Wit and Humour, Selected from the English Poets: With an Illustrative Essay and Critical Comments |
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Page 3
... doth import ; to which question I might reply , as Democritus did to him that asked the definition of a man- ' tis that which we all see and know ; and one better apprehends what it is by acquaintance , than I can inform him by ...
... doth import ; to which question I might reply , as Democritus did to him that asked the definition of a man- ' tis that which we all see and know ; and one better apprehends what it is by acquaintance , than I can inform him by ...
Page 4
... doth affect and amuse the fancy , showing in it some wonder , and breathing some delight thereto . It raiseth admiration , as signifying a nimble sagacity of apprehension , a special felicity of invention , a vivacity of spirit , and ...
... doth affect and amuse the fancy , showing in it some wonder , and breathing some delight thereto . It raiseth admiration , as signifying a nimble sagacity of apprehension , a special felicity of invention , a vivacity of spirit , and ...
Page 85
... doth the nightingale : Curteis he was , lowly and servisable , And carf before his fader at the table . A YEMAN hadde he , and servàntes no mo At that time , for him luste to ride so , And he was cladde in cote and hode of grene ; A ...
... doth the nightingale : Curteis he was , lowly and servisable , And carf before his fader at the table . A YEMAN hadde he , and servàntes no mo At that time , for him luste to ride so , And he was cladde in cote and hode of grene ; A ...
Page 88
... doth the chapell belle Ther as this lord was keper of the celle . The reule of Seint Maure and of Seint Beneit , Because that it was olde and somdele streit , This ilke monk lette oldě thingĕs pace , And helde after the newě world the ...
... doth the chapell belle Ther as this lord was keper of the celle . The reule of Seint Maure and of Seint Beneit , Because that it was olde and somdele streit , This ilke monk lette oldě thingĕs pace , And helde after the newě world the ...
Page 115
... doth a dove sitting upon a berne : Myn hondes and my tongě gon so yerne , That it is joye to see my besinesse . Of avarice and swiche cursednesse Is all my preching , for to make hem free To yeve hire pens , and namely , unto me ; For ...
... doth a dove sitting upon a berne : Myn hondes and my tongě gon so yerne , That it is joye to see my besinesse . Of avarice and swiche cursednesse Is all my preching , for to make hem free To yeve hire pens , and namely , unto me ; For ...
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Common terms and phrases
animal spirits Apho APHOBUS Aristophanes Bacurius Ben Jonson Bessus brother call'd captain character Charles Lamb Chaucer Colax comedy Corb Corv courtepy courtier cried Dean Deil devil Doctor doth duke exquisite extremes meet eyes fairy Falstaff fancy fear fool Friar Gent gentlemen give grace hath hear heart Heaven hire honour horse Hudibras Igno Jaques Kate Kath KATHARINA kick'd king Lady laugh laughter lord Macaronic madam master mind mock-heroic Molière Mosca nature never night Panurge passage PETRUCHIO poem poet poetry poor pray quod quoth Rabelais racter rhymes satire servant Shakspeare Sompnour soul spleen summoner sure Swift sylph Tartuffe tell thee ther things thou thought twelf Uncle Toby unto valiant verse Volp Volpone whan wife Wit and Humour word write
Popular passages
Page 341 - Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat, To persuade Tommy Townshend* to lend him a vote ; Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining, And thought of convincing, while they thought of -dining. Though equal to all things, for all things unfit: Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit ; For a patriot, too cool ; for a drudge, disobedient ; And too fond of the right, to pursue the expedient. In short, 'twas his fate, unemployed or in place, sir, To eat mutton cold,...
Page 268 - Blest madman, who could every hour employ With something new to wish or to enjoy...
Page 284 - The rest the winds dispers'd in empty air. But now secure the painted vessel glides, The sunbeams trembling on the floating tides ; While melting music steals upon the sky, And soften'd sounds along the waters die : Smooth flow the waves, the zephyrs gently play, Belinda smil'd, and all the world was gay. All but the sylph — with careful thoughts opprest, Th' impending woe sat heavy on his breast.
Page 287 - Ah cease, rash youth ! desist ere 'tis too late, Fear the just gods, and think of Scylla's fate! Chang'd to a bird, and sent to flit in air, She dearly pays for Nisus' injur'd hair ! But when to mischief mortals bend their will, How soon they find fit instruments of ill ! Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace A...
Page 263 - Shadwell alone of all my sons is he Who stands confirmed in full stupidity. The rest to some faint meaning make pretence, But Shadwell never deviates into sense.
Page 5 - For, wit lying most in the assemblage of ideas, and putting those together with quickness and variety wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures and agreeable visions in the fancy...
Page 288 - T' inclose the lock ; now joins it, to divide. Ev'n then, before the fatal engine clos'd, A wretched sylph too fondly interpos'd ; Fate urg'd the shears, and cut the sylph in twain, (But airy substance soon unites again) The meeting points the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, for ever, and for ever ! Then flash'd the living lightning from her eyes, • And screams of horror rend th
Page 343 - He cherish'd his friend, and he relish'da bumper ; Yet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper. Perhaps you may ask if the man was a miser? I answer, no, no, for he always was wiser : Too courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat?
Page 265 - 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.
Page 301 - Unwater'd see the drooping sea-horse mourn, And swallows roost in Nilus' dusty urn. My lord advances with majestic mien, Smit with the mighty pleasure to be seen : But soft — by regular approach — not yet — First...