Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, Volume 1Weeks, Jordan & Company, 1840 - English essays |
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Page 11
... believe , that a col- lected edition of them would be received with favor by the American public . It has been their aim to present them in a form worthy of the high merit of their contents . Mr. Macaulay has not been exclusively ...
... believe , that a col- lected edition of them would be received with favor by the American public . It has been their aim to present them in a form worthy of the high merit of their contents . Mr. Macaulay has not been exclusively ...
Page 18
... . The poet , we believe , understood the nature of his art better than the critic . He knew that his poetical genius derived no advan- tage from the civilization which surrounded him , or from 18 MACAULAY'S MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS .
... . The poet , we believe , understood the nature of his art better than the critic . He knew that his poetical genius derived no advan- tage from the civilization which surrounded him , or from 18 MACAULAY'S MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS .
Page 19
... believe in that most orthodox article of literary faith , that the earliest poets are generally the best , should wonder at the rule as if it were the exception . Surely the uniformity of the phenomenon indicates a corresponding ...
... believe in that most orthodox article of literary faith , that the earliest poets are generally the best , should wonder at the rule as if it were the exception . Surely the uniformity of the phenomenon indicates a corresponding ...
Page 20
... believe in a moral sense , like Shaftesbury . He may refer all human actions to self- interest , like Helvetius , or he may never think about the matter at all . His creed on such subjects will no more in- fluence his poetry , properly ...
... believe in a moral sense , like Shaftesbury . He may refer all human actions to self- interest , like Helvetius , or he may never think about the matter at all . His creed on such subjects will no more in- fluence his poetry , properly ...
Page 36
... believe , worshipped one invisible Deity . But the necessity of having something more definite to adore produced , in a few centuries , the innumerable crowd of gods and goddesses . In like manner the ancient Per- sians thought it ...
... believe , worshipped one invisible Deity . But the necessity of having something more definite to adore produced , in a few centuries , the innumerable crowd of gods and goddesses . In like manner the ancient Per- sians thought it ...
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absurd admiration appear army beauty Bunyan Catholic century character Charles Church civil conceive considered constitution critics Cromwell Dante Divine Comedy doctrines doubt Dryden Edinburgh Review effect eminent enemies England English evil excited executive government favor feelings genius Greeks Hallam Herodotus historians honor House human imagination imitation interest Italy King language less liberty literary literature lived Livy Long Parliament Lord Byron Machiavelli manner means ment merit Milton mind moral nature never noble opinion Othello Paradise Lost Parliament party passions peculiar persecution person Pilgrim's Progress poems poet poetry political Pope Prince principles produced Puritans reason reign religion rendered resembled respect Revolution Roundheads royal prerogative scarcely seems Shakspeare society sophisms Southey Southey's spirit statesmen Strafford strong style Tacitus talents taste thought Thucydides tion truth tyrant virtues wealth Whigs whole writers
Popular passages
Page 56 - Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom.
Page 137 - Partridge, with a contemptuous sneer; "why, I could act as well as he myself. I am sure if I had seen a ghost I should have looked in the very same manner, and done just as he did.
Page 73 - It is, to borrow his own majestic language, " a sevenfold chorus of hallelujahs and harping symphonies.
Page 31 - But now my task is smoothly done: I can fly, or I can run Quickly to the green earth's end, Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend, And from thence can soar as soon To the corners of the moon. Mortals, that would follow me, Love Virtue; she alone is free. She can teach...
Page 227 - The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Page 21 - ... human actions, it is by no means certain that it would have been a good one. It is extremely improbable that it would have contained half so much able reasoning on the subject as is to be found in the Fable of the Bees.
Page 21 - fine frenzy " which he ascribes to the poet, — a fine frenzy doubtless, but still a frenzy. Truth, indeed, is essential to poetry ; but it is the truth of madness. The reasonings are just; but the premises are false. After the first suppositions have been made...
Page 255 - In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught With envy against the Son of God, that day...
Page 23 - And, as the magic lantern acts best in a dark room, poetry effects its purpose most completely in a dark age. As the light of knowledge breaks in upon its exhibitions, as the outlines of certainty become more and more definite, and the shades of probability...
Page 26 - Milton cannot be comprehended or enjoyed unless the mind of the reader co-operate with that of the writer. He does not paint a finished picture or play for a mere passive listener. He sketches, and leaves others to fill up the outline. He strikes the key-note, and expects his hearer to make out the melody.