The works of the English poets. With prefaces, biographical and critical, by S. Johnson, Volume 201790 |
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Page 5
... Roman emperors ; which were epithets of flattery , deserved by few of them ; and not running in a blood like the per- petual gentleness , and inherent goodness of the Ormond Family . B 3 Gold 2 Gold , as it is the pureft , fo DEDICATION .
... Roman emperors ; which were epithets of flattery , deserved by few of them ; and not running in a blood like the per- petual gentleness , and inherent goodness of the Ormond Family . B 3 Gold 2 Gold , as it is the pureft , fo DEDICATION .
Page 39
... to adventure on her prologue , because it is too licen- tious : there Chaucer introduces an old woman of mean parentage , whom a youthful knight of noble blood was D 4 forced forced to marry , and confequently loathed her : the PREFACE .
... to adventure on her prologue , because it is too licen- tious : there Chaucer introduces an old woman of mean parentage , whom a youthful knight of noble blood was D 4 forced forced to marry , and confequently loathed her : the PREFACE .
Page 40
... blood , and titles , in the ftory of Sigifmunda ; which I had cer- tainly avoided for the refemblance of the two dif- courses , if my memory had not failed me .. Let the reader weigh them both ; and if he thinks me partial to Chaucer ...
... blood , and titles , in the ftory of Sigifmunda ; which I had cer- tainly avoided for the refemblance of the two dif- courses , if my memory had not failed me .. Let the reader weigh them both ; and if he thinks me partial to Chaucer ...
Page 50
... blood , and make a new platonic year . O true Plantagenet , O race divine , ( For beauty ftill is fatal to the line , ) Had Chaucer liv'd that angel - face to view , Sure he had drawn his Emily from you ; Or had you liv'd to judge the ...
... blood , and make a new platonic year . O true Plantagenet , O race divine , ( For beauty ftill is fatal to the line , ) Had Chaucer liv'd that angel - face to view , Sure he had drawn his Emily from you ; Or had you liv'd to judge the ...
Page 51
... Blood , rapines , maffacres , were cheaply bought , So mighty recompence your beauty brought . As when the dove returning bore the mark Of earth restor❜d to the long labouring ark , The relicks of mankind , fecure of rest , Ope'd every ...
... Blood , rapines , maffacres , were cheaply bought , So mighty recompence your beauty brought . As when the dove returning bore the mark Of earth restor❜d to the long labouring ark , The relicks of mankind , fecure of rest , Ope'd every ...
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.