Selections from the Works of Samuel JohnsonH. Holt, 1909 - 479 pages |
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Page xi
... heart . ' " ' On his deathbed , ' says his biographer , he suffered little pain . He could see a friend almost every day . He was surrounded by the tenderest love and devotion , and he still could read . ' Here follows a considerable ...
... heart . ' " ' On his deathbed , ' says his biographer , he suffered little pain . He could see a friend almost every day . He was surrounded by the tenderest love and devotion , and he still could read . ' Here follows a considerable ...
Page xvii
... heart . As one grows familiar with their solemn cadence , and touched with their feel- ing , he ceases to wonder that the poem was a favorite of the romanticists Scott and Byron , or that Johnson himself , as he was once reciting the ...
... heart . As one grows familiar with their solemn cadence , and touched with their feel- ing , he ceases to wonder that the poem was a favorite of the romanticists Scott and Byron , or that Johnson himself , as he was once reciting the ...
Page xx
... heart . In the well- appointed households of the Burneys or the Thrales , Johnson is a familiar figure ; more familiar still is he as the centre of a circle including most of the greatest English men of genius in his day . He is more ...
... heart . In the well- appointed households of the Burneys or the Thrales , Johnson is a familiar figure ; more familiar still is he as the centre of a circle including most of the greatest English men of genius in his day . He is more ...
Page xxvii
... hearts of many is sure of his regard and reverence , whether it is to his liking or not . Of the famous Elegy he says : ' I rejoice to concur with the common reader ; for by the common sense of readers uncorrupted with literary ...
... hearts of many is sure of his regard and reverence , whether it is to his liking or not . Of the famous Elegy he says : ' I rejoice to concur with the common reader ; for by the common sense of readers uncorrupted with literary ...
Page xxxii
... heart and mind could not bring it to life , but Johnson's mental energy once applied makes his sonorous polysyllables fairly vibrate with energy and strike at his meaning with un- erring precision . This Latin element lent weight ...
... heart and mind could not bring it to life , but Johnson's mental energy once applied makes his sonorous polysyllables fairly vibrate with energy and strike at his meaning with un- erring precision . This Latin element lent weight ...
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SELECTIONS FROM THE WORKS OF S Samuel 1709-1784 Johnson,Charles Grosvenor 1871-1964 Osgood No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison afterwards appeared Ashbourne blank verse Boswell Cato censure character Chesterfield considered contempt criticism danger dear death declared desire Dictionary distress Dryden effect elegance endeavored English essays expected favor fortune friends friendship genius Gentleman's Magazine Georgic guineas happiness honor hope imagination JAMES BOSWELL Johnson kind knowledge labor language learning letter Lichfield literary live London Lord Tyrconnel mankind ment merit mind misery mother nature neglect ness never obliged observed once opinion panegyric passions pension performance perhaps pleased pleasure poem poet poetical justice poetry Pope praise present queen Rambler Rasselas reason received regard retired Richard Savage Savage Savage's says seldom sentiments Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Robert Walpole solicited sometimes Spectator Steele suffered Tatler tenderness things thought Thrale tion tragedy vanity verses virtue Whig Whiggism words write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 26 - Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.
Page 17 - While ladies interpose, and slaves debate. But did not Chance at length her error mend? Did no subverted empire mark his end? Did rival monarchs give the fatal wound? Or hostile millions press him to the ground? His fall was destined to a barren strand, A petty fortress, and a dubious hand; He left the name, at which the world grew pale, To point a moral, or adorn a tale.
Page 27 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it ; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it ; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 396 - ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men ; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Page 27 - Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and when he has reached ground encumbers him with help ? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary and cannot impart it; till I am known and do not want it.
Page 16 - On what foundation stands the warrior's pride? How just his hopes, let Swedish Charles decide; A frame of adamant, a soul of fire, No dangers fright him, and no labours tire...
Page 434 - I have laboured to refine our language to grammatical purity, and to clear it from colloquial barbarisms, licentious idioms, and irregular combinations. Something, perhaps, I have added to the elegance of its construction, and something to the harmony of its cadence.
Page 471 - Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. So when an angel by divine command With rising tempests shakes a guilty land, Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, Calm and serene he drives the furious blast ; And, pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm.
Page 26 - I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all that I could, and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.