The Life of Alexander Pope, Esq: Comp. from Original Manuscripts; with a Critical Essay on His Writings and Genius |
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Page 17
... firft quite infipid to him . Nature , however , having early disposed him to method in his com- pofitions , and philofophic reflection quickly fol- lowing , and foon enabling him to correct the flights of his imagination , as clearly ...
... firft quite infipid to him . Nature , however , having early disposed him to method in his com- pofitions , and philofophic reflection quickly fol- lowing , and foon enabling him to correct the flights of his imagination , as clearly ...
Page 18
... firft propenfity to imitation , proceeded rather from motives of modefty , than vanity . He perceived how defective his own productions were , and endeavoured to mend his compofition by copying the capital strokes of others and thus he ...
... firft propenfity to imitation , proceeded rather from motives of modefty , than vanity . He perceived how defective his own productions were , and endeavoured to mend his compofition by copying the capital strokes of others and thus he ...
Page 22
... firft fruit now extant of his poetical genius , and which ftrongly paints that tranquil , contemplative , and moral caft of mind , which diftinguished the writer * . In this retreat likewife , he firft became ac- quainted with the ...
... firft fruit now extant of his poetical genius , and which ftrongly paints that tranquil , contemplative , and moral caft of mind , which diftinguished the writer * . In this retreat likewife , he firft became ac- quainted with the ...
Page 23
... firft letter to Mr. Wycherley , in the following pa- thetic manner.- " Virgilium tantum vidi . " He never spoke of him without a kind of rap- turous veneration , and he makes refpectable mention of him in feveral parts of his works ...
... firft letter to Mr. Wycherley , in the following pa- thetic manner.- " Virgilium tantum vidi . " He never spoke of him without a kind of rap- turous veneration , and he makes refpectable mention of him in feveral parts of his works ...
Page 27
... firft page , and put it , with your leave , among my curiofities . " As a proof , however , that this early piece was deeply im- printed in his memory , and that he was not partial to its imperfections , he took a pleasure in laughing ...
... firft page , and put it , with your leave , among my curiofities . " As a proof , however , that this early piece was deeply im- printed in his memory , and that he was not partial to its imperfections , he took a pleasure in laughing ...
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Common terms and phrases
AARON HILL addreffed admirable affured againſt anſwer beautiful becauſe beft beſt cenfure character compofition critic Dean Swift defcribed defcription defign defire difplayed Dunciad Effay effayift epiftle ev'ry excellent expreffed fafe faid fame fatire fays feems fenfe fenfibility fentiments ferve feveral fhall fhew fhort fhould fince fincere firft firſt fome foon fpeaking fpirit friendſhip ftate ftill ftriking ftrong fubject fublime fuch fuperior fuppofed fure genius himſelf honour Iliad illuftrated imagination inftance itſelf John Searl judgment juft juſt laft laſt learned lefs letter likewife Lord Lord Bolingbroke merit mind moft moral moſt muft muſt myſelf nature never nevertheleſs numbers obferves occafion paffage paffed paffion perfon piece pleaſed pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry POPE POPE's prefent profe publiſhed purpoſe racter raiſe reafon refpect ridicule ſay ſcene ſeems ſpeak tafte thefe themſelves theſe lines thofe thoſe thought tion tranflation uſe verfe virtue whofe writings
Popular passages
Page 265 - Let not this weak unknowing hand Presume Thy bolts to throw, And deal damnation round the land, On each I judge Thy foe. If I am right, Thy grace impart Still in the right to stay ; If I am wrong, oh, teach my heart To find that better way...
Page 256 - Know then this truth (enough for man to know) 'Virtue alone is happiness below.
Page 231 - With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride, He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest; In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and...
Page 80 - She gives in large recruits of needful pride ; For, as in bodies, thus in souls we find, What wants in blood and spirits, swell'd with wind : Pride, where wit fails, steps in to our defence, And fills up all the mighty void of sense.
Page 298 - Who builds a church to God, and not to Fame, Will never mark the marble with his name : Go, search it there, where to be born and die, Of rich and poor makes all the history ; Enough, that Virtue fill'd the space between ; Prov'd by the ends of being, to have been.
Page 229 - But what his nature and his state can bear. Why has not Man a microscopic eye? For this plain reason, Man is not a Fly. Say what the use, were finer optics giv'n, T' inspect a mite, not comprehend the heav'n? Or touch, if tremblingly alive all o'er, To smart and agonize at ev'ry pore? Or quick effluvia darting thro' the brain, Die of a rose in aromatic pain?
Page 116 - He springs to vengeance with an eager pace, And falls like thunder on the prostrate ace. The nymph exulting fills with shouts...
Page 239 - Nor think, in Nature's state they blindly trod; The state of Nature was the reign of God: Self-love and social at her birth began, Union the bond of all things, and of man.
Page 231 - KNOW then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great; With too much knowledge for the sceptic side, With too much weakness for the stoic's pride, He hangs between; in doubt to act or rest...
Page 226 - Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate All but the page prescribed, their present state: From brutes what men, from men what spirits know: Or who could suffer being here below ? The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play ? Pleased to the last, he crops the flowery food, And licks the hand just raised to shed his blood.