A History of English Literature: In a Series of Biographical Sketches |
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Page iv
... began to exist . In the nine remaining Eras an entire chapter is devoted to each greatest name , writers of less mark being grouped together in a closing section . Short illustrative specimens , intended mainly to form the basis of ...
... began to exist . In the nine remaining Eras an entire chapter is devoted to each greatest name , writers of less mark being grouped together in a closing section . Short illustrative specimens , intended mainly to form the basis of ...
Page 19
... began to flow from the lips that had been sealed so long . Caedmon awoke , knew the words he had been reciting , and felt a new - born power in his breast . The mantle of song had fallen on him ; and when next day , before the Abbess ...
... began to flow from the lips that had been sealed so long . Caedmon awoke , knew the words he had been reciting , and felt a new - born power in his breast . The mantle of song had fallen on him ; and when next day , before the Abbess ...
Page 36
... began to circle round the hall . Mimicry and action accompanied the music and the song . And as the wine fumes mounted to the brain , and the wild torrent of melody drove their pulses into madder flow , the battle - day seemed to have ...
... began to circle round the hall . Mimicry and action accompanied the music and the song . And as the wine fumes mounted to the brain , and the wild torrent of melody drove their pulses into madder flow , the battle - day seemed to have ...
Page 39
... began to raise its diminished head and assert its native power , and then metrical romances were written in an English form . These first faltering steps of an infant lite- rature were nearly all translations from the French romances ...
... began to raise its diminished head and assert its native power , and then metrical romances were written in an English form . These first faltering steps of an infant lite- rature were nearly all translations from the French romances ...
Page 58
... began To riden out , he loved chevalrie , Trouthe and honoúr , fredom and curtesie . Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre , And therto hadde he ridden , no man ferre , As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse , And ever honoured for his ...
... began To riden out , he loved chevalrie , Trouthe and honoúr , fredom and curtesie . Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre , And therto hadde he ridden , no man ferre , As wel in Cristendom as in Hethenesse , And ever honoured for his ...
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Addison afterwards amid Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury beauty became Bible born brilliant called Cambridge Cavaliers century CHAPTER character Charles chief chiefly Church College colours court death died drama Dublin Earl early Edinburgh Edinburgh Review England English literature English poetry Essays Faerie Queene fame father finest France genius gentle heart Henry History honour Illustrative extract James John John Milton King Lady land Latin letters literary lived London Lord Milton mind minstrels night noble novel novelist Oxford paper Paradise Lost picture play poem poet poet's poetic poetry political poor prose published Puritan Queen reign ROGER ASCHAM romance round royal Saxon scene Scotland Scottish Shakspere song SPECIMEN spent story style Supplementary List sweet Tatler Thomas Thomas Fuller thought took tragedy translation Trinity College verse WILLIAM wonderful words writer written wrote young
Popular passages
Page 348 - Seven years, my Lord, have now past, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour.
Page 390 - Almighty's form Glasses itself in tempests ; in all time, Calm or convulsed, in breeze, or gale, or storm, Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime, Dark-heaving; boundless, endless, and sublime — The image of Eternity — the throne Of the Invisible; even from out thy slime The monsters of the deep are made ; each zone Obeys thee; thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone...
Page 207 - The other Shape — If shape it might be called that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb ; Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, For each seemed either — black it stood as Night, 670 Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, And shook a dreadful dart : what seemed his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
Page 348 - Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help ? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it ; till I am solitary. and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it.
Page 338 - In all my wanderings round this world of care, In all my griefs — and God has given my share — I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown, Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down; To husband out life's taper at the close, And keep the flame from wasting by repose...
Page 376 - It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then the dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision.
Page 361 - It was on the day, or rather night, of the 27th of June 1787, between the hours of eleven and twelve, that I wrote the last lines of the last page in a summer-house in my garden. After laying down my pen, I took several turns in a berceau, or covered walk of acacias, which commands a prospect of the country, the lake, and the mountains.
Page 209 - No sooner had the Almighty ceased but — all The multitude of Angels, with a shout Loud as from numbers without number, sweet As from blest voices, uttering joy — Heaven rung With jubilee, and loud hosannas filled The eternal regions.
Page 209 - Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence : Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell : Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven...
Page 390 - Thy shores are empires, changed in all save thee — Assyria, Greece, Rome, Carthage, what are they ? Thy waters wasted them while they were free, And many a tyrant since; their shores obey The stranger, slave, or savage; their decay Has dried up realms to deserts: not so thou; Unchangeable save to thy wild waves