The Works of John Dryden,: Preface to a dialogue concerning women; being a defence of the sex. Character of M. St Evremont. The character of Polybius. The life of Lucian. Dryden's letters

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William Miller, Albemarle Street, 1808

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Page 110 - I'll tell you, now, what I do. If I am to write familiar things, as sonnets to Armida, and the like, I make use of stew'd prunes only : but, when I have a grand design in hand, I ever take physic, and let blood ; for, when you would have pure swiftness of thought, and fiery flights of fancy, you must have a care of the pensive part. In fine, you must purge the stomach.
Page 162 - If they will consider me as a man who has done my best to improve the language, and especially the poetry, and will be content with my acquiescence under the present government, and forbearing satire on it, that I can promise, because I can perform it ; but I can neither take the oaths, nor forsake my religion...
Page 189 - ... of our especial grace, certain knowledge,- and mere motion, have given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do...
Page 133 - Towards the latter end of this month, September, Charles will begin to recover his perfect health, according to his nativity, which, casting it myself, I am sure is true, and all things hitherto have happened accordingly to the very time that I predicted them : I hope at the same time to recover more health, according to my age.
Page cxvi - De Arte Graphica: The ART OF PAINTING, by CA Du FRESNOY, with Remarks, translated into English, together with an ORIGINAL PREFACE, containing a Parallel betwixt Painting and Poetry, by Mr. DRYDEN...
Page 152 - Prophaneness and Immorality of the Stage, several Plays have lately been Acted, containing Expressions contrary to Religion and good Manners: And whereas the Master of the Revels has represented That, in Contempt of the said Order, the Actors do often neglect to leave out such Prophane and Indecent Expressions, as he has thought proper to be omitted.
Page 24 - Gibbon, x' has not been adequate to his merits. From a plebeian origin, he raised himself by his virtue and learning ; the character of the man prevailed over the interest of the pope ; and he sharpened those weapons which were soon pointed against the Roman Church.
Page 125 - Upon trial, I find all of your trade are sharpers, and you not more than others ; therefore, I have not wholly left you.
Page 160 - Dryden saw them in the country ; and the greatest exception he made to them was, a satire against the Dutch valour in the last war. He desired me to omit it (to use his own words) " out of the respect he had to his sovereign.
Page 148 - ... drudging on ; always a poet, and never a good one. I pass my time sometimes with Ovid, and sometimes with our old English poet Chaucer; translating such stories as best please my fancy ; and intend, besides them, to add somewhat of my own ; so that it is not impossible, but ere the summer be passed, I may come down to you with a volume in my hand, like a dog out of the water, with a duc,k in his mouth.

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