner things To low ambition, and the pride of kings. Let us (since life can little more supply Than just to look about us and to die...
Page 105 - O thou, that, with surpassing glory crown'd, Look'st from thy sole dominion, like the god Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminish'd heads ; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 0 sun ! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, That bring to my remembrance from what state 1 fell, how glorious once above thy sphere...
Page 166 - I'll tell you, friend! a wise man and a fool. You'll find, if once the monarch acts the monk, Or, cobbler-like, the parson will be drunk, Worth makes the man, and want of it, the fellow; The rest is all but leather or prunella.
Page 57 - 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 166 - Go ! if your ancient, but ignoble blood Has crept through scoundrels ever since the flood, Go ! and pretend your family is young, Nor own your fathers have been fools so long. What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards ? Alas ! not all the blood of all the Howards. Look next on greatness : say where greatness lies, Where, but among the heroes and the wise...
Page 168 - Csesar with a senate at his heels. In Parts superior what advantage lies? Tell (for You can) what is it to be wise? 'Tis but to know how little can be known; To see all others...
Page 167 - Is hung on high, to poison half mankind. All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart : One...
Page 195 - Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear : Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Some village- Hampden, that, with dauntless breast, The little tyrant of his fields withstood, Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood. Th...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Letters on Literature, Taste, and Composition: Addressed to His Son Issue 42 of British culture series, Group VI Letters on Literature, Taste, and Composition: Addressed to His Son, George Gregory Volume 1 of Letters on literature, taste, and composition, George Gregory |
| Author | George Gregory |
| Publisher | Phillips, 1808 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 24 May 2007 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |