The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper, Volume 2

Front Cover
Alexander Chalmers
J. Johnson, 1810 - English poetry

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 315 - His poetry is alike unembarrassed by learned allusions, or elaborate conceits. If our author copies Petrarch, it is Petrarch's better manner: when he descends from his Platonic abstractions, his refinements of passion, his exaggerated compliments, and his play upon opposite sentiments, into a track of tenderness, simplicity, and nature. Petrarch would have been a better poet had he been a worse scholar. Our author's mind was not too much overlaid by learning.
Page 372 - Then shalt thou know beauty but lent, And wish and want as I have done. Now cease, my lute, this is the last 'Labour, that thou and I shall waste ; And ended is that we begun : Now is this song both sung and past ; My lute, be still, for I have done.
Page 347 - The temples' tops, and mansions eke of men. Her sister Anne, spriteless for dread to hear This fearful stir, with nails gan tear her face ; She smote her breast, and rushed through the rout : And her dying she...
Page 227 - And past them all for deep engyen, And made them all to gaes Upon the bookes he made : Thus eche of them, you see, Wan prayse and fame, and honor had, Eche one in their degree. I pray you, then, my friendes, Disdaine not for to vewe The workes and sugred verses fine Of our raer poetes newe; Olded.
Page 311 - We lament to find that Surrey's devotion to this lady did not end in a wedding; and that all his gallantries and verses availed so liitle.
Page 315 - In the sonnets of Surrey, we are surprised to find nothing of that metaphysical cast which marks the Italian poets, his supposed masters, especially Petrarch. Surrey's sentiments are for the most part natural and unaffected ; arising from his own feelings, and dictated by the present circumstances. His poetry is alike unembarrassed by learned allusions, or elaborate conceits. If our author copies Petrarch, it is Petrarch's better manner : when he descends from his Platonic abstractions, his refinements...
Page xii - Instead of boldly clothing these qualities with corporeal attributes, aptly and poetically imagined, he coldly, yet sensibly, describes their operations and enumerates their properties. What Gower wanted in invention he supplied from his common-place Book, which appears to have been stored with an inexhaustible fund of instructive maxims, pleasant narrations, and philosophical definitions.
Page 480 - Gascoygnes good night. WHen thou hast spent the lingring day in pleasure and delight, Or after toyle and wearie waye, dost seeke to rest at nighte: Unto thy paynes or pleasures past, adde this one labour yet, Ere sleepe close up thyne eye to fast, do not thy God forget, But searche within thy secret thoughts, what deeds did thee befal : And if thou find amisse in ought, to God for mercy call.
Page 340 - And vestures spoil'd, were gather'd all in heap : The children orderly, and mothers pale for fright, Long ranged on a row stood round about. So bold was I to show my voice that night With clepes and cries to fill the streets throughout, With Creuse' name in sorrow, with vain tears ; And often sithes the same for to repeat.
Page 319 - Summer is come, for every spray now springs. The hart hath hung his old head on the pale ; The buck in brake his winter coat he...