The Critical and Miscellaneous Prose Works of John Dryden: Now First Collected : with Notes and Illustrations, Volume 2Cadell and Davies, 1800 - 550 pages |
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Page 1
... ( says Dr. Johnson ) by universal consent accounted the work in which he has admitted the fewest improprieties of style or character . " 2 Of the rise and character of this nobleman , who was born in 1631 , and died in his 81st year in ...
... ( says Dr. Johnson ) by universal consent accounted the work in which he has admitted the fewest improprieties of style or character . " 2 Of the rise and character of this nobleman , who was born in 1631 , and died in his 81st year in ...
Page 18
... ( says a writer who lived in those times ) old John Dryden , before he paid his court with success to the great , in one uniform cloathing of Norwich drugget . I have eat tarts with him and Madam Reeve at the MULBERRY GARDEN , when he ...
... ( says a writer who lived in those times ) old John Dryden , before he paid his court with success to the great , in one uniform cloathing of Norwich drugget . I have eat tarts with him and Madam Reeve at the MULBERRY GARDEN , when he ...
Page 25
... ( says Dennis in one of his Letters ) nor of Wilmot , Lord Rochester , one of the shining ornaments of it , that he was indebted for the nomination which the King made of him for the writing the Masque of CALYPSO , [ CALISTO . ] but to ...
... ( says Dennis in one of his Letters ) nor of Wilmot , Lord Rochester , one of the shining ornaments of it , that he was indebted for the nomination which the King made of him for the writing the Masque of CALYPSO , [ CALISTO . ] but to ...
Page 43
... ( says Burnet ) of a clear and ready apprehension , and a quick decision in business . He had too much heat , both of imagination and passion , and was apt to speak very freely both of persons and things . His own notions were always good ...
... ( says Burnet ) of a clear and ready apprehension , and a quick decision in business . He had too much heat , both of imagination and passion , and was apt to speak very freely both of persons and things . His own notions were always good ...
Page 48
... ( says Mr. Spence in his ANECDOTES , ) there are about 15,000 which every man understands , who is before master of Latin and French and Italian ; and three thousand more which he understands , if he be master of German . The other four ...
... ( says Mr. Spence in his ANECDOTES , ) there are about 15,000 which every man understands , who is before master of Latin and French and Italian ; and three thousand more which he understands , if he be master of German . The other four ...
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The Critical and Miscellaneous Prose Works of John Dryden: Now First ... Edmond Malone No preview available - 2015 |
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ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL acted action afterwards ALBION AND ALBANIUS amongst answer appears betwixt Bishop called catholick cause character church of England Cleomenes commendation confess criticks crown death DEDICATION discourse dispute Dryden Duchess Duchess of York Duke of Guise Earl Elkanah Settle endeavour enemies English errours father favour fortune French friends give Henry the Third honour JOHN DRYDEN judge judgment King King of Navarre King's Lady lawful League learned least libel lived Lord Lord Rochester Lordship Majesty matter mean musick nature never observed opera opinion papists parallel parliament party person play pleased Plutarch poem poet poetry Pope popish Popish Plot praise Preface pretended prince protestant publick reader reason rebellion religion Roman Rome royal satire says scripture Shaftesbury shew supposed tell theatre thing thought tion tragedy Trajan translated true verses virtue words write written
Popular passages
Page 21 - We who write, if we want the talent, yet have the excuse that we do it for a poor subsistence; but what can be urged in their defence, who, not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness take pains to make themselves ridiculous ? Horace was certainly in the right where he said, "That no man is satisfied with his own condition.
Page 14 - All reasonable men have long since concluded, that the hero of the poem ought not to be a character of perfect virtue, for then he could not, without injustice, be made unhappy ; nor yet altogether wicked, because he could not then be pitied.
Page 13 - The death of Antony and Cleopatra is a subject which has been treated by the greatest wits of our nation, after Shakespeare; and by all so variously, that their example has given me the confidence to try myself in this bow of Ulysses amongst the crowd of suitors ; and, withal, to take my own measures, in aiming at the mark.
Page 314 - tis very improbable that we, who by the strength of our faculties cannot enter into the knowledge of any being, not so much as of our own, should be able to find out by them that supreme nature, which we cannot otherwise define than by saying it is infinite ; as if infinite were definable, or infinity a subject for our narrow understanding. They who would prove religion by reason, do but weaken the cause which they endeavour to support...
Page 21 - ... are discontented, because the poets will not admit them of their number. Thus the case is hard with writers : If they succeed not, they must starve; and if they do, some malicious satire is prepared to level them, for daring to please without their leave. But while they are so eager to destroy the fame of others, their ambition is manifest in their concernment ; some poem of their own is to be produced, and the slaves are to be laid flat with their faces on the ground, that the monarch may appear...
Page 15 - Octavia to have met; or, if they had met, there must have only passed betwixt them some cold civilities, but no eagerness of repartee, for fear of offending against the greatness of their characters, and the modesty of their sex.
Page 255 - I have chosen to write my poem in quatrains, or stanzas of four in alternate rhyme, because I have ever judged them more noble, and of greater dignity, both for the sound and number, than any other verse in use amongst us ; in which I am 35 sure I have your approbation.
Page 206 - He let his wit run much on matters of religion: so that he passed for a bold and determined atheist; though he often protested to me, he was not one; and said, he believed there was not one in the world...
Page 17 - I'en croit. My comfort is, that by this opinion my enemies are but sucking critics, who would fain be nibbling ere their teeth are come. Yet, in this nicety of manners does the excellency of French poetry consist. Their heroes are the most civil people breathing ; but their good breeding seldom extends to a word of sense; all their wit is in their ceremony; they want the genius which animates our stage; and therefore it is but necessary, when they cannot please, that they should take care not to...
Page 152 - An opera is a poetical tale, or fiction, represented by vocal and instrumental music, adorned with scenes, machines, and dancing. The supposed persons of this musical drama are generally supernatural, as gods, and goddesses, and heroes, which at least are descended from them, and are in due time to be adopted into their number.