The British Essayists: With Prefaces, Historical and Biographical, Volume 20Little, Brown, 1855 - English essays |
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Page vi
... never consulted in vain . By such assist- ance it is hoped something has been done to revive the attention of the public to a species of writing peculiar and highly honourable to the genius of our nation , and which has so eminently ...
... never consulted in vain . By such assist- ance it is hoped something has been done to revive the attention of the public to a species of writing peculiar and highly honourable to the genius of our nation , and which has so eminently ...
Page 7
... never wholly lose , while they continue to be among the first books by which both sexes are initiated in the elegancies of knowledge . ' * In this sketch , we may observe , that the praise of original design is still reserved . for the ...
... never wholly lose , while they continue to be among the first books by which both sexes are initiated in the elegancies of knowledge . ' * In this sketch , we may observe , that the praise of original design is still reserved . for the ...
Page 8
... never been considered as a master of common life , or as editing the laws of manners . It has seldom suc- ceeded even in correcting what is amiss , although by flattering the depraved taste or morals of certain periods , it has often ...
... never been considered as a master of common life , or as editing the laws of manners . It has seldom suc- ceeded even in correcting what is amiss , although by flattering the depraved taste or morals of certain periods , it has often ...
Page 16
... never fail to please on the stage . Marriage has been considered by our Essayists in every possible light . The various circumstances * which constitute its * Johnson , in speaking of the objects of Pope's ' Rape of the Lock , ' and ...
... never fail to please on the stage . Marriage has been considered by our Essayists in every possible light . The various circumstances * which constitute its * Johnson , in speaking of the objects of Pope's ' Rape of the Lock , ' and ...
Page 18
... never be acquired without an association with the idle and the profligate , and a proportionate sacrifice of time and character . The subject , however , has cer- tainly been better understood since the ap- pearance of these works . The ...
... never be acquired without an association with the idle and the profligate , and a proportionate sacrifice of time and character . The subject , however , has cer- tainly been better understood since the ap- pearance of these works . The ...
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Common terms and phrases
Addison advices affairs appear APRIL APRIL 22 army arrived beauty called character Court desire discourse dream dress Duke of Anjou Duke of Marlborough enemy entertained Esquire excellent eyes farrago libelli favour France French gentleman give Hague happy honour hope humour instant ISAAC BICKERSTAFF JAMES'S COFFEE-HOUSE JUNE King King of Denmark lady late letters live Lord Madam Majesty manner Marquis de Bay Marshal Villars matter Minister Monsieur Torcy morning motley paper seizes nature neral never obliged observed occasion Olivenza passion peace persons play POPE present pretend Pretty Fellow Prince Eugene Quarterstaff Quicquid agunt homines racter received sense sent spirit Steele Steele's Swift Tatler theme things thought tion Tom D'Urfey Torcy town treaty troops Whate'er wherein WHITE'S CHOCOLATE-HOUSE whole WILL'S COFFEE-HOUSE writ write
Popular passages
Page 357 - Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus ; but use all gently ; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.
Page 8 - Congreve was not tenable : whatever glosses he might use for the defence or palliation of single passages, the general tenour and tendency of his plays must always be condemned. It is acknowledged, with universal conviction, that the perusal of his works will make no man better; and that their ultimate effect is to represent pleasure in alliance with vice, and to relax those obligations by which life ought to be regulated.
Page 185 - Or winds begun through hazy skies to blow, At evening a keen eastern breeze arose, And the descending rain unsullied froze. Soon as the silent shades of night withdrew, The ruddy morn...
Page 73 - The general purpose of the whole has been to recommend truth, innocence, honour, and virtue, as the chief ornaments of life ; but I considered, that severity of manners was absolutely necessary to him who would censure others, and for that reason, and that only, chose to talk in a mask. I shall not carry my humility so far as to call myself a vicious man, but at the same time must confess, my life is at best but pardonable.
Page 29 - Hero, with a design principally to fix upon his own mind a strong impression of virtue and religion, in opposition to a stronger propensity towards unwarrantable pleasures.
Page 4 - To teach the minuter decencies and inferior duties, to regulate the practice of daily conversation, to correct those depravities which are rather ridiculous than criminal, and remove those grievances which, if they produce no lasting calamities, impress hourly vexation...
Page 11 - I must confess I am amazed that the press should be only made use of in this way by news-writers, and the zealots of parties : as if it were not more advantageous to mankind, to be instructed in wisdom and virtue, than in politics ; and to be made good fathers, husbands, and sons, than counsellors and statesmen.
Page 16 - The freaks, and humours, and spleen, and vanity of women, as they embroil families in discord and fill houses with disquiet, do more to obstruct the happiness of life in a year than the ambition of the clergy in many centuries.
Page 357 - Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature; for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end both at the first, and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.
Page 357 - Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue : but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines.