An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire |
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Page xiv
... falls some- times into the fashionable mode of writing : but this is only by fits ; for many parts of all his plays are written with the most noble , elegant , and uncorrupted simplicity . Such is his merit , that , the more just and ...
... falls some- times into the fashionable mode of writing : but this is only by fits ; for many parts of all his plays are written with the most noble , elegant , and uncorrupted simplicity . Such is his merit , that , the more just and ...
Page 16
... falls in- tirely short of the intention of the Drama : and indeed many plays are little more than poems rehearsed ; and the theatrical deco- rations are used rather to improve the spectacle , than to assist the drama , of which the poet ...
... falls in- tirely short of the intention of the Drama : and indeed many plays are little more than poems rehearsed ; and the theatrical deco- rations are used rather to improve the spectacle , than to assist the drama , of which the poet ...
Page 27
... fall . An European monarch would think it as unbecoming him to be styled light of the world , glory of nations , and by the swelling titles assumed by the Asiatic princes , as to be called the tamer of horses , or the swift - footed ...
... fall . An European monarch would think it as unbecoming him to be styled light of the world , glory of nations , and by the swelling titles assumed by the Asiatic princes , as to be called the tamer of horses , or the swift - footed ...
Page 56
... tax you not , you elements , with unkindness , 1 never gave you kingdoms , call'd you children , You owe me no submission . Then let fall Your Your horrible pleasure : here I stand your slave , 56 ON THE HISTORICAL DRAMA .
... tax you not , you elements , with unkindness , 1 never gave you kingdoms , call'd you children , You owe me no submission . Then let fall Your Your horrible pleasure : here I stand your slave , 56 ON THE HISTORICAL DRAMA .
Page 79
... fall . Had I so lavish of my presence been , So common - hackney'd in the eyes of men , So stale and cheap to vulgar company ; Opinion , that did help me to the crown , Had still kept loyal to possession , And left me in reputeless ...
... fall . Had I so lavish of my presence been , So common - hackney'd in the eyes of men , So stale and cheap to vulgar company ; Opinion , that did help me to the crown , Had still kept loyal to possession , And left me in reputeless ...
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Common terms and phrases
absurd action admired Æschylus affected allegory ambition ancient ANTONY appears Aristotle Atossa Augustus battle of Shrewsbury blank-verse blood Brutus Cassius character Cinna conspiracy conspirators Corneille critic crown dæmons danger danger death dialogue drama Edipus ELPINICE Emilia Euripides Eurystheus excite fable Falstaffe fear French friends genius ghost give glory grace Grecian Greece Greek hath heart heav'n Henry Hercules heroes honour human imagination imitation judgment Julius Cæsar kind king lady learned lover Macbeth manners means ment mind moral murder muse nature Nervii never noble passions perfect person piece play PLUTARCH poet poetry Prince racters rendered representation ridicule Roman Rome says scene sentiments Shak Shakspeare Shakspeare's shew sion soliloquy Sophocles soul speak spectator speech spirit stage sublime superstition Tacitus taste tell temper terror thee Theseus thing thou tion tragedy tragedy of Macbeth translation virtue Voltaire vulgar witches words writers
Popular passages
Page 231 - Would he were fatter ! But I fear him not : Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ; He is a great observer and he looks Quite through the deeds of men...
Page 238 - Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue — A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy...
Page 173 - It will have blood, they say ; blood will have blood : Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak ; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood.
Page 240 - When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse.
Page 226 - Many a time and oft Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The live-long day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome...
Page 244 - I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue In every wound of Caesar that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Page 148 - I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young blood ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part ; And each particular hair to stand an end. Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood.
Page 237 - He only, in a general honest thought, And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man!
Page 239 - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them ; The good is oft interred with their bones : So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Caesar was ambitious : If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest, (For Brutus- is an honorable man ; So are they all, all honorable men) Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
Page 240 - Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men; Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.