Curiosities of Literature: And, The Literary Character Illustrated

Front Cover
Leavitt and Allen, 1857 - American literature - 510 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 150 - The birds their quire apply ; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Led on the eternal Spring.
Page 152 - O thou, whose glory fills th' ethereal throne, And all ye deathless powers, protect my son ! Grant him like me to purchase just renown, To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown ; Against his country's foes the war to wage, And rise the Hector of the future age ! So when, triumphant from successful toils Of heroes slain, he bears the reeking spoils, Whole hosts may hail him, with deserv'd acclaim, And say, this chief transcends his father's fame : While pleas'd amidst the general shouts of Troy,...
Page 243 - Western nations at the close of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Page 100 - Many were the wit-combats betwixt him and Ben Jonson, which two I behold like a Spanish great galleon, and an English man-of-war ; Master Jonson (like the former) was built far higher in learning ; solid, but slow in his performances.
Page 100 - I behold like a Spanish great galleon and an English man-of-war. Master Coleridge, like the former, was built far higher in learning, solid, but slow in his performances. CVL, with the English man-of-war, lesser in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about, and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit and invention.
Page 152 - This chief transcends his father's fame : While pleased amidst the general shouts of Troy, His mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy.' He spoke, and fondly gazing on her charms, Restored the pleasing burden to her arms; Soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid, Hush'd to repose, and with a smile survey'd.
Page 98 - A dungeon horrible on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed ; yet from those flames No light ; but rather darkness visible, Served only to discover sights of woe...
Page 137 - Till the Ledaean stars, so famed for love, Wonder'd at us from above! We spent them not in toys, in lusts, or wine; But search of deep philosophy, Wit, eloquence, and poetry — Arts which I loved, for they, my friend, were thine.
Page 113 - J'arrache quelquefois leurs applaudissements ; Là, content du succès que le mérite donne, Par d'illustres avis je n'éblouis personne ; Je satisfais ensemble et peuple et courtisans , Et mes vers en tous lieux sont mes seuls partisans : Par leur seule beauté ma plume est estimée : Je ne dois qu'à moi seul toute ma renommée; Et pense toutefois n'avoir point de rival A qui je fasse tort en le traitant d'égal.
Page 248 - I'll tell you, now, what I do. If I am to write familiar things, as sonnets to Armida, and the like, I make use of stewed prunes only; but, when I have a grand design in hand, I ever take physic, and let blood, for, when you would have pure swiftness of thought and fiery flights of fancy, you must have a care of the pensive part. In fine, you must purge the belly.

Bibliographic information