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Page 68
... Homer being , according to the testimony of Aristotle , posterior to a long line of
poets , his predecessors and perhaps his ... to the nation , the family , and person
, of the poet , strongly mark the national character as well as that of the times .
... Homer being , according to the testimony of Aristotle , posterior to a long line of
poets , his predecessors and perhaps his ... to the nation , the family , and person
, of the poet , strongly mark the national character as well as that of the times .
Page 92
We may observe , that there is nothing in which our poet has better succeeded ,
than in keeping up an unremitted attention in his readers to the main instruments
, the machinery of his poem , viz . the tarts ; insomuch , that the aforementioned ...
We may observe , that there is nothing in which our poet has better succeeded ,
than in keeping up an unremitted attention in his readers to the main instruments
, the machinery of his poem , viz . the tarts ; insomuch , that the aforementioned ...
Page 162
the art of Poetry ; if this analogy has been allowed by the whole tribe of critics ! so
far , that in speaking of the latter they have used the terms of the former , and
have passed judgment on the works of the Poet in the language of the
Manufacturer ...
the art of Poetry ; if this analogy has been allowed by the whole tribe of critics ! so
far , that in speaking of the latter they have used the terms of the former , and
have passed judgment on the works of the Poet in the language of the
Manufacturer ...
Page 200
It is not in every body ' s power to determine , whether a poet has borrowed a
thought from another , either from his not having seen the works of the poet from
whom the thought is said to have been borrowed , or his ignorance of the
language ...
It is not in every body ' s power to determine , whether a poet has borrowed a
thought from another , either from his not having seen the works of the poet from
whom the thought is said to have been borrowed , or his ignorance of the
language ...
Page 244
It could not have escaped an exact observer , and such a one he might , without
hazarding the imputation of flattery , pronounce Mr . Griffin ( whereupon Mr .
Griffin bowed ) , that the reputation of our great tragic poet was sinking apace ;
and ...
It could not have escaped an exact observer , and such a one he might , without
hazarding the imputation of flattery , pronounce Mr . Griffin ( whereupon Mr .
Griffin bowed ) , that the reputation of our great tragic poet was sinking apace ;
and ...
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Common terms and phrases
abilities admiration ambition appear attempt attention body called causes character claim common consequences consider consideration criticism desire distinguished effect endeavour entirely equally excellence existence expression favour feelings former frequently future genius give glory Griffin ground hand happy heart hero honour hope human idea imitation immediately instance interest kind knowledge labours language laws learning least less letter liberty light lived look mankind manners means ment merit mind MONDAY moral nature never object observation once opinion original passions perhaps period person pleasing poem poet poetry political present principle probably produced prove readers reason received reflect respect Roman seems short similar spirit success superior suppose surely taste tell thing thought tion true truth universal virtue whole wish writers
Popular passages
Page 249 - What he attempted, he performed ; he is never feeble, and he did not wish to be energetic ; he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor affected brevity ; his periods, though not diligently rounded, are voluble and easy. Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison, HUGHES.
Page 249 - His prose is the model of the middle style ; on grave subjects not formal, on light occasions not grovelling ; pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration ; always equable and always easy, without glowing words or pointed sentences.
Page 169 - Let others better mould the running mass Of metals, and inform the breathing brass, And soften into flesh, a marble face ; Plead better at the bar ; describe the skies, And when the stars descend, and when they rise.
Page 85 - All on a summer's day." I cannot leave this line without remarking that one of the Scribleri, a descendant of the famous Martinus, has expressed his suspicions of the text being corrupted here, and proposes instead of " all on " reading " alone ", alleging, in favour of this alteration, the effect of solitude in raising the passions.
Page 184 - Yet all these were, when no man did them know; Yet have from wisest ages hidden beene: And later times things more unknowne shall show. Why then should witlesse man so much misweene That nothing is, but that which he hath scene?
Page 135 - With dust dishonour'd, and deform'd with gore. As the young olive, in some sylvan scene, Crown'd by fresh fountains with eternal green, Lifts the gay head, in snowy flowrets fair, And plays and dances to the gentle air; When lo ! a whirlwind from high heaven invades The tender plant, and...
Page 68 - I saw them under a green mantling vine That crawls along the side of yon small hill, Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots ; Their port was more than human, as they stood : I took it for a...
Page 81 - I too am not entirely destitute of abilities of this kind ; but that by possessing a decent share of critical discernment, and critical jargon, I am capable of becoming a very tolerable commentator. For the proof of which, I shall rather prefer calling the attention of my readers to an object, as yet untreated of by any of my immediate predecessors, than venture to throw in my observations on any work which has before passed the ordeal of frequent examination. And this I shall do for two reasons...
Page 81 - I to take occasion to shew that I too am not entirely destitute of abilities of this kind; but that by possessing a decent share of critical discernment, and critical jargon, I am capable of becoming a very tolerable commentator. For the proof of which, I shall rather prefer calling the attention of my readers to an ob°ject, as yet untreated of by any of my immediate...
Page 91 - Thus have I industriously gone through the several parts of this wonderful work ; and clearly proved it, in .every one of these parts, and in .all of them together, to be a due and proper epic poem ; and to have as good a right to that title, from its adherence to prescribed rules, as any of the celebrated master-pieces of antiquity. And here I cannot help again lamenting, that by not knowing the name of the author, I am unable to twine...