The Works of the British Poets: With Lives of the Authors, Volume 11

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Mitchell, Ames, and White, 1819 - English poetry

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Page 53 - He was the man who, of all modern and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. All the images of nature were still present to him, and he drew them, not laboriously, but luckily; when he describes anything, you more than see it, you feel it too.
Page 161 - 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 chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 162 - That every man, with him, was God or devil. In squandering wealth was his peculiar art; Nothing went unrewarded, but desert. Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late ; He had his jest, and they had his estate.
Page 42 - God's eternal store, to circumscribe This universe, and all created things: One foot he centred, and the other turn'd Round through the vast profundity obscure, And said, ' Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, This be thy just circumference, O world!
Page 232 - In silent raptures of the hopeful boy. All arguments, but most his plays, persuade, That for anointed dulness he was made. Close to the walls which fair Augusta bind, (The fair Augusta much to fears inclin'd) An ancient fabric rais'd t' inform the sight, There stood of yore, and Barbican it hight: A watchtower once ; but now, so fate ordains.
Page 145 - Promiscuous use of concubine and bride, Then Israel's monarch after Heaven's own heart His vigorous warmth did variously impart To wives and slaves, and, wide as his command, Scattered his Maker's image through the land.
Page 254 - DIM as the borrow'd beams of moon and stars To lonely, weary, wandering travellers, Is reason to the soul : and as on high Those rolling fires discover but the sky, Not light us here ; so Reason's glimmering ray Was lent, not to assure our doubtful way, But guide us upward to a better day.
Page 154 - Than a successive title, long and dark, Drawn from the mouldy rolls of Noah's ark. What cannot praise effect in mighty minds, When flattery soothes, and when ambition blinds? Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed, Yet sprung from high, is of celestial seed: In God 'tis glory; and when men aspire, 'Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire. The ambitious youth, too covetous of fame, Too full of angels' metal in his frame, Unwarily was led from virtue's ways, Made drunk with honour, and debauch'd...
Page 15 - ... or mistakes. He was of very easy, I may say, of very pleasing access ; but something slow, and, as it were, diffident in his advances to others. He had something in his nature, that abhorred intrusion into any society whatsoever.
Page 150 - Of these the false Achitophel was first, A name to all succeeding ages curst : For close designs and crooked counsels fit, Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit...

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