History of the English Language and Literature |
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Page 14
... display uncom- mon talent , so distinct is every one from the other , and so vividly are all presented to the mind of the reader . The Knight , the Yeoman , the Prioress , the Monk , the Merch- ant , the Lawyer , the Miller - all are ...
... display uncom- mon talent , so distinct is every one from the other , and so vividly are all presented to the mind of the reader . The Knight , the Yeoman , the Prioress , the Monk , the Merch- ant , the Lawyer , the Miller - all are ...
Page 24
... display much talent , he composed a rude species of play called the Satire of the Three Estates , which was performed at Edinburgh and Cupar- in - Fife , and was supposed to have some effect in causing the overthrow of the Catholic ...
... display much talent , he composed a rude species of play called the Satire of the Three Estates , which was performed at Edinburgh and Cupar- in - Fife , and was supposed to have some effect in causing the overthrow of the Catholic ...
Page 30
... display whatever is peculiar and excellent in their nature , on a scale the most conspicuous and magnificent . ' The ability to write having been , as it were , suddenly created , the whole world of character , imagery , and sentiment ...
... display whatever is peculiar and excellent in their nature , on a scale the most conspicuous and magnificent . ' The ability to write having been , as it were , suddenly created , the whole world of character , imagery , and sentiment ...
Page 39
... display a redundancy of fancy , and a refinement of feeling which make it somewhat surprising that he is so little known as a poet . He was a country clergyman , and seems to have had a peculiar pleasure in rural life . Some of his ...
... display a redundancy of fancy , and a refinement of feeling which make it somewhat surprising that he is so little known as a poet . He was a country clergyman , and seems to have had a peculiar pleasure in rural life . Some of his ...
Page 42
Robert Chambers. and quibbles . The versification of Donne is rugged , but sometimes displays a passionate energy that almost redeems his besetting vices of thought . Scarcely any one of the poets of this age experienced so absolute an ...
Robert Chambers. and quibbles . The versification of Donne is rugged , but sometimes displays a passionate energy that almost redeems his besetting vices of thought . Scarcely any one of the poets of this age experienced so absolute an ...
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admired afterwards American appeared biographical blank verse celebrated century character Charles Chaucer chiefly Church comedies commenced composition Cotton Mather death display distinguished divine dramatic dramatists Edinburgh Edinburgh Review Edward elegant eminent England English language English poetry entitled Ephraim Chambers essays excellent fancy feeling fiction genius George George II Henry Henry VIII History of Scotland human humour JAMES JOHN kind latter learning lished literary literature lively London manner merit mind miscellaneous moral moral plays native nature notice novel octavo original period persons philosophical pieces plays poem poet poetical poetry political Pope popular possessed principles produced prose published racter rank reader reign religion religious remarkable reputation respecting Roman satirical Scotland Scottish sentiment sermons Sir Walter Scott specimen style talent taste THOMAS thou thought tion tragedy United verse versification volumes Whig WILLIAM writers written wrote
Popular passages
Page 211 - Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty's form Glasses itself in tempests: in all time. Calm or convulsed — in breeze, or gale, or storm. Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime Dark-heaving; — boundless, endless, and sublime; The image of eternity, the throne Of the Invisible: even from out thy slime The monsters of the deep are made; each zone Obeys thee; thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone.
Page 143 - A stranger yet to pain! I feel the gales that from ye blow A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladsome wing My weary soul they seem to soothe, And, redolent of joy and youth, To breathe a second spring.
Page 35 - No longer mourn for me when I am dead, Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell : Nay, if you read this line, remember not The hand that writ it ; for I love you so, That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot, If thinking on me then should make you woe.
Page 144 - The unfeeling for his own. Yet, ah ! why should they know their fate, Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies ? Thought would destroy their paradise. No more ; — where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.
Page 57 - QUEEN and huntress, chaste and fair, Now the sun is laid to sleep, Seated in thy silver chair, State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus entreats thy light, Goddess, excellently bright! Earth, let not thy envious shade Dare itself to interpose: Cynthia's shining orb was made Heaven to clear when day did close: Bless us then with wished sight, Goddess, excellently bright! Lay thy bow of pearl apart, And thy crystal shining quiver: Give unto the flying hart Space to breathe, how short soever; Thou that...
Page 40 - We have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a Spring; As quick a growth to meet decay As you, or any thing. We die, As your hours do, and dry Away Like to the Summer's rain; Or as the pearls of morning's dew, Ne'er to be found again.
Page 111 - The little engine on his fingers' ends; This just behind Belinda's neck he spread, As o'er the fragrant steams she bends her head. Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair...
Page 144 - Gainst graver hours, that bring constraint To sweeten liberty; Some bold adventurers disdain The limits of their little reign, And unknown regions dare descry! Still, as they run, they look behind! They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy I Gay Hope is theirs, by Fancy fed; Less pleasing when possest ! The tear forgot as soon as shed!
Page 86 - A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 34 - When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night...