The Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott, Bart: Life of DrydenRobert Cadell, 1834 - English literature |
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Page 3
... theatres then open in all parts of the city , secured to the adventurous poet the means of having his performance represented upon one stage or other ; and he was neither tired nor disgusted by the difficulties , and disagreeable ...
... theatres then open in all parts of the city , secured to the adventurous poet the means of having his performance represented upon one stage or other ; and he was neither tired nor disgusted by the difficulties , and disagreeable ...
Page 4
... theatres must necessarily diminish , in a complicated ratio , both the number of play- writers , and the chance of any thing very excellent being brought forward . 1 Elizabeth's reign , the court language was for some 4 LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN ...
... theatres must necessarily diminish , in a complicated ratio , both the number of play- writers , and the chance of any thing very excellent being brought forward . 1 Elizabeth's reign , the court language was for some 4 LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN ...
Page 15
... theatres , and their contempt for profane learning , which degraded the universities , all operated , during the civil wars and succeeding usurpation , to check the pursuits of the poet , by withdrawing that public approbation , which ...
... theatres , and their contempt for profane learning , which degraded the universities , all operated , during the civil wars and succeeding usurpation , to check the pursuits of the poet , by withdrawing that public approbation , which ...
Page 55
... theatres , newly opened after so long silence , were resorted to with all the ardour inspired by novelty ; and ... theatre retained , in some degree , the splendour with which the excellent writers of the virgin reign had adorned ...
... theatres , newly opened after so long silence , were resorted to with all the ardour inspired by novelty ; and ... theatre retained , in some degree , the splendour with which the excellent writers of the virgin reign had adorned ...
Page 56
... theatre , called the Cockpit , was main- tained at Whitehall , in which plays were performed before the court ; and the king's company of actors often received command to attend the royal pro- gresses.1 Masques , a species of ...
... theatre , called the Cockpit , was main- tained at Whitehall , in which plays were performed before the court ; and the king's company of actors often received command to attend the royal pro- gresses.1 Masques , a species of ...
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Absalom and Achitophel admired admitted Æneid afterwards Albion and Albanius ancient appears audience Aureng-Zebe Bayes beautiful Ben Jonson called Catholic censure character Charles church comedy comic court Cowley criticism Davenant death dedication drama Duke of Guise Earl English epistle Essay expression fame favour fortune genius Gilbert Pickering heroic plays Hind honour humour John Dryden Johnson king labour Lady language learning literary lived Lord Malone Marriage a-la-Mode merit metaphysical metaphysical poets Milton Monmouth Mulgrave muse nature never noble occasion opinion Panther party passages passion patron perhaps person piece plot poem poet laureat poet's poetical poetry political Pope praise preface probably prologue published reign religion rendered reputation rhyme ridicule Rochester royal satire satirist says scene seems Settle Shadwell Shakspeare Sir Robert Howard stage style talents taste theatre thought tion Tory tragedy translation verse versification Virgil Whig write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 247 - What recks it them? What need they? They are sped; And, when they list, their lean and flashy songs Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw; The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, But, swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw, Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread : Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw Daily devours apace, and nothing said: But that two-handed engine at the door Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more.
Page 191 - He sought the storms; but for a calm unfit, Would steer too nigh the sands to boast his wit. Great wits are sure to madness near allied. And thin partitions do their bounds divide; Else why should he, with wealth and honor blest.
Page 377 - Of genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates, the superiority must with some hesitation be allowed to Dryden.
Page 185 - A man so various, that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 377 - 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. Dryden's performances were always hasty, either excited by some external occasion, or extorted by domestic necessity ; he composed without consideration, and published without correction. What his mind could supply at call, or gather in one excursion, was all that he sought and all that he gave.
Page 184 - With public zeal to cancel private crimes. How safe is treason and how sacred ill, Where none can sin against the people's will...
Page 376 - The style of Dryden is capricious and varied ; that of Pope is cautious and uniform. 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 207 - In fire-works give him leave to vent his spite, Those are the only serpents he can write; The height of his ambition is, we know, But to be master of a puppet-show; On that one stage his works may yet appear, And a month's harvest keeps him all the year.
Page 378 - Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such, We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Page 242 - Thy rate and price, and mark thee for a treasure, Hearken unto a Verser, who may chance Rhyme thee to good, and make a bait of pleasure : A verse may find him, who a Sermon flies, And turn delight into a Sacrifice.