The Lives of the English Poets: and a Criticism of Their Work |
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Page 109
... seems to have turned his mind upon prepara- tion for the decifive hour , and therefore con- fecrated his poetry to devotion . It is pleafing to discover that his piety was without weakness , that his intellectual powers continued ...
... seems to have turned his mind upon prepara- tion for the decifive hour , and therefore con- fecrated his poetry to devotion . It is pleafing to discover that his piety was without weakness , that his intellectual powers continued ...
Page 117
... seems always to do his best ; though his fubjects are often unworthy of his care . It is not easy to think without fome contempt on an author , who is growing il- luftrious in his own opinion by verses , at one time , “ To a Lady , who ...
... seems always to do his best ; though his fubjects are often unworthy of his care . It is not easy to think without fome contempt on an author , who is growing il- luftrious in his own opinion by verses , at one time , “ To a Lady , who ...
Page 123
... Seem'd to confine , and fetter him again : Which the glad faint fhakes off at his com- mand , As once the viper from his facred hand . So joys the aged oak , when we divide The creeping ivy from his injur'd fide . Of the two laft ...
... Seem'd to confine , and fetter him again : Which the glad faint fhakes off at his com- mand , As once the viper from his facred hand . So joys the aged oak , when we divide The creeping ivy from his injur'd fide . Of the two laft ...
Page 124
... seems not easy to say whether it is intended to raise terror or merriment . The beginning is too fplendid for jeft , and the conclufion too light for seriousness . The verfification is ftudied , the scenes are diligently difplayed , and ...
... seems not easy to say whether it is intended to raise terror or merriment . The beginning is too fplendid for jeft , and the conclufion too light for seriousness . The verfification is ftudied , the scenes are diligently difplayed , and ...
Page 126
... seems not to be univerfal . Newton was in his eighty - fifth year improving his Chronology , a few days be- fore his death ; and Waller appears not , in my opinion , to have loft at eighty - two any part of his poetical powers . His ...
... seems not to be univerfal . Newton was in his eighty - fifth year improving his Chronology , a few days be- fore his death ; and Waller appears not , in my opinion , to have loft at eighty - two any part of his poetical powers . His ...
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Common terms and phrases
afterwards againſt almoſt anſwer appears becauſe beſt cenfure character Charles Dryden compofition confeffed confidered Cowley criticiſm defign defired diction diſcover Dryden earl eaſily elegance Engliſh excellence expreffion faid fame fatire fays fecond feems feldom fenfe fent fentiments fhall fhew fhould fince firft firſt fome fomething fometimes foon ftudies fubject fuccefs fuch fuffered fufficiently fupply fuppofed fure genius greateſt heroick himſelf Hiſtory houſe Hudibras intereft itſelf king labour laft laſt learning leaſt lefs lord maſter Milton mind moft moſt muft muſt neceffary never NIHIL numbers obferved occafion paffages paffed paffions Paradife Loft perfon perhaps play pleaſe pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry praiſe prefent profe publick publiſhed purpoſe racter raiſed reaſon reprefented rhyme ſay ſeems ſome ſtate ſtill ſtudy ſuch thefe themſelves theſe thing thofe thoſe thought thouſand tion tragedy tranflated uſe verfe verfification verſes Virgil Waller whofe whoſe write written
Popular passages
Page 372 - Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike; Alike...
Page 188 - 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.
Page 137 - ... devout prayer to that eternal Spirit who can enrich with all utterance and knowledge, and sends out his seraphim, with the hallowed fire of his altar, to touch and purify the lips of whom he pleases...
Page 181 - To be of no Church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by Faith and Hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind, unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
Page 299 - Of him that knows much it is natural to suppose that he has read with diligence; yet I rather believe that the knowledge of Dryden was gleaned from accidental intelligence and various conversation; by a quick apprehension, a judicious selection, and a happy memory, a keen appetite of knowledge, and a powerful digestion...
Page 483 - James, whose skill in physic will be long remembered ; and with David Garrick, whom I hoped to have gratified with this character of our common friend. But what are the hopes of man ? I am disappointed by that stroke of death which has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.
Page 316 - Or, shipwreck'd, labour to some distant shore ; Or, in dark churches, walk among the dead : They wake with horror, and dare sleep no more.
Page 20 - Yet great labour directed by great abilities is never wholly lost : if they frequently threw away their wit upon false conceits, they likewise sometimes struck out unexpected truth ; if their conceits were far-fetched, they were often worth the carriage. To write on their plan, it was at least necessary to read and think.
Page 172 - ... read for pleasure or accomplishment, and who buy the numerous products of modern typography, the number was then comparatively small. To prove the paucity of readers, it may be sufficient to remark, that the nation had been satisfied from 1623 to 1664, that is, forty-one years, with only two editions of the works of Shakspeare, which probably did not together make one thousand copies.
Page 323 - 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 tuneful voice was heard from high. Arise ye more than dead. Then cold and hot, and moist and dry, In order to their stations leap, And music's power obey. 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.