A Critical Dissertation on the Nature and Principles of Taste, Volume 1 |
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Page vii
... true nature and office after perusing this work , than he has been able to collect from the labours of former writers , he will admit the propriety of the views that have led to its production ; and he will equally admit the propriety ...
... true nature and office after perusing this work , than he has been able to collect from the labours of former writers , he will admit the propriety of the views that have led to its production ; and he will equally admit the propriety ...
Page 3
... true that no common quality belongs to objects , which entitles them to the name of beau- tiful , it is idle , in the highest degree , to seek for that which has no existence ; but if such a quality be allowed to exist , the fruitless ...
... true that no common quality belongs to objects , which entitles them to the name of beau- tiful , it is idle , in the highest degree , to seek for that which has no existence ; but if such a quality be allowed to exist , the fruitless ...
Page 23
... true , require this extreme sensibility ; but it is not the less certain , that if we possessed it , we could discern many qualities in objects , of which we shall never form the slightest conception . It must , therefore , be granted ...
... true , require this extreme sensibility ; but it is not the less certain , that if we possessed it , we could discern many qualities in objects , of which we shall never form the slightest conception . It must , therefore , be granted ...
Page 24
... true , From poisonous herbs extracts the healing dew ! The apprehension of that man is therefore ima- ginary , who fears to become miserable by the cultivation of his feelings and sensibilities . The eye must possess a microscopic power ...
... true , From poisonous herbs extracts the healing dew ! The apprehension of that man is therefore ima- ginary , who fears to become miserable by the cultivation of his feelings and sensibilities . The eye must possess a microscopic power ...
Page 30
... true taste , from a vigorous perception of the beauties he recited , nor his encomiums from judgment , from a criti- cal skill in the principles of beauty . He there- fore , in his usual strain of irony , resolves both into an ...
... true taste , from a vigorous perception of the beauties he recited , nor his encomiums from judgment , from a criti- cal skill in the principles of beauty . He there- fore , in his usual strain of irony , resolves both into an ...
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Common terms and phrases
acquainted admiration admit adopt Æneid affected agreeable Angelo appear argument authority Bernini blank verse Boileau cause cerning character choly circumstances common feeling conclusions correct courser criticism delight discern discover discussion distinct doubt elegant emotion equally error excite existence expression exquisite faculty false fashion forms founded genius give habit Homer Hudibras ideas of beauty ignorant Iliad imagination imitation impart impression influence intellectual ject judgment Knight knowledge less Lord Kames Madame de Staël manner melan ment Milton mind nature necessarily never object of taste obscurity observed obvious opinion original Ossian painting passage passion perceive perception perfect philosophy pleasing pleasure poetry poets Pope possess present principles of taste produce prove Ptolemy qualities of beauty racter reason refined Rembrandt render rience Satan says scepticism sensation sense sensibility sentiment shew shewn Sir Joshua Reynolds style sublime suppose tain Theramene thing thought tion true truth Virgil writers
Popular passages
Page 107 - Yes ! let the rich deride, the proud disdain, These simple blessings of the lowly train, To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm, than all the gloss of art...
Page 202 - Sometimes with secure delight The upland hamlets will invite, When the merry bells ring round, And the jocund rebecks sound To many a youth, and many a maid, Dancing in the chequered shade; And young and old come forth to play On a sunshine holiday...
Page 330 - Me miserable ! which way shall I fly Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep Still threatening to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.
Page 125 - First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring Nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged, and universal light, Life, force, and beauty, must to all impart, At once the source, and end, and test of Art. Art from that fund each just supply provides; Works without show, and without pomp presides: In some fair body thus th...
Page 56 - It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul — Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars ! — It is the cause.
Page 156 - O my soul's joy ! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death ! And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas, Olympus-high ; and duck again as low As hell's from heaven ! If it were now to die, 'Twere now to be most happy ; for, I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute, That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate.
Page 141 - THAT HE HAD A HEAD TO CONTRIVE, A TONGUE TO PERSUADE, AND A HAND TO EXECUTE ANY MISCHIEF.
Page 333 - The other shape, If shape it might be call'd, that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb, Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, For each seem'd either ; black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell, And shook a dreadful dart ; what seem'd his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
Page 315 - Its gaudy colours spreads on every place ; The face of nature we no more survey, All glares alike, without distinction gay ; But true expression, like th' unchanging sun, Clears and improves whate'er it shines upon ; It gilds all objects, but it alters none.
Page 240 - ... kinds of thoughts which are carefully to be avoided. The first are such as are affected and unnatural ; the second, such as are mean and vulgar. As for the first kind of thoughts, we meet with little or nothing that is like them in Virgil : he has none of those trifling...