Biographical Sketches of Eminent British Poets: Chronologically Arranged from Chaucer to Burns, with Criticisms on Their Work, Selected from the Most Distinguished WritersA. Thom & Sons, 1857 - 508 pages |
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Page 2
... afterwards commuted into a pension of twenty marks . In Chambers's " Cyclopedia of English Literature , " there is a brief and interesting sketch of the leading events in Chaucer's life , from which the following additional information ...
... afterwards commuted into a pension of twenty marks . In Chambers's " Cyclopedia of English Literature , " there is a brief and interesting sketch of the leading events in Chaucer's life , from which the following additional information ...
Page 3
... afterwards received a grant of £ 20 , and a tun of wine , per annum . The name of the poet does not occur again for some years ; and he is supposed to have retired to Woodstock , and there composed his ' Canterbury Tales . ' In 1398 a ...
... afterwards received a grant of £ 20 , and a tun of wine , per annum . The name of the poet does not occur again for some years ; and he is supposed to have retired to Woodstock , and there composed his ' Canterbury Tales . ' In 1398 a ...
Page 12
... afterwards third Duke of Norfolk ; and his mother was Elizabeth Stafford , daughter of Edward , Duke of Buckingham . The early history and education of the noble poet are involved in uncertainty . Dr. Nott , the most learned and ...
... afterwards third Duke of Norfolk ; and his mother was Elizabeth Stafford , daughter of Edward , Duke of Buckingham . The early history and education of the noble poet are involved in uncertainty . Dr. Nott , the most learned and ...
Page 13
... afterwards imprisoned in the mathematics , and taught most what they would have learned to practise . According to a curious old passage , extracted by Dr. Nott from Hardinge's Chronicle , they began very early with languages and ...
... afterwards imprisoned in the mathematics , and taught most what they would have learned to practise . According to a curious old passage , extracted by Dr. Nott from Hardinge's Chronicle , they began very early with languages and ...
Page 15
... afterwards he was made Knight of the Garter . This was the season of his highest favour . It was followed by disgrace and im- prisonment for having challenged John à Leigh , of Stock- well , upon a private quarrel . On his release he ac ...
... afterwards he was made Knight of the Garter . This was the season of his highest favour . It was followed by disgrace and im- prisonment for having challenged John à Leigh , of Stock- well , upon a private quarrel . On his release he ac ...
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Common terms and phrases
Addison admired afterwards Allan Ramsay amiable appeared Beaumont and Fletcher beautiful Ben Jonson biographers born celebrated character Chaucer church composed composition Cowper critical Cyclopedia death delight diction died distinguished dramatic Dryden Earl Edinburgh Edinburgh Review edition elegance eminent England English language English Poetry English poets essays excellence Faerie Queene fame fancy father favour feeling Fletcher friends genius Goldsmith heart honour humour interesting Ireland Johnson labours language learned literary literature lived London Lord memoir ment merits Milton mind moral muse nature never observes Paradise Lost period poem poet's poetical poetry political Pope popular possessed praise productions prose published racter reader received religious remarkable Review sacred Sacred Poets satire says selected Shakspeare Sir Walter Sir Walter Scott sketch specimens Spenser spirit style sweet Swift talents taste thought tion verse Westminster Abbey Westminster School writer written wrote young
Popular passages
Page 60 - I cannot say he is everywhere alike; were he so, I should do him injury to compare him with the greatest of mankind. He is many times flat, insipid ; his comic wit degenerating into clenches, his serious swelling into bombast. But he is always great when some great occasion is presented to him...
Page 361 - tis hard to combat, learns to fly! For him no wretches, born to work and weep, Explore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep; No surly porter stands in guilty state, To spurn imploring famine from the gate...
Page 460 - Twas thine own genius gave the final blow, And help'd to plant the wound that laid thee low • So the struck eagle, stretch'd upon the plain, No more through rolling clouds to soar again, View'd his own feather on the fatal dart, And wing'd the shaft that...
Page 60 - All the images of nature were still present to him, and he drew them not laboriously but luckily: when he describes anything you more than see it, you feel it too. Those who accuse him to have wanted learning, give him the greater commendation: he was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read Nature; he looked inwards, and found her there.
Page 361 - And thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid, Still first to fly where sensual joys invade; Unfit in these degenerate times of shame To catch the heart, or strike for honest fame; Dear charming nymph, neglected and decried, My shame in crowds, my solitary pride; Thou source of all my bliss, and all my woe, That found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so; Thou guide by which the nobler arts excel, Thou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well!
Page 312 - Is not a patron, My Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?
Page 281 - If the flights of Dryden therefore, are higher, Pope continues longer on the wing. If of Dryden's fire the blaze is brighter, of Pope's the heat is more regular and constant. Dryden often surpasses expectation, and Pope never falls below it. Dryden is read with frequent astonishment, and Pope with perpetual delight.
Page 333 - Perhaps he was the most learned man in Europe. He was equally acquainted with the elegant and profound parts of science, and that not superficially, but thoroughly. He knew every branch of history, both natural and civil; had read all the original historians of England, France, and Italy; and was a great antiquarian. Criticism, metaphysics, morals, politics, made a principal part of his study; voyages and travels of all sorts were his favourite amusements; and he had a fine taste in painting, prints,...
Page 184 - Who now reads Cowley ? if he pleases yet, His moral pleases, not his pointed wit: Forgot his Epic, nay Pindaric art, But still I love the language of his heart.
Page 218 - So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; He is a great observer and he looks Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays, As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music; Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at any thing.