Lives of the English Poets: Smith-SavageClarendon Press, 1905 - English poetry |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 52
Page 5
... considered the ancients and moderns not as parties or rivals for fame , but as architects upon one and the same plan , the Art of Poetry , according to which he judged , approved , and blamed , without flattery or detraction . If he did ...
... considered the ancients and moderns not as parties or rivals for fame , but as architects upon one and the same plan , the Art of Poetry , according to which he judged , approved , and blamed , without flattery or detraction . If he did ...
Page 13
... considered as the opponent of his claim . Of his lampoon upon him I once heard a single line too gross to be repeated . But he was still a genius and a scholar , and Oxford was unwilling 40 to lose him : he was endured , with all his ...
... considered as the opponent of his claim . Of his lampoon upon him I once heard a single line too gross to be repeated . But he was still a genius and a scholar , and Oxford was unwilling 40 to lose him : he was endured , with all his ...
Page 19
... considered , like those of Scaliger , as worthy of preservation . He had great readiness and exactness of criticism , and by a 62 cursory glance over a new composition would exactly tell all its faults and beauties . He was remarkable ...
... considered , like those of Scaliger , as worthy of preservation . He had great readiness and exactness of criticism , and by a 62 cursory glance over a new composition would exactly tell all its faults and beauties . He was remarkable ...
Page 20
... considered as not qualified to oppose or contradict him . He had many frailties ; yet it cannot but be supposed that he had great merit , who could obtain to the same play a prologue from Addison and an epilogue from Prior3 , and who ...
... considered as not qualified to oppose or contradict him . He had many frailties ; yet it cannot but be supposed that he had great merit , who could obtain to the same play a prologue from Addison and an epilogue from Prior3 , and who ...
Page 35
... considered in a conference the great question whether the crown was vacant , and manfully spoke in favour of his old master 3 . He complied , however , with the new establishment , and was 13 left unmolested ; but in 1692 a strange ...
... considered in a conference the great question whether the crown was vacant , and manfully spoke in favour of his old master 3 . He complied , however , with the new establishment , and was 13 left unmolested ; but in 1692 a strange ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aaron Hill acted Addison afterwards Ante appeared Appendix Beggar's Opera Biog Bishop Blackmore Boswell's Johnson Brit called Cato censure character Cibber College comedy Congreve Corres Court criticism Cunningham's Lives death describes Dict Dram Dryden Duke Dunciad Earl edition elegant Elwin and Courthope endeavoured English Essays favour Fenton friends Garth genius Gent Halifax Hist honour Horace Horace Walpole Hughes imitation Jane Shore John King Lady Letters lines London Lord MILTON Misc nature never Opera Oxford Parl Parnell perhaps play poem poetical poetry Poets Pope Pope's Works Elwin praise Preface Prince Prior publick published Queen quoted Richard Savage Rowe Savage Savage's says shew Smith Spectator Spence's Anec Steele supposed Swift wrote Syphax Tatler thought Tickell tion told tragedy Tyrconnel verses viii Walpole Whig writes written xxxiii
Popular passages
Page 150 - Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.
Page 276 - We were all, at the first night of it, in great uncertainty of the event ; till we were very much encouraged by overhearing the Duke of Argyle, who sat in the next box to us, say, ' It will do — it must do ! I see it in the eyes of them.
Page 34 - ... a true account and declaration of the horrid conspiracy against the late king...
Page 146 - Addison is now despised by some who perhaps would never have seen his defects but by the lights which he afforded them.
Page 149 - His prose is the model of the middle style; on grave subjects not formal, on light occasions not grovelling; pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration; always equable, and always easy, without glowing words or pointed sentences. Addison never deviates from his track to snatch a grace; he seeks no ambitious ornaments, and tries no hazardous innovations. His page is always luminous, but never blazes in unexpected splendour.
Page 230 - Whistling through hollows of this vaulted aisle. We'll listen— Leon. Hark! Aim No, all is hush'd, and still as death — 'tis dreadful ! How reverend is the face of this tall pile, Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads, To bear aloft its arch'd and ponderous roof, By its own weight made stedfast and immovable, Looking tranquillity. It strikes an awe And terror on my aching sight ; the tombs And monumental caves of death look cold, And shoot a dullness to my trembling heart.
Page 434 - Savage did not exempt him; or if those who in confidence of superior capacities or attainments disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing will supply the want of prudence; and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.
Page 117 - Lord Warwick was a young man of very irregular life, and perhaps of loose opinions. Addison, for whom he did not want respect, had very diligently endeavoured to reclaim him ; but his arguments and expostulations had no effect. One experiment, however, remained to be tried: when he found his life near its end, he directed the young Lord to be called; and when he desired, with great tenderness, to hear his last injunctions, told him, I have sent for you that you may see how a Christian can die.
Page 253 - The incessant attacks of his enemies, whether serious or merry, are never discovered to have disturbed his quiet, or to have lessened his confidence in himself.
Page 249 - Blackmore led him to gratify, and he produced (1721) a new Version of the Psalms of David, fitted to the Tunes used in Churches...