Alexander Pope |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 80
Page 23
... true poetic feeling ; but in Pope's time it had become hopelessly threadbare . The fine gentlemen in wigs and laced coats amused themselves by writing about nymphs and " conscious swains , " by way of asserting their claims to elegance ...
... true poetic feeling ; but in Pope's time it had become hopelessly threadbare . The fine gentlemen in wigs and laced coats amused themselves by writing about nymphs and " conscious swains , " by way of asserting their claims to elegance ...
Page 26
... True wit is nature to advantage dress'd , What oft was thought , but ne'er so well express'd . The only fair question , in short , is whether Pope has managed to give a lasting form to some of the floating commonplaces which have more ...
... True wit is nature to advantage dress'd , What oft was thought , but ne'er so well express'd . The only fair question , in short , is whether Pope has managed to give a lasting form to some of the floating commonplaces which have more ...
Page 28
... true poet restrains by sense . Pope would have been still more puzzled if asked to define precisely what he meant by the antithesis between nature and art . They are somehow opposed , yet art turns out to be only " nature methodized ...
... true poet restrains by sense . Pope would have been still more puzzled if asked to define precisely what he meant by the antithesis between nature and art . They are somehow opposed , yet art turns out to be only " nature methodized ...
Page 32
... true poet's tenderness for the lower animals , and disgust at bloodshed . He loved his dog , and said that he would have inscribed over his grave , " O rare Bounce , " but for the appearance of ridiculing " rare Ben Jonson . " He spoke ...
... true poet's tenderness for the lower animals , and disgust at bloodshed . He loved his dog , and said that he would have inscribed over his grave , " O rare Bounce , " but for the appearance of ridiculing " rare Ben Jonson . " He spoke ...
Page 33
... true poetry , preserving just that level which would commend them to the literary statesmen and the politicians at Will's and Button's . Perhaps some advocate of Free Trade might try upon a modern audience the lines in which Pope ...
... true poetry , preserving just that level which would commend them to the literary statesmen and the politicians at Will's and Button's . Perhaps some advocate of Free Trade might try upon a modern audience the lines in which Pope ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison admiration afterwards Ambrose Philips appeared became Bolingbroke Bonstetten Boswell Boswell's Cambridge character companion connexion Conyers Middleton criticism Curll death died Dryden Dunciad edition Elegy English English poetry Eton feeling friendship Garrick give Goldsmith Gray Gray's Grub Street happy Harleian Library Homer honour Horace Walpole Iliad Jacobite kind lady later less letters Lichfield literary literature lived London Lord Lucy Porter Mason melancholy mind Miss nature never Nicholls once passage Pembroke Pembroke College perhaps Peterhouse phrase Pindar pleasure poem poet poetical poetry poor Pope Pope's praise probably published Rambler received remark replied Johnson Reynolds Roger Long Samuel Johnson satire says seems sense sentiment spirit stanza Stoke Streatham style Swift talk tell thought Thrale tion told took translation Twickenham vanity verses Wharton Whig whilst writing wrote young
Popular passages
Page 60 - Peace to all such ! but were there one whose fires True genius kindles, and fair fame inspires; Blest with each talent and each art to please, And born to write, converse, and live with ease; Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne...
Page 35 - When upon some slight encouragement I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered like the rest of mankind by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre...
Page 87 - Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well ; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
Page 190 - Villiers lies : alas ! how changed from him That life of pleasure, and that soul of whim ! Gallant and gay in Cliveden's proud alcove, The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love ; Or just as gay, at council, in a ring Of mimic statesmen, and their merry king.
Page 191 - Yes, I am proud ; I must be proud to see Men, not afraid of God, afraid of me ; Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, Yet touch'd and sham'd by ridicule alone.
Page 163 - is to examine, not the individual, but the species ; to remark general properties and large appearances ; he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. He is to exhibit in his portraits of nature such prominent and striking features, as recall the original to every mind ; and must neglect the minuter discriminations, which one may have remarked, and another have neglected, for those characteristics which are alike obvious to vigilance...
Page 178 - Condemn'da needy supplicant to wait, 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 35 - Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation, My Lord, Your Lordship's most humble Most obedient servant, SAM. JOHNSON.
Page 102 - Girt with many a baron bold Sublime their starry fronts they rear ; And gorgeous dames, and statesmen old In bearded majesty, appear.
Page 35 - 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 favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron before. " The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.