Poetry and Poets: A Collection of the Choicest Anecdotes Relative to the Poets of Every Age and Nation. With Specimens of Their Works and Sketches of Their Biography, Volume 3

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Sherwood, Gilbert, & Piper, 1826 - Poetry - 305 pages

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Page 168 - Full little knowest thou that hast not tried, What hell it is, in suing long to bide ; To lose good days that might be better spent : To waste long nights in pensive discontent ; To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow ; To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow...
Page 112 - Many were the wit-combats betwixt him and Ben Jonson, which two I behold like a Spanish great galleon, and an English man-of-war ; Master Jonson (like the former) was built far higher in learning ; solid, but slow in his performances. Shakespeare...
Page 174 - IN going to my naked bed, as one that would have slept, I heard a wife sing to her child, that long before had wept. She sighed sore, and sang full sweet, to bring the babe to rest, That would not cease, but cried still, in sucking at her breast.
Page 112 - English man-ofwar, lesser in bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit and invention.
Page 90 - HAPPY is England ! I could be content To see no other verdure than its own ; To feel no other breezes than are blown Through its tall woods with high romances blent : Yet do I sometimes feel a languishment
Page 34 - Rise up, rise up, Xarifa! lay the golden cushion down; Rise up, come to the window, and gaze with all the town.
Page 147 - Carron side, I left my father's house, and took with me A chosen servant to conduct my steps; Yon trembling coward who forsook his master.
Page 252 - What things have we seen Done at the ' Mermaid ? ' Heard words that have been So nimble, and so full of subtle flame, As if that every one from whence they came Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest, And had resolved to live a fool the rest Of his dull life. Then, when there hath been thrown Wit able enough to justify the town For three days past — wit that might warrant be For the whole city to talk foolishly Till that were cancelled ; and when that was gone, We left an air behind us, which...
Page 242 - One day as the king was walking in the Mall, and talking with Dryden, he said, ' If I was a poet, (and I think I am poor enough to be one,) I would write a poem on such a subject in the following manner,' and then gave him the plan for it.
Page 41 - You must have heard," he says, " that I am going to Greece — why do you not come to me ? I can do nothing without you, and am exceedingly anxious to see you. Pray, come, for I am at last determined to go to Greece : — it is the only place I was ever contented in. I am serious ; and did not write before, as I might have given you a journey for nothing. They all say I can be of use to Greece ; I do not know how — nor do they ; but, at all events, let us go.

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