The Life of Alexander Pope, Esq: Compiled from Original Manuscripts; with a Critical Essay on His Writings and GeniusC. Bathurst, H. Woodfall, W. Strahan, J. and F. Rivington, W. Johnston, B. White, T. Caslon, T. Longman, B. Law, Johnson and Payne, S. Bladon, T. Cadell, and the executors of A. Millar., 1769 - Biography - 578 pages |
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Page 28
... fenfe , is become odious , because the office hath been abused by half learned or en- vious witlings ; who have been curious to de- tec blemishes , forgetting the other and more pleafing task of a critic , which is to point out beauties ...
... fenfe , is become odious , because the office hath been abused by half learned or en- vious witlings ; who have been curious to de- tec blemishes , forgetting the other and more pleafing task of a critic , which is to point out beauties ...
Page 54
... fenfe ; fo that to employ it only in defcription , is like childrens delighting in a prifm for the fake of its gaudy colours , which when frugally managed and skilfully difpofed , might be made to represent and illuftrate the nobleft ...
... fenfe ; fo that to employ it only in defcription , is like childrens delighting in a prifm for the fake of its gaudy colours , which when frugally managed and skilfully difpofed , might be made to represent and illuftrate the nobleft ...
Page 71
... fenfe , we may be allowed to fay , that judgment in the fine arts is never cer- tain , but when matured and refined to tafte . At the fame time it may be doubted , whether genius and tafte can be ftrictly confidered as the fame faculty ...
... fenfe , we may be allowed to fay , that judgment in the fine arts is never cer- tain , but when matured and refined to tafte . At the fame time it may be doubted , whether genius and tafte can be ftrictly confidered as the fame faculty ...
Page 79
... fenfe , and doubt their " own ! " In these beautiful lines , the poet appears , as the commentator ftrongly expreffes it , " with " the humility of a Suppliant at the fhrine of " Immortals , and the fublimity of a Poet par- ticipating ...
... fenfe , and doubt their " own ! " In these beautiful lines , the poet appears , as the commentator ftrongly expreffes it , " with " the humility of a Suppliant at the fhrine of " Immortals , and the fublimity of a Poet par- ticipating ...
Page 85
... fenfe ; which precept he illuftrates by feveral examples of fmoothness , roughness , flownefs , and rapidity . I cannot help thinking , that upon the whole , there is great merit in the following exempli- fications ; though I am free to ...
... fenfe ; which precept he illuftrates by feveral examples of fmoothness , roughness , flownefs , and rapidity . I cannot help thinking , that upon the whole , there is great merit in the following exempli- fications ; though I am free to ...
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Common terms and phrases
AARON HILL addreffed admirable affured againſt beautiful becauſe beft beſt cenfure character compofition critic Dean Swift defcribed defcription defign defire difplayed Dunciad effay effayift efteemed epiftle ev'ry excellent expreffed fafe faid fame fatire fays feems fenfe fenfible fentiments ferve feveral fhall fhew fhort fhould fince fincere firft firſt fome foon fpeaking fpirit friendſhip ftate ftill ftriking ftrong fubject fublime fuch fuperior fuppofed fure genius himſelf honour Iliad illuftrated inftance itſelf John Searl judgment juft juſt laft laſt leaft learned lefs letter likewife Lord Lord Bolingbroke merit mind moft moral moſt muft muſt myſelf nature never nevertheleſs numbers obferves occafion paffage paffed paffion perfon piece pleaſed pleaſure poem poet poetical poetry POPE POPE's praiſe prefent profe publiſhed purpoſe racter reafon refpect reft ridicule ſay ſeems ſpeak tafte thefe themſelves theſe lines thofe thoſe thought tion tranflation uſed verfe virtue whofe writings
Popular passages
Page 265 - If I am right, thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, oh teach my heart To find that better way...
Page 231 - Created half to rise, and half to fall: Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl'd; The glory jest, and riddle of the world!
Page 123 - In some lone isle, or distant northern land; Where the gilt chariot never marks the way, Where none learn ombre, none e'er taste bohea!
Page 231 - The proper study of mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side, With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride, He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest; In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err...
Page 192 - Who but must laugh if such a man there be ? Who would not weep if Atticus were he?
Page 124 - Who would not scorn what Housewife's Cares produce, Or who would learn one earthly Thing of Use ? To patch, nay ogle, might become a Saint, Nor could it sure be such a Sin to paint. But since, alas ! frail Beauty must decay...
Page 163 - Come, Abelard ! for what hast thou to dread ? The torch of Venus burns not for the dead. Nature stands check'd ; Religion disapproves ; Ev'n thou art cold — yet Eloisa loves. 260 Ah hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn To light the dead, and warm th
Page 381 - But chief her shrine where naked Venus keeps, And Cupids ride the Lion of the Deeps; Where, eas'd of Fleets, the Adriatic main Wafts the smooth Eunuch and enamour'd swain.
Page 80 - She gives in large recruits of needful pride ; For, as in bodies, thus in souls we find, What wants in blood and spirits, swell'd with wind : Pride, where wit fails, steps in to our defence, And fills up all the mighty void of sense.
Page 239 - Nor think, in Nature's state they blindly trod; The state of Nature was the reign of God: Self-love and social at her birth began, Union the bond of all things, and of man.