The works of the English poets. With prefaces, biographical and critical, by S. Johnson, Volume 201790 |
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Page 23
... Palamon and Arcite was written in all probability by fome Italian wit , in a former age ; as I fhall prove hereafter : the tale of Grizild was the in- vention of Petrarch ; by him fent to Boccace ; from whom it came to Chaucer : Troilus ...
... Palamon and Arcite was written in all probability by fome Italian wit , in a former age ; as I fhall prove hereafter : the tale of Grizild was the in- vention of Petrarch ; by him fent to Boccace ; from whom it came to Chaucer : Troilus ...
Page 25
... Pala- mon . What would Ovid have done on this occafion ? He would certainly have made Arcite witty on his death - bed . He had complained he was farther off from poffeffion , by being fo near , and a thousand fuch boyifms , which ...
... Pala- mon . What would Ovid have done on this occafion ? He would certainly have made Arcite witty on his death - bed . He had complained he was farther off from poffeffion , by being fo near , and a thousand fuch boyifms , which ...
Page 35
... was also neceffary fometimes to restore the fenfe of Chaucer , which was loft or mangled in the errors of the press : let this example fuffice at present ; in the ftory of Palamon and Arcite , where the D 2 in PREFACE . 35.
... was also neceffary fometimes to restore the fenfe of Chaucer , which was loft or mangled in the errors of the press : let this example fuffice at present ; in the ftory of Palamon and Arcite , where the D 2 in PREFACE . 35.
Page 36
English poets. in the ftory of Palamon and Arcite , where the temple of Diana is described , you find these verses , in all the edi- tions of our author : There faw I Danè turned into a tree , I mean not the goddess Diane , But Venus ...
English poets. in the ftory of Palamon and Arcite , where the temple of Diana is described , you find these verses , in all the edi- tions of our author : There faw I Danè turned into a tree , I mean not the goddess Diane , But Venus ...
Page 40
... Palamon and Arcite , which is of the Epic kind , and perhaps not much inferior to the Ilias or the Æneis : the ftory is more pleasing than either of them , the manners as perfect , the dic- tion as poetical , the learning as deep and ...
... Palamon and Arcite , which is of the Epic kind , and perhaps not much inferior to the Ilias or the Æneis : the ftory is more pleasing than either of them , the manners as perfect , the dic- tion as poetical , the learning as deep and ...
Common terms and phrases
againſt Arcite arms becauſe befides behold beſt betwixt blood breaſt caft Canterbury tales cauſe Chanticleer Chaucer cloſe Cymon dame death deferve defign'd defire earth eaſe Emily Engliſh Ev'n eyes fafe faid fair fame fate fear feas fecret feem'd fenfe fent fhall fide fight fince fing fire firft firſt flain fome foon forc'd forrow foul fovereign freſh ftill ftood fuch fuffer fure fword Goddeſs grace heart heaven himſelf honour iffuing king knight laft laſt leaſt lefs liv'd loft lord lov'd maid mind moft moſt muft muſt myſelf numbers o'er Ovid Palamon Pirithous plac'd pleas'd pleaſe pleaſure poet prefent prepar'd purſue reaſon refolv'd reft reſt ſaid ſay ſeen ſhall ſhe ſhould ſky ſpace ſpeak ſpoke ſtate ſtill ſtood Synalepha Thebes thee Thefeus themſelves theſe thofe thoſe thou thought tranflated turn'd uſe Virgil whofe whoſe wife Wife of Bath
Popular passages
Page 13 - ... he first intended. He alters his mind as the work proceeds, and will have this or that convenience more, of which he had not thought when he began. So has it happened to me ; I have built a house where I intended but a lodge; yet with better success than a certain nobleman, who, beginning with a dog-kennel, never lived to finish the palace he had contrived.
Page 19 - In the works of the two authors we may read their manners and natural inclinations, which are wholly different. Virgil was of a quiet, sedate temper ; Homer was violent, impetuous, and full of fire. The chief talent of Virgil was propriety of thoughts, and ornament of words : Homer was rapid in his thoughts, and took all the liberties both of numbers and of expressions, which his language and the age in which he lived allowed him.
Page 31 - Tales the various manners and humours (as we now call them) of the whole English nation, in his age. Not a single character has escaped him. All his pilgrims are severally distinguished from each other; and not only in their inclinations, but in their very physiognomies and persons.
Page 31 - The matter and manner of their tales, and of their telling, are so suited to their different educations, humours, and callings that each of them would be improper in any other mouth.
Page 32 - ... their several sorts of gravity: their discourses are such as belong to their age, their calling, and their breeding; such as are becoming of them, and of them only.
Page 42 - He has taken some pains with my poetry ; but nobody will be persuaded to take the same with his. If I had taken to the church (as he affirms, but which was never in my thoughts), I should have had more...
Page 19 - Homer was rapid in his thoughts, and took all the liberties, both of numbers and of expressions, which his language, and the age in which he lived, allowed him. Homer's invention was more copious, Virgil's more confined; so that if Homer had not led the way, it was not in Virgil to have begun heroic poetry; for nothing can be more evident, than that the Roman poem is but the second part of the Ilias; a continuation of the same story, and the persons already formed.
Page 121 - Bade cease the war ; pronouncing from on high, Arcite of Thebes had won the beauteous Emily. The sound of trumpets to the voice replied, And round the royal lists the heralds cried, Arcite of Thebes has won the beauteous bride.
Page 248 - As on this very spot of earth I fell, As Friday saw me die, so she my prey Becomes ev'n here, on this revolving day.
Page 298 - Had form'd the whole, and made the parts agree, That no unequal portions might be found, He moulded earth into a spacious round: Then with a breath, he gave the winds to blow; And bade the congregated waters flow.