The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 1Cadell and Company, 1834 - Chivalry |
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Page 2
... excellent in the particular style which was fashionable for the time . It is the object of this Memoir to connect , with the account of Dry- den's life and publications , such a general view of the literature of the time , as may enable ...
... excellent in the particular style which was fashionable for the time . It is the object of this Memoir to connect , with the account of Dry- den's life and publications , such a general view of the literature of the time , as may enable ...
Page 4
... diminish , in a complicated ratio , both the number of play- writers , and the chance of any thing very excellent being brought forward , Elizabeth's reign , the court language was for some time 4 LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN .
... diminish , in a complicated ratio , both the number of play- writers , and the chance of any thing very excellent being brought forward , Elizabeth's reign , the court language was for some time 4 LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN .
Page 55
... In the times of James I. and of his successor , the theatre retained , in some degree , the splendour with which the excellent writers of the virgin reign had adorned it . It is true , that authors LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN . 55.
... In the times of James I. and of his successor , the theatre retained , in some degree , the splendour with which the excellent writers of the virgin reign had adorned it . It is true , that authors LIFE OF JOHN DRYDEN . 55.
Page 67
... excellent subject , but not so artificially managed as to render it fit for the stage . It were to be wished these scenes had been preserved , since it may be that the very want of artifice , alleged by the critics of the day , would ...
... excellent subject , but not so artificially managed as to render it fit for the stage . It were to be wished these scenes had been preserved , since it may be that the very want of artifice , alleged by the critics of the day , would ...
Page 90
... excellent performance of Nokes , who repre- sented Sir Martin . The " Tempest " and " Sir 1 Cibber , with his usual vivacity , thus describes the comic powers of Nokes in this admired character ; and many of the traits remind us ...
... excellent performance of Nokes , who repre- sented Sir Martin . The " Tempest " and " Sir 1 Cibber , with his usual vivacity , thus describes the comic powers of Nokes in this admired character ; and many of the traits remind us ...
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Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel admired admitted Æneid afterwards Albion and Albanius ancient appears audience Aureng-Zebe Bayes beautiful Ben Jonson Catholic censure character Charles church comedy comic court Cowley criticism Davenant death dedication drama Duke of Guise Earl English epistle Essay excellent expression fame favour fortune genius Gilbert Pickering heroic plays Hind honour imitated John Dryden Johnson king labour Lady language learned lines 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 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 146 - With thee conversing I forget all time ; All seasons and their change, all please alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds...
Page 273 - 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 403 - 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 211 - 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 262 - Follow'd false lights; and when their glimpse was gone, My pride struck out new sparkles of her own. Such was I, such by nature still I am; Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame. Good life be now my task; my doubts are done: What more could fright my faith, than Three in One?
Page 402 - Dryden certainly wanted the diligence of Pope. In acquired knowledge, the superiority must be allowed to Dryden, whose education was more scholastic, and who, before he became an author, had been allowed more time for study, with better means of information. His mind has a larger range, and he collects his images and illustrations from a more extensive circumference of science. Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners.
Page 359 - I shall say the less of Mr. Collier, because in many things he has taxed me justly; and I have pleaded guilty to all thoughts and expressions of mine which can be truly argued of obscenity, profaneness, or immorality, and retract them. If he be my enemy, let him triumph; if he be my friend, as I have given him no personal occasion to be otherwise, he will be glad of my repentance.
Page 217 - And o'er-informed the tenement of clay. A daring pilot in extremity, Pleased with the danger, when the waves went high, 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 honour blest, Refuse his age the needful hours of rest...
Page 210 - And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeathered two-legged thing, a son. Got, while his soul did huddled notions try, And born a shapeless lump, like anarchy. In friendship false, implacable in hate, Resolved to ruin or to rule the state...
Page 23 - Oxford to him a dearer name shall be Than his own mother-university ; Thebes did his green, unknowing youth engage ; He chooses Athens in his riper age.