Lectures on the English Poets: Delivered at the Surrey Institution |
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Page 2
... the empty cases in which the affairs of the world are packed , under the heads of intrigue or war , in different states , and from century to century : but there is no thought or feeling that can have entered into the ON POETRY IN GENERAL .
... the empty cases in which the affairs of the world are packed , under the heads of intrigue or war , in different states , and from century to century : but there is no thought or feeling that can have entered into the ON POETRY IN GENERAL .
Page 28
... heads , who are to wipe all tears from his eyes ! The writer's genius , though not 66 dipped in dews of Castalie , " was baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire ! The pictures in this book are no small part of it . If the ...
... heads , who are to wipe all tears from his eyes ! The writer's genius , though not 66 dipped in dews of Castalie , " was baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire ! The pictures in this book are no small part of it . If the ...
Page 37
... head ; the fox peeps out of the ruined tower ; the thistle shakes its beard to the passing gale ; and the strings of his harp seem , as the hand of age , as the tale of other times , passes over them , to sigh and rustle like the dry ...
... head ; the fox peeps out of the ruined tower ; the thistle shakes its beard to the passing gale ; and the strings of his harp seem , as the hand of age , as the tale of other times , passes over them , to sigh and rustle like the dry ...
Page 72
... head she in her lap did soft dispose . Upon a bed of roses she was laid As faint through heat , or dight to pleasant sin ; * Taken from Tasso . † This word is an instance of those unwarrantable free- doms which Spenser sometimes took ...
... head she in her lap did soft dispose . Upon a bed of roses she was laid As faint through heat , or dight to pleasant sin ; * Taken from Tasso . † This word is an instance of those unwarrantable free- doms which Spenser sometimes took ...
Page 76
... head an ivy garland had , From under which fast trickled down the sweat : Still as he rode , he somewhat still did eat . And in his hand did bear a bouzing can , Of which he supt so oft , that on his seat His drunken corse he scarce ...
... head an ivy garland had , From under which fast trickled down the sweat : Still as he rode , he somewhat still did eat . And in his hand did bear a bouzing can , Of which he supt so oft , that on his seat His drunken corse he scarce ...
Common terms and phrases
admiration affectation appear Ballads beauty Beggar's Opera blank verse Boccaccio character Chaucer common Cutty Sark death delight describes despair doth equal excellence face Faery Queen fame fancy feeling finest flowers genius gives Gonne grace happy hates hath heart heaven Herbert Croft hire Homer human idea imagination interest kind Knight's Tale labour language less light lines living look Lord Lord Byron Lyrical Ballads manners Milton mind moral mortal engines Muse nature never o'er objects painted passion pathos persons pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope praise prose racter reader rhyme satire scene sense sentiment Shakspeare Shanter shew song soul sound Spenser spirit spring story style sublimity sweet ther thing thou thought tion Titian tree truth verse Whan wings wolde words Wordsworth writer youth
Popular passages
Page 139 - Tis with our judgments as our watches, none Go just alike, yet each believes his own.
Page 138 - Favours to none, to all she smiles extends ; Oft she rejects, but never once offends. Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, And like the sun, they shine on all alike. Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Might hide her faults if belles had faults to hide : If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face and you'll forget 'em all.
Page 220 - tis madness to defer: Next day the fatal precedent will plead ; Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of life. Procrastination is the thief of time ; Year after year it steals, till all are fled, And to the mercies of a moment leaves The vast concerns of an eternal scene.
Page 147 - ... In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half -hung, The floors of plaster, and the walls of dung, On once a flock-bed, but repaired with straw, With tape-tied curtains never meant to draw, The George and Garter dangling from that bed Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red, Great Villiers lies — alas ! how changed from him, That life of pleasure, and that soul of whim ! Gallant and gay, in Cliveden's proud alcove, The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love ; Or just as gay at council, in a ring...
Page 124 - Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall By doom of battle ; and complain that fate ' Free virtue should enthrall to force or chance.
Page 321 - What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind ; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be, In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering, In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.
Page 120 - What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?
Page 128 - Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappear'd. They looking back all th...
Page 141 - Tis not enough no harshness gives offence, The sound must seem an echo to the sense. Soft is the strain when Zephyr gently blows, And the smooth stream in smoother numbers flows; But when loud surges lash the sounding shore, The hoarse, rough verse should like the torrent roar.
Page 123 - Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence : Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell : Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.