The lives of the most eminent English poets (concluded). Miscellaneous livesJ. Buckland, J. Rivington and Sons, T. Payne and Sons, L. Davis, B. White and Son ... [and 36 others in London], 1787 |
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Page 25
... produce ambiguity in diction , and obfcurity in books . To this open display of unadul- terated nature it must be ascribed , that Homer has fewer paffages of doubtful meaning than any other poet either in the learned or in modern ...
... produce ambiguity in diction , and obfcurity in books . To this open display of unadul- terated nature it must be ascribed , that Homer has fewer paffages of doubtful meaning than any other poet either in the learned or in modern ...
Page 45
... produced a grotto where neceffity enforced a paffage . It may be fre- quently remarked of the ftudious and fpeculative , that they are proud of trifles , and that their amusements feem frivolous and childish ; whether it be that men ...
... produced a grotto where neceffity enforced a paffage . It may be fre- quently remarked of the ftudious and fpeculative , that they are proud of trifles , and that their amusements feem frivolous and childish ; whether it be that men ...
Page 62
... produced either publick praife , or publick cenfure . 194 It had however , in fome degree , the recommendation of novelty . Our language has few Letters , except those of statesmen . Howel indeed , about a century ago , pub- lifhed his ...
... produced either publick praife , or publick cenfure . 194 It had however , in fome degree , the recommendation of novelty . Our language has few Letters , except those of statesmen . Howel indeed , about a century ago , pub- lifhed his ...
Page 67
... produced , when he had perhaps himself forgotten it , in which he tells Concanen , " Dryden I obferve borrows for want " of leafure , and Pope for want of genius : Milton out of pride , and Addifon out of modesty . " 66 F 2 And when ...
... produced , when he had perhaps himself forgotten it , in which he tells Concanen , " Dryden I obferve borrows for want " of leafure , and Pope for want of genius : Milton out of pride , and Addifon out of modesty . " 66 F 2 And when ...
Page 73
... produce the belief of a kind of moral predestination , or over - ruling principle which cannot be refifted ; he that admits it is prepared to comply with every defire that caprice or opportunity fhall ex- cite , and to flatter himself ...
... produce the belief of a kind of moral predestination , or over - ruling principle which cannot be refifted ; he that admits it is prepared to comply with every defire that caprice or opportunity fhall ex- cite , and to flatter himself ...
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Common terms and phrases
Addifon affiftance afterwards againſt almoſt anſwer appears becauſe cenfure character compofition confequence confiderable confidered converfation curiofity defign defire difcovered Drake Dryden Dunciad eafily Effay endeavoured Engliſh fafe faid fame father fatire fays fecond feems fenfe fent fhall fhew fhip fhort fhould firft firſt fome fomething fometimes foon friendſhip ftate ftill ftudies fubject fuccefs fuch fuffered fufficient fuperior fupply fuppofed furely greateſt higheſt himſelf honour houſe Iliad increaſe kindneſs king laft laſt learning leaſt lefs Letters loft Lord Lyttelton maſter mind moft moſt muſt neceffary never Night Thoughts Nombre de Dios obferved occafion paffage paffed paffion perfons perhaps Pindar pinnaces pleafing pleaſed pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry Pope Pope's praife praiſe prefent profe publick publiſhed purpoſe raiſed reafon reft ſeems ſtate ſtudy thefe themſelves theſe thofe Thomſon thoſe thouſand tion tranflation univerfity uſed verfe verfion verſes vifit whofe whoſe write Young
Popular passages
Page 110 - 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 109 - Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners.
Page 276 - The excellence of this work is not exactness, but copiousness ; particular lines are not to be regarded ; the power is in the whole ; and in the whole there is a magnificence like that ascribed to Chinese plantation, the magnificence of vast extent and endless diversity.
Page 308 - In the character of his Elegy I rejoice to concur with the common reader; for by the common sense of readers uncorrupted with literary prejudices, after all the refinements of subtilty and the dogmatism of learning, must be finally decided all claim to poetical honours.
Page 206 - He had employed his mind chiefly upon works of fiction, and subjects of fancy; and, by indulging some peculiar habits of thought, was eminently delighted with those flights of imagination which pass the bounds of nature, and to which the mind is reconciled only by a passive acquiescence in popular traditions. He loved fairies, genii, giants, and monsters ; he delighted to rove through the meanders of enchantment, to gaze on the magnificence of golden palaces, to repose by the water-falls of Elysian...
Page 79 - For this reason this joint production of three great writers has never obtained any notice from mankind; it has been little read, or when read has been forgotten, as no man could be wiser, better, or merrier, by remembering it. The design cannot boast of much originality; for, besides its general resemblance to Don Quixote, there will be found in it particular imitations of the History of Mr.
Page 109 - Pope had only a little, because Dryden had more ; for every other writer since Milton must give place to Pope ; and even of Dryden it must be said, that, if he has brighter paragraphs, he has not better poems.
Page 109 - Dryden obeys the motions of his own mind, Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition. Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid; Pope is always smooth, uniform, and gentle. Dryden's page is a natural field, rising into inequalities and diversified by the varied exuberance of abundant vegetation; Pope's is a velvet lawn, shaven by the scythe and levelled by the roller.
Page 90 - Club," compared himself to a spider, and by another is described as protuberant behind and before. He is said to have been beautiful in his infancy, but he was of a constitution originally feeble and weak; and, as bodies of a tender frame are easily distorted, his deformity was probably in part the effect of his application. His stature was so low, that to bring him to a level with common tables, it was necessary to raise his seat. But his face was not displeasing...
Page 176 - As a writer he is entitled to one praise of the highest kind: his mode of thinking, and of expressing his thoughts, is original. His blank verse is no more the blank verse of Milton, or of any other poet, than the rhymes of Prior are the rhymes of Cowley.