 | British essayists - 1803 - 300 pages
...supposed to consist in gay remarks and unexpected answers — that his scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery or passion; his personages are a kind of intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; and his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | 1804 - 452 pages
...ingenious M. Diderot, in his observations upon dramatic * Dr. Johnson says of him, in his life, that, " his personages are a kind of intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to warri, or to strike ; the contest of smartness ia never intermitted; his wit is a meteor, playing to... | |
 | Samuel Johnson - 1805 - 322 pages
...but that which he endeavoured he seldom failed of performing. His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion : his personages are a kind of...intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to ward or strike; the contest of smartness is never intermitted; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | Alexander Chalmers - English essays - 1807 - 424 pages
...critic and biographer is pro. nouncing upon the poet Congreve. ' His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion : his personages are a kind of...intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to ward or strike; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro, with alternate... | |
 | Alexander Chalmers - English essays - 1807 - 424 pages
...remarks and unexpected answers — that his scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery or passion ; Jiis personages are a kind of intellectual gladiators ; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; and his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | James Mason - 1809 - 566 pages
...but that which he endeavoued, he seldom failed of performing. His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion : his personages are a kind of...intellectual gladiators ; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | Samuel Johnson - English poetry - 1810 - 464 pages
...but that which he endeavoured, he seldom failed of performing. His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion ; his personages are a kind of...intellectual gladiators ; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | Samuel Johnson - 1810 - 422 pages
...but that which he endeavoured, he seldom failed of performing. His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion : his personages are a kind of...intellectual gladiators ; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | Samuel Johnson - 1811 - 380 pages
...endeavoured he seldom failed of performing. His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or "passiqn : his personages are a kind of intellectual gladiators ; every sentence is to ward or strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... | |
 | Hugh Blair - English literature - 1811 - 400 pages
...they introduce, is particularly remarkable. Nothing can * Dr. Johnson says of him, in his Life, that " his personages " are a kind of intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to ward, " or to strike ; the contest of smartness is never intermitted ; his " wit is a meteor, playing to and fro,... | |
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His scenes exhibit not much of humour, imagery, or passion : his personages are a kind of intellectual gladiators; every sentence is to ward or strike; the contest of smartness is never intermitted; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate... 
