The Poetical Decameron, Or, Ten Conversations on English Poets and Poetry: Particularly of the Reigns of Elizabeth and James I.

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Archibald Constable, 1820 - English poetry - 674 pages

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Page 270 - Oft expectation fails, and most oft there Where most it promises ; and oft it hits, Where hope is coldest, and despair most sits.
Page 22 - Shakespeare that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence ; yet his real power is not shown in the splendour of particular passages, but by the progress of his fable and the tenor of his dialogue ; and he that tries to recommend him by select quotations, will succeed like the pedant in Hierocles, who, when he offered his house to sale, carried a brick in his pocket as a specimen.
Page xix - ... genius through the shades of age, as the eye surveys the sun through artificial opacity. The great contention of criticism is to find the faults of the moderns and the beauties of the ancients.
Page 244 - 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.
Page 68 - ENTITLED To the noble and vertuous Gentleman, most worthy of all titles both of learning and chevalrie, MA1STER PHILIP SIDNEY.
Page xliii - Of a Jew, who would for his Debt have a Pound of the Flesh of a Christian.
Page xliv - Wonder not (for with thee will I first begin), thou famous gracer of tragedians, that Greene, who hath said with thee like the fool in his heart, "There is no God...
Page 160 - twixt each drop, he nigardly, As loth to enrich mee, so tells many a lie. More than ten Hollensheads, or Halls, or Stowes, Of triviall houshold trash he knowes ; He knowes When the Queene frown'd, or smil'd, and he knowes what A subtle States-man may gather of that...
Page 251 - I can willinglyer conceive then dare to prescribe; yet let me have the substance rough, not the shadow. I cannot, nay, I will not delude your sight with mists; yet I dare defend my plainenesse against the verjuice-face of the crabbedst Satyrist that ever stuttered.
Page 90 - tis true ; but now, if any Should for that cause despise it, we have many Reasons, both just and pregnant, to maintain Antiquity, and those, too, not all vain. We know (and not long since) there was a time, Strong lines were not look'd after ; but if rhyme, Oh ! then 'twas excellent...

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