Anecdotes of Polite Literature ...G. Burnet, 1764 - Literature |
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Page 62
... undertook to write an epic poem . He chofe for his fubject the deliverance of Italy from the Goths , by Bellifarius , under the em peror Juftinian . The subject was great , and and the execution , altho ' very moderate , had ( 62 )
... undertook to write an epic poem . He chofe for his fubject the deliverance of Italy from the Goths , by Bellifarius , under the em peror Juftinian . The subject was great , and and the execution , altho ' very moderate , had ( 62 )
Page 76
... which Angelica difap- pears . Other heroes are likewife en gaged in the fame pursuit . After read- ing the first stanza of Book I. one would -be be inclined to think , that the subject of the ( 76 ) canto to the fecond, and from the fe- ...
... which Angelica difap- pears . Other heroes are likewife en gaged in the fame pursuit . After read- ing the first stanza of Book I. one would -be be inclined to think , that the subject of the ( 76 ) canto to the fecond, and from the fe- ...
Page 77
... and rapi- dity , that one would think he was mounted upon his own winged fteed Ip- pogrifo . He begins a tale of a knight in Europe , and fuddenly breaks it off to refume in ( 77 ) be inclined to think, that the subject of ...
... and rapi- dity , that one would think he was mounted upon his own winged fteed Ip- pogrifo . He begins a tale of a knight in Europe , and fuddenly breaks it off to refume in ( 77 ) be inclined to think, that the subject of ...
Page 87
... subject to command . That of Ajax is heavy and felf confi- ding ; of Hector , active and vigilant . The courage of Agamemnon is infpirited by love of empire and ambition ; that of Menelaus , mixed with softness and ten- derness for his ...
... subject to command . That of Ajax is heavy and felf confi- ding ; of Hector , active and vigilant . The courage of Agamemnon is infpirited by love of empire and ambition ; that of Menelaus , mixed with softness and ten- derness for his ...
Page 103
... subject , to affert , that the great beauty of Taffo's poem lies in thefe abfurd fictions and en- chantments . I have given the reader fome examples of these romantic in- ventions ; to judge of them by our creed , the plain recital has ...
... subject , to affert , that the great beauty of Taffo's poem lies in thefe abfurd fictions and en- chantments . I have given the reader fome examples of these romantic in- ventions ; to judge of them by our creed , the plain recital has ...
Common terms and phrases
abfurd action Addiſon admire Æneid affertion Aladin alfo alſo antients Ariofto beauties beſt Boffu Boileau Camoens Ceuta cifm compofed compofition confequence confifts criticiſm defcription defects deferves defign difcover difplays Effais fur elegant enthuſiaſm epic poem epic poetry excellent expref fable fame fays fenfibility fentiments fhall fhew fhining fhould fimple fingle firft firſt fome fometimes fpecies fpirit ftanza ftriking ftyle fubject fublime fuch fuperior genius Gierufalemme greateſt Henriade hero himſelf Homer Iliad imagination inftances itſelf juft leaft Leonidas lyric poetry Milton moft Monf moſt mufic muft muſt nature nius noble numbers obferved occafions ouvrages paffages paffing paffions painting Paradife Loft Pindar pleafing pleaſe pleaſure Poeme Epique poet poetic poetry praiſe Priam profeffion qu'il racter reader reafon refpect reft Shakeſpear ſhall ſome ſpeak Taffo tafte taſte thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe tion tout uſe vaft verfe Virgil Voltaire whofe wrote καὶ
Popular passages
Page 173 - This pencil take (she said) whose colours clear Richly paint the vernal year : Thine, too, these golden keys, immortal Boy ! This can unlock the gates of Joy ; Of Horror that, and thrilling Fears, Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic Tears.
Page 117 - As when far off at sea a fleet descried Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring Their spicy drugs ; they, on the trading flood, Through the wide Ethiopian to the cape, Ply stemming nightly toward the pole : so seemed Far off the flying fiend.
Page 172 - In flower of youth and beauty's pride. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair...
Page 184 - Thy banks ? — alas, is this the boafted fcene, This dreary, wide, uncultivated plain, Where fick'ning Nature wears a fainter green, And Defolation fpreads her torpid reign ? Is this the fcene where Freedom breath'd, Her copious horn where Plenty wreath'd. And health at opening day Bade all her rofeate breezes fly, To wake the fons of Induftry, And make their fields more gay?
Page 84 - Every one has something so singularly his own that no painter could have distinguished them more by their features than the poet has by their manners.
Page 116 - Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side...
Page 177 - Can Music's voice, can Beauty's eye, Can Painting's glowing hand supply A charm so suited to my mind, As blows this hollow gust of wind, As drops this little weeping rill Soft tinkling down the moss-grown hill, While through the west, where sinks the crimson day, Meek Twilight slowly sails, and waves her banners gray?
Page 112 - Ethereal Powers And Spirits, both them who stood and them who faild; Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Not free, what proof could they have givn sincere Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love, Where only what they needs must do, appeard, Not what they would?
Page 174 - Yet shall he mount, and keep his distant way Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate ; Beneath the good how far — but far above the great ! ODE VI.
Page 152 - They may be of fome ufe to the lower rank of writers ; but an author of genius has much finer materials of Nature's production, for elevating his fubject, and making it interefting.