Anecdotes of Polite Literature ...G. Burnet, 1764 - Literature |
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Page 13
... merit of almost every author ( who has been dead feveral years ) fo well known . It is true , the bulk of readers make a toler- able judgment enough upon works of wit , taken in the grofs ; but then they judge wretchedly upon the detail ...
... merit of almost every author ( who has been dead feveral years ) fo well known . It is true , the bulk of readers make a toler- able judgment enough upon works of wit , taken in the grofs ; but then they judge wretchedly upon the detail ...
Page 18
... part which conftitutes the principal merit of works , and diftinguishes the great genius from the fimple artift ? fince a work may be compofed with the greatest exactnefs fince ( 18 ) It is an old maxim, that a poem fhould ...
... part which conftitutes the principal merit of works , and diftinguishes the great genius from the fimple artift ? fince a work may be compofed with the greatest exactnefs fince ( 18 ) It is an old maxim, that a poem fhould ...
Page 19
... merit of a poem , but the number and price of the beauties ; and a piece which contains no great number of them , but admirable in thofe it does , ought always to be preferred to one of a continued elegance , without thofe noble ftrokes ...
... merit of a poem , but the number and price of the beauties ; and a piece which contains no great number of them , but admirable in thofe it does , ought always to be preferred to one of a continued elegance , without thofe noble ftrokes ...
Page 27
... merit immediately gains the majority . The public approbation is never more conftant , than when it is for a time fufpended . * * La plupart des ouvrages que le public eftime le plus aujourd'hui , ne font parvenus que par de- grés a ...
... merit immediately gains the majority . The public approbation is never more conftant , than when it is for a time fufpended . * * La plupart des ouvrages que le public eftime le plus aujourd'hui , ne font parvenus que par de- grés a ...
Page 28
... merit of every chapter in it is weighed more juftly , and we find , if there are many very laughable ftrokes in it , there are alfo many other indecent , and fome even heavy ; in a word , it is one of those up- ftart ftart books which ...
... merit of every chapter in it is weighed more juftly , and we find , if there are many very laughable ftrokes in it , there are alfo many other indecent , and fome even heavy ; in a word , it is one of those up- ftart ftart books which ...
Common terms and phrases
Addiſon admirable Alcamenes Apelles becauſe bring certain taunts compofition criticifm itſelf criticiſms appeared critics is reaſonable critique elle-meme defcription deferves elegy employ themſelves fame fatirized favourite's reputa fays feeing the latent feems fentiments feveral fhaft of ridicule fhall fhould fince fome fore his criticiſms fpirit ftrokes fubject fuch proper objects genius greateſt haughty infolence hiftorian hiftory himſelf infolence of decifion injudicious and malevolent itfelf as lightly itſelf is abfurd Journal des Sçavans judgments are humour juft liger wrote modeſty moft Monody moſt muſt n'eft qu'un art nions number of thoſe paffage paffions Phidias philofophical pieces pleaſure in feeing plufieurs menfonges poem poet poetry been obliged praiſe prefent publiſhed racter raiſe his favourite's reafon reffemble le mieux ridicule of injudicious taunts and reflections thefe themſelves in pointing theſe thofe thoſe who bring Tibullus tion trifling critics ture extremely uſeful verfification Virgil Virgil's tomb world with diffidence Young here mentions
Popular passages
Page 99 - The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike th
Page 12 - ... not the generous efforts of a virtuous mind be rewarded? In a word, shall the corporeal world be all order and harmony, the intellectual discord and confusion ? He who is bigot enough to believe these things, must bid adieu to that natural rule, of
Page 113 - Sweet babes, who, like the little playful fawns, Were wont to trip along these verdant lawns...
Page 14 - Thro' which the mind's all gentle graces shine ? They, like the sun, irradiate all between ; The body charms because the soul is seen. Hence, men are often captives of a face, They know not why, of no peculiar grace : Some forms, tho' bright, no mortal man can bear ; Some, none resist, tho
Page 38 - With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply too, the place of being wise, Which Nature, kind indulgent parent, gave To qualify the blockhead for a knave...
Page 113 - ... playful fawns, Were wont to trip along these verdant lawns By your delighted mother's side, Who now your infant steps shall guide...
Page 117 - A nation here I pity, and admire, Whom nobleft fentiments of glory fire, Yet taught by cuftom's force, and bigot fear, To ferve with pride, and boaft the yoke they bear : Whofe Nobles born to cringe, and to command, In courts a mean, in camps a gen'rous band ; From each low tool of pow'r content receive Thofe laws, their dreaded arms to Europe give. Whofe people vain in want, in bondage bleft, Tho...
Page 49 - Here let me bend, great Dryden, at thy shrine, Thou dearest name to all the tuneful nine. What if some dull lines in cold order creep, And with his theme the poet seems to sleep, Still, when his subject rises proud to view, With equal strength the Poet rises too. With strong invention, noblest vigour fraught, Thought still springs up and rises out of thought ; Numbers ennobling numbers in their...
Page 17 - There is not perhaps any real beauty or deformity more in one piece of matter than another...