The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: The lives of the most eminent English poets, concluded. Miscellaneous livesJ. Buckland [and 40 others], 1787 - English literature |
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Page 10
... character , in whom may be discovered an appetite to talk too frequently of his own virtues . The pamphlet is fuch as rage might be expected to distate . He fuppofes himfelf to be asked two quef- tions ; whether the Effay will fucceed ...
... character , in whom may be discovered an appetite to talk too frequently of his own virtues . The pamphlet is fuch as rage might be expected to distate . He fuppofes himfelf to be asked two quef- tions ; whether the Effay will fucceed ...
Page 13
... character than they are of this . He mentioned a thoufand copies as a numerous impreffion . Dennis was not his only cenfurer ; the zealous papists thought the monks treated with too much contempt , and Erafmus too ftudioufly praised ...
... character than they are of this . He mentioned a thoufand copies as a numerous impreffion . Dennis was not his only cenfurer ; the zealous papists thought the monks treated with too much contempt , and Erafmus too ftudioufly praised ...
Page 15
... character , it does not appear that the had any claim to praife , nor much to compaffion . She seems to have been impatient , violent , and ungovern- able . Her unkle's power could not have lafted long ; the hour of liberty and choice ...
... character , it does not appear that the had any claim to praife , nor much to compaffion . She seems to have been impatient , violent , and ungovern- able . Her unkle's power could not have lafted long ; the hour of liberty and choice ...
Page 16
... character of Sir Plume , he was made to talk nonfenfe . Whether all this be true , I have fome doubt ; for at Paris , a few years ago , a niece of Mrs. Fermor , who prefided in an English Convent , mentioned Pope's work with very little ...
... character of Sir Plume , he was made to talk nonfenfe . Whether all this be true , I have fome doubt ; for at Paris , a few years ago , a niece of Mrs. Fermor , who prefided in an English Convent , mentioned Pope's work with very little ...
Page 46
... character which his fon has given him . If the money with which he retired was all gotten by himfelf , he had traded very fuc- cefsfully in times when fudden riches were rarely at- tainable . The publication of the Iliad was at laft ...
... character which his fon has given him . If the money with which he retired was all gotten by himfelf , he had traded very fuc- cefsfully in times when fudden riches were rarely at- tainable . The publication of the Iliad was at laft ...
Common terms and phrases
affiftance afterwards againſt almoſt anfwer appears Auftrians becauſe cenfure confequence confiderable confidered converfation curiofity deferved defign defire difcovered Drake Dryden Dunciad eafily English faid fame father fatire fays fecond feems fenfe fent feven feveral fhall fhew fhip fhort fhould firft firſt fome fomething fometimes foon friendſhip ftate ftill ftudies fubject fuccefs fuch fuffered fufficient fuperior fupply fuppofed fupport furely himſelf honour houfe houſe Iliad increaſe inftruction intereft kindneſs king of Pruffia laft laſt learning leaſt lefs Letters loft mafter mind moft moſt muft muſt neceffary never Night Thoughts Nombre de Dios obferved occafion paffage paffed perfons perhaps phyfick pinnaces pleafed pleaſe pleaſure poem poet poetry Pope praife praiſe prefent prince profe publick publiſhed raiſed reafon reft Religio Medici ſpent ſtate ſtudy Symerons thefe themſelves theſe thofe Thomfon thoſe thouſand tion tranflation univerfity uſe veffel verfes vifit whofe write Young
Popular passages
Page 107 - 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 88 - His legs were so slender, that he enlarged their bulk with three pair of stockings, which were drawn on and off by the maid; for he was not able to dress or undress himself, and neither went to bed nor rose without help.
Page 106 - Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners.
Page 134 - New sentiments and new images others may produce ; but to attempt any further improvement of versification will be dangerous. Art and diligence have now done their best, and what shall be added will be the effort of tedious toil and needless curiosity.
Page 144 - The lines on Craggs were not originally intended for an epitaph ; and therefore some faults are to be imputed to the violence with which they are torn from the poem that first contained them.
Page 107 - What his mind could supply at call or gather in one excursion was all that he sought and all that he gave.
Page 295 - 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 106 - 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 210 - I have found out a gift for my fair, I have found where the wood-pigeons breed : But let me that plunder forbear. She will say 'twas a barbarous deed...
Page 106 - 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.