The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Lives of the poetsW. Pickering, 1825 |
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Page 35
... Pindar's odes were regular ; and though cer- tainly he had not the fire requisite for the higher species of lyrick poetry , he has shown us , that enthusiasm has its rules , and that , in mere confusion , there is neither grace nor ...
... Pindar's odes were regular ; and though cer- tainly he had not the fire requisite for the higher species of lyrick poetry , he has shown us , that enthusiasm has its rules , and that , in mere confusion , there is neither grace nor ...
Page 235
... Pindar , that when he lay in his cradle , " the bees swarmed about his mouth . " About the time of the revolution , his father , who was undoubtedly disappointed by the sudden blast of Popish prosperity , quitted his trade , and retired ...
... Pindar , that when he lay in his cradle , " the bees swarmed about his mouth . " About the time of the revolution , his father , who was undoubtedly disappointed by the sudden blast of Popish prosperity , quitted his trade , and retired ...
Page 247
... Pindar long ago assigned this to sculpture , and was never censured for his poetic boldness : Εργα δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἑρπόν . τεσσί θ ' ὁμοῖα κέλευθοι Φέρον . Olym . vii . 95. ED . b Pope never felt with Eloisa , and , therefore , slighted his ...
... Pindar long ago assigned this to sculpture , and was never censured for his poetic boldness : Εργα δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἑρπόν . τεσσί θ ' ὁμοῖα κέλευθοι Φέρον . Olym . vii . 95. ED . b Pope never felt with Eloisa , and , therefore , slighted his ...
Page 328
... Pindar's authority , cried out , at last , " Pindar was a bold fellow , but thou art an impudent one . " If Pope's ode be particularly inspected , it will be found that the first stanza consists of sounds well chosen indeed , but only ...
... Pindar's authority , cried out , at last , " Pindar was a bold fellow , but thou art an impudent one . " If Pope's ode be particularly inspected , it will be found that the first stanza consists of sounds well chosen indeed , but only ...
Page 395
... Pindar , he found the art of ! reaching all the obscurity of the Theban bard , however he may fall below his sublimity ; he will be allowed , if he has less fire , to have more smoke . He has added nothing to English poetry , yet , at ...
... Pindar , he found the art of ! reaching all the obscurity of the Theban bard , however he may fall below his sublimity ; he will be allowed , if he has less fire , to have more smoke . He has added nothing to English poetry , yet , at ...
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acquaintance Addison afterwards Ambrose Philips appeared blank verse Bolingbroke censure character Cibber contempt criticism death delight diction diligence discovered Dryden duke Dunciad earl edition Edward Young elegant endeavoured epitaph Essay excellence expected faults favour Fenton fortune friends friendship genius honour Iliad imagination kind king known labour lady learning letter lines lived lord lord Halifax Lyttelton mankind mentioned mind nature never Night Thoughts numbers observed occasion once passion performance perhaps Pindar pleased pleasure poem poet poetical poetry Pope Pope's pounds praise present printed publick published queen racter reader reason received remarkable reputation rhyme satire Savage says seems sent sir Robert Walpole solicited sometimes soon stanza sufficient supposed Swift Tatler Theophilus Cibber thing Thomson Tickell tion told tragedy translation Tyrconnel verses virtue Westminster Abbey whigs write written wrote Young
Popular passages
Page 325 - What his mind could supply at call, or gather in one excursion, was all that he sought and all that he gave. The dilatory caution of Pope enabled him to condense his sentiments, to multiply his images, and to accumulate all that study might produce or chance might supply.
Page 345 - After all this, it is surely superfluous to answer the question that has once been asked, Whether Pope was a poet ? otherwise than by asking in return, If Pope be not a poet, where is poetry to be found...
Page 323 - For this reason he kept his pieces very long in his hands, while he considered and reconsidered them. The only poems which can be supposed to have been written with such regard to the times as might hasten their publication, were the two satires of " Thirty-eight "; of which Dodsley told me, that they were brought to him by the author, that they might be fairly copied.
Page 160 - Wanderer,' the man of exalted sentiments, extensive views, and curious observations; the man whose remarks on life might have assisted the statesman, whose ideas of virtue might have enlightened the moralist, whose eloquence might have influenced senates, and whose delicacy might have polished courts.
Page 485 - To select a singular event, and swell it to a giant's bulk by fabulous appendages of spectres and predictions, has little difficulty; for he that forsakes the probable may always find the marvellous. And it has little use; we are affected only as we believe; we are improved only as we find something to be imitated or declined. I do not see that "The Bard" promotes any truth, moral or political.
Page 324 - Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners'. The notions of Dryden'were formed by comprehensive speculation, and those of Pope by minute attention. There is more dignity in the knowledge of Dryden, and more certainty in that of Pope.
Page 314 - Age," and are now the friendships only of children. Very few can boast of hearts which they dare lay open to themselves, and of which, by whatever accident exposed, they do not shun a distinct and continued view ; and certainly, what we hide from h 3 ourselves we do not shew to our friends.
Page 32 - Looking tranquillity! It strikes an awe And terror on my aching sight; the tombs And monumental caves of death look cold, And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart.
Page 67 - He began on it, and when first he mentioned it to Swift, the Doctor did not much like the project. As he carried it on, he showed what he wrote to both of us; and we now and then gave a correction, or a word or two of advice; but it was wholly of his own writing. When it was done, neither of us thought it would succeed. We showed it to Congreve, who, after reading it over, said, "It would either take greatly, or be damned confoundedly.
Page 379 - Liberty," when it first appeared, I tried to read, and soon desisted. I have never tried again, and therefore will not hazard either praise or censure. The highest praise which he has received ought not to be suppressed : it is said by Lord Lyttelton, in the Prologue to his posthumous play, that his works contained No line which, dying, he could wish to blot.