Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, with Critical Observations on Their Works, Volum 2

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P.C. and J. Rivington, 1821

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Pàgina 298 - unbending corn, and skims along the main ; when he had enjoyed for about thirty years the praise of Camilla's lightness of foot, he tried another experiment upon sound and time, and produced this memorable triplet ; Waller was smooth ; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
Pàgina 27 - and still as death.—Tis dreadful I How reverend is the face of this tall pile, Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads, To bear aloft its arch'd and ponderous roof, By its own weight made stedfast and immoveable, Looking tranquillity
Pàgina 292 - There is more dignity in the knowledge of Dryden, and more certainty in that of Pope. Poetry was not the sole praise of either : for both excelled likewise in prose ; but Pope did not borrow his prose from his predecessor. The style
Pàgina 315 - Just to his prince, and to his country true ; Fill'd with the sense of age, the fire of youth, A scorn of wrangling, yet a zeal for truth ; A generous faith, from superstition free ; A love to peace, and hate of tyranny : Such this man was ; who now, from earth remov'd, 1
Pàgina 59 - been observing once to Mr-. Gay, what " an odd pretty sort of a thing a Newgate Pastoral might "make. Gay was inclined to try at such a thing for some" time ; but afterwards thought it would be better to write> "'a comedy on the same plan. This was what gave rise tO>
Pàgina 435 - by the Rev. Mr. Temple, rector of St. Gluvias in Cornwall : and am as willing as his warmest well-wisher to believe it true. " Perhaps he was the most learned man in Europe. He " was equally acquainted with the elegant and profound " parts of science, and that not superficially, but
Pàgina 291 - images and illustrations from a more extensive circumference of science. Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners. The notions of Dryden were formed by comprehensive speculation ; and those of Pope
Pàgina 435 - or contempt and disdain of his inferiors in " science. He also had, in some degree, that weakness " which disgusted Voltaire so much in Mr. Congrevc : " though he seemed to value others chiefly according to " the progress that they had made in knowledge, yet he " could not bear to be considered merely as a man of
Pàgina 14 - many excellencies, and did not discover that it wanted that without which all others are of small avail, the power of engaging attention and alluring curiosity. Unhappily this pernicious failure is that which an author is least able to discover. We are seldom tiresome to ourselves; and the act of composition fills and delights
Pàgina 414 - too frequently vain. Before he returned to much of what he had once approved, he died. Many of his books, which I have seen, arc by those notes of approbation so swelled beyond their real bulk, that they will hardly shut. What though we wade in wealth, or soar in fame ! Earth's highest station ends in Here he lies ! And

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