An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire |
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Page vii
... ancients . His knowledge of polite literature does not begin with that period , which Mr. de Voltaire calls le Siecle de Louis quatorze . Be- fore he is admitted as a spectator at the theatre in London , it is probable he has already ...
... ancients . His knowledge of polite literature does not begin with that period , which Mr. de Voltaire calls le Siecle de Louis quatorze . Be- fore he is admitted as a spectator at the theatre in London , it is probable he has already ...
Page xvii
... ancients have crowned , therefore should not withhold our approbation wherever we find our countryman has equalled the most admired passages in the Greek trage- dians ; but we shall not do justice to his native talents , when they are ...
... ancients have crowned , therefore should not withhold our approbation wherever we find our countryman has equalled the most admired passages in the Greek trage- dians ; but we shall not do justice to his native talents , when they are ...
Page 4
... ancients , was the instruction of mankind , in religion , morals , philosophy , & c . To these great purposes were tuned the harps of Orpheus , Musæus , Hesiod , Callimachus , & c . Nor in Greece alone was poetry the teacher and the ...
... ancients , was the instruction of mankind , in religion , morals , philosophy , & c . To these great purposes were tuned the harps of Orpheus , Musæus , Hesiod , Callimachus , & c . Nor in Greece alone was poetry the teacher and the ...
Page 10
... ancients ; but by these artists it is so fantastically fashioned to modern modes , as to lose all its original graces , and even that necessary qualification of all ornaments , fitness and propriety . A * Arist . chap . vi . French ...
... ancients ; but by these artists it is so fantastically fashioned to modern modes , as to lose all its original graces , and even that necessary qualification of all ornaments , fitness and propriety . A * Arist . chap . vi . French ...
Page 19
... ancients say , who would not suffer even the inarticulate sounds of music to utter tones that might ener- vate the mind , if they could hear the stage , from whence issued precepts that awakened the magistrate , animated the chief , and ...
... ancients say , who would not suffer even the inarticulate sounds of music to utter tones that might ener- vate the mind , if they could hear the stage , from whence issued precepts that awakened the magistrate , animated the chief , and ...
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Common terms and phrases
absurd action admired Æschylus affected allegory ambition ancient ANTONY appears Aristotle Atossa Augustus battle of Shrewsbury blank-verse blood Brutus Cassius character Cinna conspiracy conspirators Corneille critic crown dæmons danger danger death dialogue drama Edipus ELPINICE Emilia Euripides Eurystheus excite fable Falstaffe fear French friends genius ghost give glory grace Grecian Greece Greek hath heart heav'n Henry Hercules heroes honour human imagination imitation judgment Julius Cæsar kind king lady learned lover Macbeth manners means ment mind moral murder muse nature Nervii never noble passions perfect person piece play PLUTARCH poet poetry Prince racters rendered representation ridicule Roman Rome says scene sentiments Shak Shakspeare Shakspeare's shew sion soliloquy Sophocles soul speak spectator speech spirit stage sublime superstition Tacitus taste tell temper terror thee Theseus thing thou tion tragedy tragedy of Macbeth translation virtue Voltaire vulgar witches words writers
Popular passages
Page 231 - Would he were fatter ! But I fear him not : Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ; He is a great observer and he looks Quite through the deeds of men...
Page 238 - Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue — A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy...
Page 173 - It will have blood, they say ; blood will have blood : Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak ; Augurs, and understood relations, have By magot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth The secret'st man of blood.
Page 240 - When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse.
Page 226 - Many a time and oft Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The live-long day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome...
Page 244 - 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 148 - I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young blood ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part ; And each particular hair to stand an end. Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood.
Page 237 - 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!
Page 239 - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil, that men do, lives after them ; The good is oft interred with their bones : So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you, Caesar was ambitious : If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest, (For Brutus- is an honorable man ; So are they all, all honorable men) Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
Page 240 - Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men; Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.