The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 9Nichols, 1816 - English literature |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 42
Page 6
... actions of heroism , and effusions of wit ; but it seems as rea- sonable to appear the champion as the poet of an " airy nothing , " and to quarrel as to write for what Cowley might have learned from his master Pindar to call the dream ...
... actions of heroism , and effusions of wit ; but it seems as rea- sonable to appear the champion as the poet of an " airy nothing , " and to quarrel as to write for what Cowley might have learned from his master Pindar to call the dream ...
Page 16
... actions are visible , though mo- tives are secret . Cowley certainly retired ; first to Barn - elms , and afterwards to Chertsey , in Surrey . He seems , however , to have lost part of his dread of the hum of men * . He thought himself ...
... actions are visible , though mo- tives are secret . Cowley certainly retired ; first to Barn - elms , and afterwards to Chertsey , in Surrey . He seems , however , to have lost part of his dread of the hum of men * . He thought himself ...
Page 21
... actions of men , and the vicissitudes of life , without interest and without emotion . Their courtship was void of fondness , and their lamentation of sorrow . Their wish was only to say what they hoped had been never said before . Nor ...
... actions of men , and the vicissitudes of life , without interest and without emotion . Their courtship was void of fondness , and their lamentation of sorrow . Their wish was only to say what they hoped had been never said before . Nor ...
Page 55
... action , that the reader of the Sacred Volume habitually considers it as the pecu- liar mode of existence of a distinct species of man- kind , that lived and acted with manners uncommu- nicable ; so that it is difficult even for ...
... action , that the reader of the Sacred Volume habitually considers it as the pecu- liar mode of existence of a distinct species of man- kind , that lived and acted with manners uncommu- nicable ; so that it is difficult even for ...
Page 59
... action cannot be known . Of characters , either not yet introduced , or shewn but upon few occasions , the full extent and the nice discrimin- ations cannot be ascertained . The fable is plainly implex , formed rather from the Odyssey ...
... action cannot be known . Of characters , either not yet introduced , or shewn but upon few occasions , the full extent and the nice discrimin- ations cannot be ascertained . The fable is plainly implex , formed rather from the Odyssey ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel admired Æneid afterwards appears beauties blank verse censure character Charles Charles Dryden composition Comus considered Cowley criticism death defend delight Denham diction dramatick Dryden Duke Earl elegance English epick excellence fancy favour friends genius Heaven heroick honour hope Hudibras images imagination imitation Jacob Tonson John Dryden Juvenal kind King known labour Lady language Latin learning lines Lord Lord Conway Lord Roscommon Milton mind nature never NIHIL numbers opinion Paradise Lost Paradise Regained Parliament passions performance perhaps perusal Philips Pindar play pleasure poem poet poetical poetry pounds praise preface produced publick published racters reader reason relates remarks reputation rhyme satire says seems sent sentiments shew sometimes Sprat style supposed thee thing thou thought tion tragedy translation truth Tyrannick Love verses versification Virgil virtue Waller words write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 91 - ... that by labour and intent study, which I take to be my portion in- this life, joined with the strong propensity of nature, I might perhaps leave something so written to after-times, as they should not willingly let it die.
Page 77 - O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o'er-flowing full.
Page 382 - DEYDEN may be properly considered as the father of English criticism, as the writer who first taught us to determine upon principles the merit of composition. Of our former poets, the greatest dramatist wrote without rules, conducted through life and nature by a genius that rarely misled, and rarely deserted him. Of the rest, those who knew the laws of propriety had neglected to teach them.
Page 413 - From harmony, from heavenly harmony This universal frame began: From harmony to harmony Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in Man.
Page 150 - We drove a-field, and both together heard What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn, Battening our flocks with the fresh dews of night, Oft till the star that rose at evening bright Toward heaven's descent had sloped his westering wheel.
Page 257 - There needs no more be said to extol the excellence and power of his wit, and pleasantness of his conversation, than that it was of magnitude enough to cover a world of very great faults; that is, so to cover them, that they were not taken notice of to his reproach; viz.
Page 169 - The want* of human interest is always felt. Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is. Its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure. We read Milton for instruction, retire harassed and overburdened, and look elsewhere for recreation ; we desert / our master, and seek for companions.
Page 433 - I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran.
Page 150 - Among the flocks and copses and flowers appear the heathen deities, Jove and Phoebus, Neptune and jEolus, with a long train of mythological imagery, such as a college easily supplies. Nothing can less display knowledge, or less exercise invention, than to tell how a shepherd has lost his companion, and must now feed his flocks alone, without any judge of his skill in piping ; and how one god asks another god what has become of Lycidas, and how neither god can. tell. He who thus grieves will excite...
Page 75 - But whither am I stray'd ? I need not raise Trophies to thee from other men's dispraise : Nor is thy fame on lesser ruins built, Nor needs thy juster title the foul guilt Of Eastern kings, who, to secure their reign, Must have their brothers, sons, and kindred slain.