An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire |
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Page vii
... natural language , in which she once addressed the human heart , and the artificial dialect which she has acquired from the prejudices of a particular nation , or the jargon caught from the tone of a court . In or- der to please upon ...
... natural language , in which she once addressed the human heart , and the artificial dialect which she has acquired from the prejudices of a particular nation , or the jargon caught from the tone of a court . In or- der to please upon ...
Page xi
... nature herself . Great indulgence is due to the errors of ori- ginal writers , who , quitting the beaten track which others have travelled , make daring incur- sions into unexplored regions of invention , and boldly b 2 boldly strike ...
... nature herself . Great indulgence is due to the errors of ori- ginal writers , who , quitting the beaten track which others have travelled , make daring incur- sions into unexplored regions of invention , and boldly b 2 boldly strike ...
Page xv
... nature , which we ought to view as we do other prodigies , with an attention to , and admiration of their stupendous parts , and proud irregularity of greatness . It has been already declared , that Shakspeare is not to be tried by any ...
... nature , which we ought to view as we do other prodigies , with an attention to , and admiration of their stupendous parts , and proud irregularity of greatness . It has been already declared , that Shakspeare is not to be tried by any ...
Page xvi
... nature of the subjects will bear it ) between his , and some other celebrated dramatic composi- tions . It is idle to refer to a vague , unrealized idea of perfection : we may safely pronounce that to be well executed , in any art ...
... nature of the subjects will bear it ) between his , and some other celebrated dramatic composi- tions . It is idle to refer to a vague , unrealized idea of perfection : we may safely pronounce that to be well executed , in any art ...
Page xx
... nature , as he found it , in the busy walks of human life , he drew from an original , with which the Literati are seldom well acquainted . They perceive his portraits are not of the Gre- cian or of the Roman school ; so that , afer ...
... nature , as he found it , in the busy walks of human life , he drew from an original , with which the Literati are seldom well acquainted . They perceive his portraits are not of the Gre- cian or of the Roman school ; so that , afer ...
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Common terms and phrases
absurd action admired Æschylus affected allegory ambition ancient ANTONY appears Aristotle Atossa Augustus battle of Shrewsbury blank-verse blood Brutus Cassius character Cinna conspiracy conspirators Corneille critic crown dæmons danger danger death dialogue drama Edipus ELPINICE Emilia Euripides Eurystheus excite fable Falstaffe fear French friends genius ghost give glory grace Grecian Greece Greek hath heart heav'n Henry Hercules heroes honour human imagination imitation judgment Julius Cæsar kind king lady learned lover Macbeth manners means ment mind moral murder muse nature Nervii never noble passions perfect person piece play PLUTARCH poet poetry Prince racters rendered representation ridicule Roman Rome says scene sentiments Shak Shakspeare Shakspeare's shew sion soliloquy Sophocles soul speak spectator speech spirit stage sublime superstition Tacitus taste tell temper terror thee Theseus thing thou tion tragedy tragedy of Macbeth translation virtue Voltaire vulgar witches words writers
Popular passages
Page 231 - Would he were fatter ! But I fear him not : Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ; He is a great observer and he looks Quite through the deeds of men...
Page 238 - Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue — A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy...
Page 173 - It will have blood, they say ; blood will have blood : Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak ; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood.
Page 240 - When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse.
Page 226 - Many a time and oft Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The live-long day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome...
Page 244 - I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue In every wound of Caesar that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Page 148 - I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young blood ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part ; And each particular hair to stand an end. Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood.
Page 237 - He only, in a general honest thought, And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man!
Page 239 - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them ; The good is oft interred with their bones : So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Caesar was ambitious : If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest, (For Brutus- is an honorable man ; So are they all, all honorable men) Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
Page 240 - Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men; Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.