The Modern British Essayists: Talfourd, T.N. Critical and miscellaneous writings. Stephen, James. Critical and miscellaneous essaysA. Hart, 1852 - English essays |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 83
Page 5
... noble . This lesson is in reality the universal moral of all excellent ro- mances . How mistaken are those miserable reasoners who object to them as giving " false pictures of life - of purity too glossy and ethe- real - of friendship ...
... noble . This lesson is in reality the universal moral of all excellent ro- mances . How mistaken are those miserable reasoners who object to them as giving " false pictures of life - of purity too glossy and ethe- real - of friendship ...
Page 11
... noble poet , had begun to pay homage to mere energy , to regard vir- tue as low and mean compared with lofty crime , and to think that high passion carried in itself a justification for its most fearful ex- cesses . He inspired them ...
... noble poet , had begun to pay homage to mere energy , to regard vir- tue as low and mean compared with lofty crime , and to think that high passion carried in itself a justification for its most fearful ex- cesses . He inspired them ...
Page 12
... noble shapes which come thronging on our memory . His ludicrous characters are dear to us , because they are seldom merely quaint or strange , the dry oddities of fancy , but have as genuine a kindred with humanity as the most gifted ...
... noble shapes which come thronging on our memory . His ludicrous characters are dear to us , because they are seldom merely quaint or strange , the dry oddities of fancy , but have as genuine a kindred with humanity as the most gifted ...
Page 13
... noble and sacred a thing the heart of man is , in spite of its strangest debasements and perversions . How does the inimitable portrait of Claverhouse at first excite our hatred for that carelessness of human misery , that con- tempt ...
... noble and sacred a thing the heart of man is , in spite of its strangest debasements and perversions . How does the inimitable portrait of Claverhouse at first excite our hatred for that carelessness of human misery , that con- tempt ...
Page 16
... noble bard , whom he has been sometimes er- tures on the heart of Falkland till they wring roneously supposed to resemble . The former confidence from him - and the net thenceforth sets before us mightiest realities in clear vi- spread ...
... noble bard , whom he has been sometimes er- tures on the heart of Falkland till they wring roneously supposed to resemble . The former confidence from him - and the net thenceforth sets before us mightiest realities in clear vi- spread ...
Common terms and phrases
admiration affections amidst Angelique appear Baxter beauty breathe character Christian church common court criticism death deep delight divine Don Francis duchess of Longueville earth EDINBURGH REVIEW Elgiva eloquence eternal excite exhibit exquisite faculties faith fancy favour fear feel friends genius gentle give glory grace habits heart heaven holy honour hope House of Commons human Iago imagination immortal inspired intellectual Jesuits justice king labours Lady Mary Shepherd language learned less living Lord Lord Byron Lord Eldon Lord Stowell Luther mankind ment mighty mind moral nature ness never noble object once Othello passion poet poetry Port-Royal praise racter regard rendered repose reverence Richard Baxter sacred scarcely scene seems sense Shakspeare sion solemn soul spirit strange sublime success sympathy things thought tion tragedy triumph truth virtue voice Wilberforce wisdom words writings Xavier youth
Popular passages
Page 155 - Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice, To reign is worth ambition, though in hell: Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.
Page 54 - What then I was. The sounding cataract Haunted me like a passion : the tall rock, The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood, Their colours and their forms, were then to me An appetite; a feeling and a love, 80 That had no need of a remoter charm, By thought supplied, nor any interest Unborrowed from the eye.
Page 56 - Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.
Page 55 - Hence in a season of calm weather Though inland far we be, Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us hither, Can in a moment travel thither, And see the Children sport upon the shore, And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.
Page 154 - A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields, in thick array, Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders; such as raised To height of noblest temper heroes old, Arming to battle; and, instead of rage, Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved With dread of death, to flight or foul retreat...
Page 154 - He scarce had ceased, when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore: his ponderous shield, Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views, At evening, from the top of Fesole, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
Page 57 - Ah why,' said Ellen, sighing to herself, ' Why do not words, and kiss, and solemn pledge ; ' And nature that is kind in woman's breast, ' And reason that in man is wise and good, ' And fear of him who is a righteous judge ; ' Why do not these prevail for human life, ' To keep two hearts together, that began ' Their spring-time with one love, and that have need ' Of mutual pity and forgiveness, sweet ' To grant, or be received; while that poor bird...
Page 54 - An appetite ; a feeling and a love, That had no need of a remoter charm, By thought supplied, nor any interest Unborrowed from the eye. That time is past, And all its aching joys are now no more, And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this Faint I, nor mourn, nor murmur ; other gifts Have followed ; for such loss, I would believe, Abundant recompense.
Page 55 - But for those first affections, Those shadowy recollections, Which be they what they may, Are yet the fountain light of all our day, Are yet a master light of all our seeing...
Page 51 - Maimed, mangled by inhuman men; Or thou upon a desert thrown Inheritest the lion's den; Or hast been summoned to the deep, Thou, thou and all thy mates, to keep An incommunicable sleep.