An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets. With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de VoltaireH. Hughs, 1772 - 288 pages |
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Page 56
... perhaps he would have efteemed fuch a fort of Drama well worth his attention , as very peculiarly adapted to thofe ends , which the Grecian Philofophers propofed in po- pular entertainments . If it be the chief use of History , to teach ...
... perhaps he would have efteemed fuch a fort of Drama well worth his attention , as very peculiarly adapted to thofe ends , which the Grecian Philofophers propofed in po- pular entertainments . If it be the chief use of History , to teach ...
Page 63
... perhaps to attain the utmost excellence , muft , by a more uncommon felicity , be able to give the Sublime the finest touches of paffion and tenderness , and to the Pathetic the dignity of the Sublime . The straining a moderate or ...
... perhaps to attain the utmost excellence , muft , by a more uncommon felicity , be able to give the Sublime the finest touches of paffion and tenderness , and to the Pathetic the dignity of the Sublime . The straining a moderate or ...
Page 65
... Perhaps He should rather be accounted a nice Virtuofo than a confummate Critic , who prefers the Poet or Sculptor's faireft idea to the various and extenfive me- rits of the hiftoric reprefentation . Nothing great is to be expected from ...
... Perhaps He should rather be accounted a nice Virtuofo than a confummate Critic , who prefers the Poet or Sculptor's faireft idea to the various and extenfive me- rits of the hiftoric reprefentation . Nothing great is to be expected from ...
Page 77
... perhaps excel any thing that has been written by any tragedian , ancient or modern . However we will only compare one paffage of it at prefent , with another in Cliṭandre ; as they both happen to be on fimilar fubjects . The blinded ...
... perhaps excel any thing that has been written by any tragedian , ancient or modern . However we will only compare one paffage of it at prefent , with another in Cliṭandre ; as they both happen to be on fimilar fubjects . The blinded ...
Page 82
... perhaps half a dozen , who ever were , or can be , in the circumstances of the perfons reprefented : they cannot fympathize with them , unless they have fome conception of a tender paffion , com- bated by ambition , or of ambition strug ...
... perhaps half a dozen , who ever were , or can be , in the circumstances of the perfons reprefented : they cannot fympathize with them , unless they have fome conception of a tender paffion , com- bated by ambition , or of ambition strug ...
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Common terms and phrases
abfurd addreſs admired Affaffin affift affume againſt allegory anſwer ANTONY appears Auguftus baſe beſt blood Brutus Cæfar Caffius cauſe character Cinna circumſtances confpiracy confpirators Corneille criticiſm critics dæmons defire diſtinguiſhed drama ELPINICE Emilia Engliſh eſtabliſhed Euripides fable fame faſhion fays fecret feems fentiments fhall fhew firſt fituation folemn foliloquy fome foul fpecies French fubjects fuch fuperiority furely genius ghoft greateſt greatneſs hath heart heav'n hero himſelf hiſtory honour human imitation intereſt itſelf juſt king lefs leſs Macbeth manners mind moft moſt muſt nature neceffary obferved occafion paffion perfons philofophic piece play pleaſe pleaſure Poet Poetry prefent purpoſes racter raiſed reaſon refpect repreſentation repreſented reſemblance Roman ſay ſcene ſeems Shakeſpear ſhall ſhe ſhould ſome Sophocles ſpeak ſpectator ſpeech ſpirit ſtage ſtate ſtill ſtory ſuch Tacitus taſte thee thefe theſe thofe thoſe thou tion tragedy tranflation underſtand uſed verfe Voltaire vulgar whofe whoſe Witches
Popular passages
Page 268 - O, what a fall was there, my countrymen ! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us. O, now you weep ; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity : these are gracious drops. Kind souls, what weep you, when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded ? Look you here, Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
Page 194 - I have lived long enough : my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf ; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have ; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.
Page 258 - tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend: so Caesar may; Then, lest he may, prevent.
Page 269 - And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts : I am no orator, as Brutus is ; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That love my friend...
Page 265 - Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Page 266 - tis his will : Let but the commons hear this testament, (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read) And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his sacred blood ; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy, Unto their issue.
Page 181 - Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell; And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be, And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee; Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of...
Page 211 - Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!— Fiery? the fiery duke?— Tell the hot duke, that— No, but not yet: — may be, he is not well: Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind To suffer with the body: I'll forbear; And am fallen out with my more headier...
Page 270 - I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue In every wound of Caesar that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Page 262 - He only, in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man!