Letters on Literature, Taste, and Composition: Addressed to His Son |
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Page 73
The popularity of Sterne is so far passed away , that it seems like insulting the
ashes of the dead to criticize him with severity . Under the class of fictitious
narrative it seems as if we could only consider his Tristram Shandy ; for in what
view to ...
The popularity of Sterne is so far passed away , that it seems like insulting the
ashes of the dead to criticize him with severity . Under the class of fictitious
narrative it seems as if we could only consider his Tristram Shandy ; for in what
view to ...
Page 94
From these defects in our numbers , and to afford us that regular return of the
same sound , which seems to constitute the music of verse , modern poets have
called in the aid of rhyme ; without which , whether it arises from habit or from ...
From these defects in our numbers , and to afford us that regular return of the
same sound , which seems to constitute the music of verse , modern poets have
called in the aid of rhyme ; without which , whether it arises from habit or from ...
Page 254
Magic , the tendency of which is naturally to excite horror and disgust , is
converted into an instrument of gaiety and pleasure ; and the author can give
diversity of character even to ideal beings , or rather seems as much conversant
with the ...
Magic , the tendency of which is naturally to excite horror and disgust , is
converted into an instrument of gaiety and pleasure ; and the author can give
diversity of character even to ideal beings , or rather seems as much conversant
with the ...
Page 277
On the Odyssey I differ from the majority of critics , for it seems to me to possess
more genius than the Iliad . That imagination must have been most fertile that
could invent such a story , and carry it through the various incidents with such ...
On the Odyssey I differ from the majority of critics , for it seems to me to possess
more genius than the Iliad . That imagination must have been most fertile that
could invent such a story , and carry it through the various incidents with such ...
Page 287
The Henriade of Voltaire seems to demand a few observations . As this was
written by a person of extraordinary genius , we are led to expect something
uncommon : his boldness in attempting an epic poem in this age deserves our
admiration ...
The Henriade of Voltaire seems to demand a few observations . As this was
written by a person of extraordinary genius , we are led to expect something
uncommon : his boldness in attempting an epic poem in this age deserves our
admiration ...
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action admired admit afford antient appear attention beautiful bound called character comedy common composed composition considered consists containing critics drama early English epic epigram excellent expression facts former French genius give Greek hand happy Homer human imagination imitation interesting introduced Johnson kind knowledge language learned least less letters lines literature lively lyric manner means measure Milton mind moral narrative nature necessary never observed original particularly passions perfect perhaps period person picture play plot poem poet poetical poetry Pope present productions prose reason regarded remark respect rules satire scarcely scene seems sentiment Shakspeare short song spirit story style taste thing thought tion tragedy translation unity verse Virgil whole writers written young
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 |