The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 2Nichols, 1816 - English literature |
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Page 9
... character , and those which are still to be considered as foreign , in the italick letter . Another question may arise with regard to appel- latives , or the names of species . It seems of no great use to set down the words horse , dog ...
... character , and those which are still to be considered as foreign , in the italick letter . Another question may arise with regard to appel- latives , or the names of species . It seems of no great use to set down the words horse , dog ...
Page 23
... characters of words which it will be of use to mention . Some have both an active and passive signification ; as fearful , that which gives or which feels terror ; a fearful prodigy , ' a fearful hare . Some have a personal , some a ...
... characters of words which it will be of use to mention . Some have both an active and passive signification ; as fearful , that which gives or which feels terror ; a fearful prodigy , ' a fearful hare . Some have a personal , some a ...
Page 43
... character- isticks of a language , I have endeavoured to make some reparation for the universal negligence of my predecessors , by inserting great numbers of com pounded words , as may be found under after , fore , new , night , fair ...
... character- isticks of a language , I have endeavoured to make some reparation for the universal negligence of my predecessors , by inserting great numbers of com pounded words , as may be found under after , fore , new , night , fair ...
Page 52
... character , and deviating towards a Gallick structure and phraseology , from which it ought to be our endeavour to recal it , by making our ancient volumes the ground - work of style , ad- mitting among the additions of later times ...
... character , and deviating towards a Gallick structure and phraseology , from which it ought to be our endeavour to recal it , by making our ancient volumes the ground - work of style , ad- mitting among the additions of later times ...
Page 79
... characters , and paraphrase his sentiments . The reverence due to writings that have long subsisted arises therefore not from any credulous confidence in the superior wisdom of past ages , or gloomy persuasion of the degeneracy of ...
... characters , and paraphrase his sentiments . The reverence due to writings that have long subsisted arises therefore not from any credulous confidence in the superior wisdom of past ages , or gloomy persuasion of the degeneracy of ...
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Common terms and phrases
action ancient appear Banquo beauty censure character comick commerce common considered copies corrupt criticism curiosity dictionary died hereafter diligence discovered drama easily editions editor elegance endeavoured English enquiry Epictetus excellence exhibit expected Falstaff faults favour formed France French genius Habit happiness Harleian library Henry Henry VI honour hope imagination imitation inserted justly kind king king of Portugal knowledge known labour language learning lence less lexicographer likewise Macbeth mankind means ment mind nation nature necessary neglected neral never obscure observed opinion orthography passage passions perfect spy perhaps play pleasure poet Pope Portuguese praise preserved Prester John prince produced publick racters reader reason religion Roman scenes seems sense sentiments Shakespeare shew shewn sometimes Spain suffered sufficient supplied supposed things thought tion trade traffick tragedy truth Voltaire witches words writers written
Popular passages
Page 442 - She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Page 417 - Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder, Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabout And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it.
Page 411 - This castle hath a pleasant seat ; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses.
Page 67 - ... the real state of sublunary nature, which partakes of good and evil, joy and sorrow, mingled with endless variety of proportion and innumerable modes of combination, and expressing the course of the world, in which the loss of one is the gain of another; in which, at the same time, the reveler is hasting to his wine, and the mourner burying his friend...
Page 68 - That this is a practice contrary to the rules of criticism will be readily allowed ; but there is always an appeal open from criticism to nature. The end of writing is to instruct ; the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.
Page 46 - In hope of giving longevity to that which its own nature forbids to be immortal, I have devoted this book, the labour of years, to the honour of my country, that we may no longer yield the palm of philology without a contest to the nations of the continent.
Page 79 - Delusion, if delusion be admitted, has no certain limitation. If the spectator can be once persuaded that his old acquaintance are Alexander and Caesar, that a room illuminated with candles is the plain of Pharsalia, or the bank of Granicus, he is in a state of elevation above the reach of reason or of truth, and from the heights of empyrean poetry may despise the circumscriptions of terrestrial nature.
Page 62 - Shakespeare is, above all writers, — at least above all modern writers, — the poet of nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners and of life.
Page 48 - ... be perfect, since while it is hastening to publication, some words are budding, and some falling away; that a whole life cannot be spent upon syntax and etymology, and that even a whole life would not be sufficient; that he, whose design includes whatever language can express, must often speak of what he does not understand...
Page 410 - Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crown'd withal.