The Modern Dunciad: Virgil in London and Other Poems |
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Page 6
... human kind , For ever soaring , and for ever blind ; Prone to distrust when tardy to discern , Too weak to compass , yet too proud to learn ; With shame reviews each ill - digested plan , And turns with horror from " The Rights of Man ...
... human kind , For ever soaring , and for ever blind ; Prone to distrust when tardy to discern , Too weak to compass , yet too proud to learn ; With shame reviews each ill - digested plan , And turns with horror from " The Rights of Man ...
Page 9
... human nature in its worst shape , deformed by the all be basest passions , and agitated by the most vicious propen- sities , that the poet became the priest ; and the incense remembered offered at the altar of his goddess still ...
... human nature in its worst shape , deformed by the all be basest passions , and agitated by the most vicious propen- sities , that the poet became the priest ; and the incense remembered offered at the altar of his goddess still ...
Page 21
... human bliss , alas ! For hark , with sound discordant , deep , and sad , Harsh , and hoarse murm'ring to the whistling wind , Rolls the huge rumbling Omnibus - the Cad With liquor , dust , half drunk , half - chok'd , half - blind ...
... human bliss , alas ! For hark , with sound discordant , deep , and sad , Harsh , and hoarse murm'ring to the whistling wind , Rolls the huge rumbling Omnibus - the Cad With liquor , dust , half drunk , half - chok'd , half - blind ...
Page 37
... human - kind " - " Frederick the well - belov'd " - " Prince of the mighty Isle ? " -It was a saying of Voltaire's , with reference to his own writings , that an author could never reach posterity with such a load at his back . " 66 ...
... human - kind " - " Frederick the well - belov'd " - " Prince of the mighty Isle ? " -It was a saying of Voltaire's , with reference to his own writings , that an author could never reach posterity with such a load at his back . " 66 ...
Page 41
... human mind . And long as Nature in her simplest guise , And virtuous sensibility we prize , Of well - earn'd fame no poet shall enjoy A fairer tribute than " The Farmer's Boy . " + * Mr. Crabbe displays an odd mixture of energy and ...
... human mind . And long as Nature in her simplest guise , And virtuous sensibility we prize , Of well - earn'd fame no poet shall enjoy A fairer tribute than " The Farmer's Boy . " + * Mr. Crabbe displays an odd mixture of energy and ...
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Common terms and phrases
admire applause bard beautiful behold Ben Jonson blest breath bright character charm comedy court critics death delight divine dull dulness dunce ECLOGUE ev'ry fair fairy fame fate fears feel fond fool fustian genius give glorious glory grace grave Hail hast hath hear heart Heav'n hope humour immortal John Gwilliam Jonson King Lady Lady Morgan len Reynolds live Lord lov'd Lucretius lyre merry Midsummer Night's Dream mind MODERN DUNCIAD MONODY mourn Muse ne'er never night numbers o'er once passion play poet poet's Poetaster pow'r praise pride Prince prose racter rage rhyme rogue sacred Satire scene Shakespeare shame Silent Woman Sir Huon Sir Walter Scott smile soft song sorrow soul spirit strain sublime sung sweet taste tear thee thine thou tomb town truth Twas verse vice Virgil virtue youth
Popular passages
Page 98 - A strange fish! Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver. There would this monster make a man. Any strange beast there makes a man. When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian.
Page 89 - While round the armed bands Did clap their bloody hands. He nothing common did or mean Upon that memorable scene, But with his keener eye The axe's edge did try; Nor call'd the Gods, with vulgar spite, To vindicate his helpless right ; But bow'd his comely head Down, as upon a bed.
Page 62 - The seasons alter : hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose : And on old Hyems' chin and icy crown, An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds Is, as in mockery, set.
Page 62 - But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd, Than that, which, withering on the virgin thorn, Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness.
Page 119 - 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 - In saffron robe, with taper clear, And pomp, and feast, and revelry, With mask, and antique pageantry; Such sights as youthful poets dream On summer eves by haunted stream.
Page 118 - That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, As I do thee.
Page 91 - That place, that does Contain my books, the best companions, is To me a glorious court, where hourly I Converse with the old sages and philosophers ; And sometimes for variety I confer With kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels ; Calling their victories, if unjustly got, Unto a strict account ; and in my fancy, Deface their ill-placed statues.
Page 335 - Or dost thou warn poor mortals left behind, A task well suited to thy gentle mind ? Oh ! if sometimes thy spotless form descend, To me thy aid, thou guardian genius, lend ! When rage misguides me, or when fear alarms, When pain distresses, or when pleasure charms, In silent whisperings purer thoughts impart, And turn from ill a frail and feeble heart ; Lead through the paths thy virtue trod before, Till bliss shall join, nor death can part us more.
Page 54 - There's not a wretch that lives on common charity But's happier than me : For I have known The luscious sweets of plenty; every night Have slept with soft content about my head, And never wak'd but to a joyful morning ; Yet now must fall like a full ear of corn, Whose blossom 'scap'd, yet's wither'd in the ripening.