A Complete Manual of English Literature |
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Page 11
... thought , and the improvement of human happiness . To trace the rise and formation of such a language cannot be otherwise than interesting and instructive . The most ancient inhabitants of the British Islands , concerning whom history ...
... thought , and the improvement of human happiness . To trace the rise and formation of such a language cannot be otherwise than interesting and instructive . The most ancient inhabitants of the British Islands , concerning whom history ...
Page 29
... thought , not necessarily cor- responding to real existences . At Oxford , the Franciscan friar , ROGER BACON ( about A. D. 1214– 1292 ) , by his devotion to physical science , gained the reputation of a sorcerer , while dimly anticipat ...
... thought , not necessarily cor- responding to real existences . At Oxford , the Franciscan friar , ROGER BACON ( about A. D. 1214– 1292 ) , by his devotion to physical science , gained the reputation of a sorcerer , while dimly anticipat ...
Page 33
... thought to be the autograph ; its hand- writing , ink , and material , scem to assign it to the earlier part of the thirteenth century . The charac- ter of the language , and the regular rhythm of the verse , however , lead some to ...
... thought to be the autograph ; its hand- writing , ink , and material , scem to assign it to the earlier part of the thirteenth century . The charac- ter of the language , and the regular rhythm of the verse , however , lead some to ...
Page 43
... thought it was the beste melody That mighte ben yheard of any man . " 66 ( v . ) The Flower and the Leaf is , like the preceding poems , t allegory related in the form of a chivalric and pastoral adventure . A lady , unable to sleep ...
... thought it was the beste melody That mighte ben yheard of any man . " 66 ( v . ) The Flower and the Leaf is , like the preceding poems , t allegory related in the form of a chivalric and pastoral adventure . A lady , unable to sleep ...
Page 54
... thought . " This opening marks the probable residence of the poet . The third couplet , with other internal evi- dence , points to his having been a priest . The date seems to be tolerably well fixed by his allusions to the treaty of ...
... thought . " This opening marks the probable residence of the poet . The third couplet , with other internal evi- dence , points to his having been a priest . The date seems to be tolerably well fixed by his allusions to the treaty of ...
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admirable adventures afterwards allusions ancient Anglo-Saxon appeared beautiful Ben Jonson blank verse born Canterbury Tales career century character Chaucer Chronicle Church comedy comic composition death delineation dramatic Dryden educated England English English language English poetry essays exhibit exquisite fancy fiction French genius graceful Henry Henry VIII Hudibras human humor illustration inimitable intellectual intense interest JOHN Johnson Julius Cæsar Lady language Latin latter learning legends literary literature London lyric manner mediæval merit Milton mind modern Molière moral narrative native nature noble novels original Oxford passion peculiar perhaps period personages philosophical picturesque pieces poems poet poetical poetry political Pope popular possessed principal produced prose published reader reign religious remarkable romances satire Saxon scenes Scotland Scott sentiment Shakspeare society spirit story style success taste tion tone tragedy translation Trouvères verse vigorous Westminster School Wicliffe WILLIAM writings written wrote
Popular passages
Page 438 - For over all there hung a cloud of fear ; A sense of mystery the spirit daunted, And said, as plain as whisper in the ear, The place is haunted...
Page 212 - ... sometimes it is couched in a bold scheme of speech, in a tart irony, in a lusty hyperbole, in a startling metaphor, in a plausible reconciling of contradictions, or in acute nonsense ; sometimes...
Page 454 - ... by night in places of interment. Some stalked slowly on, absorbed in profound reverie ; some, shrieking with agony, ran furiously about like tigers wounded with poisoned arrows ; whilst others, grinding their teeth in rage, foamed along more frantic than the wildest maniac. They all avoided each other ; and, though surrounded by a multitude that no one could number, each wandered at random unheedful of the rest, as if alone on a desert where no foot had trodden.
Page 267 - which you did me the honour to subscribe for.' — 'Oh,' said Bentley, 'ay, now I recollect — your translation: — it is a pretty poem, Mr. Pope; but you must not call it Homer?
Page 463 - We find in it the diligence, the accuracy, and the judgment of Hallam, united to the vivacity and the colouring of Southey. A history of England, written throughout in this manner, would be the most fascinating book in the language. It would be more in request at the circulating libraries than the last novel.
Page 529 - Father, Thy hand Hath reared these venerable columns. Thou Didst weave this verdant roof. Thou didst look down Upon the naked earth, and forthwith rose All these fair ranks of trees. They in Thy sun Budded, and shook their green leaves in Thy breeze, And shot towards heaven. The centuryliving crow, Whose birth was in their tops, grew old and died Among their branches, till at last they stood, As now they stand, massy and tall and dark, Fit shrine for humble worshipper to hold Communion with his Maker.
Page 85 - He would have made a great epic poet, if indeed he has not abundantly shown himself to be one ; for his Homer is not so properly a translation as the stories of Achilles and Ulysses rewritten.
Page 52 - Women," long ago Sung by the morning star of song, who made His music heard below ; Dan Chaucer, the first warbler, whose sweet breath Preluded those melodious bursts that fill The spacious times of great Elizabeth With sounds that echo still.
Page 147 - tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors Will catch at us, like strumpets ; and scald rhymers Ballad us out o' tune : the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels : Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I
Page 529 - Stoop o'er the place of graves, and softly sway The sighing herbage by the gleaming stone, That they who near the churchyard willows stray, And listen in the deepening gloom, alone, May think of gentle souls that passed away, Like thy pure breath, into the vast unknown, Sent forth from heaven among the sons of men, And gone into the boundless heaven again.