A History of Eighteenth Century Literature (1600-1780). |
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Page 12
... later and better examples , he shows that he possessed a genuine lyric grace , the existence of which we should otherwise scarcely have suspected . His songs are entirely unlike those of the earlier English dramatists , and remind us ...
... later and better examples , he shows that he possessed a genuine lyric grace , the existence of which we should otherwise scarcely have suspected . His songs are entirely unlike those of the earlier English dramatists , and remind us ...
Page 14
... later on of those satires of Marvell and Oldham which led the way for Dryden . He so far surpassed those his forerunners , and made the style so completely his own , that we need not delay here for their consideration . It is valuable ...
... later on of those satires of Marvell and Oldham which led the way for Dryden . He so far surpassed those his forerunners , and made the style so completely his own , that we need not delay here for their consideration . It is valuable ...
Page 18
... later in that section of the second Absalom and Achitophel which is certainly his , and which presents us with the ne plus ultra of his satirical vigour . He must have felt that he could not exceed these portraits of Pheleg , Ben ...
... later in that section of the second Absalom and Achitophel which is certainly his , and which presents us with the ne plus ultra of his satirical vigour . He must have felt that he could not exceed these portraits of Pheleg , Ben ...
Page 19
... later parts , and the final canto is adorned with the story of the Swallows , told by the Panther , and that of the Doves , told by the Hind , which unite to form a very beautiful episode in a poem which is otherwise full of cleverness ...
... later parts , and the final canto is adorned with the story of the Swallows , told by the Panther , and that of the Doves , told by the Hind , which unite to form a very beautiful episode in a poem which is otherwise full of cleverness ...
Page 41
... later in his main successes . There were several writers who excelled Dryden in single departments of dramatic talent , but on the whole he is the greatest figure here as elsewhere in the literature of the epoch ; and it may be well to ...
... later in his main successes . There were several writers who excelled Dryden in single departments of dramatic talent , but on the whole he is the greatest figure here as elsewhere in the literature of the epoch ; and it may be well to ...
Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel Addison admirable appeared beauty became Berkeley blank verse brilliant Burke called career cents character charm close Colley Cibber comedy complete Congreve criticism death Defoe drama dramatist Dryden Dunciad edition eighteenth century England English literature English poetry essays extraordinary famous French friends genius Gibbon Goldsmith grace Gray heroic couplet Horace Walpole Hume humour imitated intellectual Johnson Lady language less letters literary live London Lord lyric manner merit Molière nature never novel odes Oroonoko pamphlet passages passion perhaps period philosophical pieces Pindaric play poem poet poetic poetry political Pope Pope's prose published reader rhyme Richardson romantic satire scarcely Shaftesbury Shakespeare Smollett Steele style success Swift taste Tatler thee Thomson thou thought tion Tom Jones tragedy Tristram Shandy volume W. W. SKEAT Whig writings written wrote Wycherley
Popular passages
Page 233 - How sleep the Brave who sink to rest By all their country's wishes blest! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mould, She there shall dress a sweeter sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod. By fairy hands their knell is rung; By forms unseen their dirge is sung; There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay; And Freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell a weeping hermit there!
Page 107 - And taught the doubtful battle how to rage. So when an angel by divine command With rising tempests shakes a guilty land, Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, Calm and serene he drives the furious blast ; And pleased th' Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.
Page 340 - Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech, His breath like caller air ; His very foot has music in't • As he comes up the stair, — And will I see his face again? And will I hear him speak ? I'm downright dizzy wi...
Page 290 - Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less: for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation...
Page 230 - O thou Traveller unknown, Whom still I hold, but cannot see ; My company before is gone, And I am left alone with Thee ; With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day. I need not tell Thee who I am, My misery...
Page 60 - A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 17 - In thy felonious heart tho' venom lies, It does but touch thy Irish pen, and dies. Thy genius calls thee not to purchase fame In keen iambics, but mild anagram. Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command Some peaceful province in acrostic land. There thou may'st wings display and altars raise, And torture one poor word ten thousand ways. Or, if thou wouldst thy diff'rent talents suit, Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute.
Page 125 - See Mystery to Mathematics fly! In vain ! they gaze, turn giddy, rave and die. Religion, blushing, veils her sacred fires, And unawares Morality expires. Nor public flame, nor private, dares to shine; Nor human spark is left, nor glimpse Divine; Lo! thy dread empire, Chaos! is restor'd; Light dies before thy uncreating word: Thy hand, great Anarch ! lets the curtain fall ; And universal Darkness buries All.
Page 134 - The god of us verse-men (you know, child), the sun, How after his journeys he sets up his rest; If at morning o'er earth 'tis his fancy to run, At night he reclines on his Thetis's breast.
Page 229 - Live while you live, the Epicure would say, And seize the pleasures of the present day. Live while you live, the sacred Preacher cries, And give to God each moment as it flies.