Critical and historical essays |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 85
Page 4
... seems to modern readers almost miraculous . Such feelings are very rare in a civilised community , and most rare among those who participate most in its improvements . They linger longest among the peasantry . Poetry produces an ...
... seems to modern readers almost miraculous . Such feelings are very rare in a civilised community , and most rare among those who participate most in its improvements . They linger longest among the peasantry . Poetry produces an ...
Page 12
... seem to harmonise less with the fragrant groves and graceful porticoes in which his countrymen paid their vows to the ... seems to depend on the knowledge which he possesses that he holds the fate of his torturer in his hands , and that ...
... seem to harmonise less with the fragrant groves and graceful porticoes in which his countrymen paid their vows to the ... seems to depend on the knowledge which he possesses that he holds the fate of his torturer in his hands , and that ...
Page 21
... seems , no doubt , at first sight , extraordinary . But all the cir- cumstances in which the country was then placed were extraordinary . The ambition of Oliver was of no vulgar kind . He never seems to have coveted despotic power . He ...
... seems , no doubt , at first sight , extraordinary . But all the cir- cumstances in which the country was then placed were extraordinary . The ambition of Oliver was of no vulgar kind . He never seems to have coveted despotic power . He ...
Page 29
... seems inconceivable that the martyr of freedom should have designedly acted as the apostle of tyranny . Several eminent writers have , therefore , endeavoured to detect in this un- fortunate performance some concealed meaning , more ...
... seems inconceivable that the martyr of freedom should have designedly acted as the apostle of tyranny . Several eminent writers have , therefore , endeavoured to detect in this un- fortunate performance some concealed meaning , more ...
Page 30
... seems to be an enigma , a grotesque assemblage of incongruous qualities , selfish- ness and generosity , cruelty and benevolence , craft and simplicity , abject vil- lany and romantic heroism . One sentence is such as a veteran ...
... seems to be an enigma , a grotesque assemblage of incongruous qualities , selfish- ness and generosity , cruelty and benevolence , craft and simplicity , abject vil- lany and romantic heroism . One sentence is such as a veteran ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
able admiration appeared army authority Bacon become believe body called Catholic cause century character Charles Church Clive Commons conduct considered constitution course Court danger doctrines doubt effect employed England English equally Europe favour feeling followed force France French give hand Hastings head honour House human hundred important India interest Italy judge King learned less letters liberty lived look Lord manner master means measures mind minister moral nature never object once opinion opposition Parliament party passed person political present Prince principles produced question reason received religion respect scarcely seems society soon spirit strong success talents Temple thing thought thousand tion took truth turned whole writer
Popular passages
Page 538 - Antioch, when idols were still worshipped in the temple of Mecca. And she may still exist in undiminished vigour when some traveller from New Zealand shall, in the midst of a vast solitude, take his stand on a broken arch of London Bridge to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's.
Page 21 - The difference between the greatest and the meanest of mankind seemed to vanish, when compared with the boundless interval which separated the whole race from him on whom their own eyes were constantly fixed.
Page 22 - Events which short-sighted politicians ascribed to earthly causes, had been ordained on his account. For his sake empires had risen, and flourished, and decayed. For his sake the Almighty had proclaimed his will by the pen of the Evangelist, and the harp of the prophet. He had been wrested by no common deliverer from the grasp of no common foe. He had been ransomed by the sweat of no vulgar agony, by the blood of no earthly sacrifice. It was for him that the sun had been darkened, that the rocks...
Page 351 - No man ever spoke more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough or look aside from him without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he should make an end.
Page 184 - The style of Bunyan is delightful to every reader, and invaluable as a study to every person who wishes to obtain a wide command over the English language. The vocabulary is the vocabulary of the common people. There is not an expression, if we except a few technical terms of theology, which would puzzle the rudest peasant. We have observed several pages which do not contain a single word of more than two syllables. Yet no writer has said more exactly what he meant to say.
Page 396 - ... knots an hour against the wind. These are but a part of its fruits, and of its first fruits. For it is a philosophy which never rests, which has never attained, which is never perfect. Its law is progress. A point which yesterday was invisible is its goal to-day, and will be its starting-post to-morrow.
Page 511 - England by lofty halls and by the constant waving of fans. The number of the prisoners was one hundred and forty-six. When they were ordered to enter the cell, they imagined that the soldiers were joking ; and, being in high spirits on account of the promise of the Nabob to spare their lives, they laughed and jested at the absurdity of the notion. They soon discovered their mistake. They expostulated ; they entreated ; but in vain. The guards threatened to cut down all who hesitated. The captives...
Page 21 - The Puritans were men whose minds had derived a peculiar character from the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal interests. Not content with acknowledging, in general terms, an overruling Providence, they habitually ascribed every event to the will of the Great Being for whose power nothing was too vast, for whose inspection nothing was too minute.
Page 4 - By poetry we mean the art of employing words in such a manner as to produce an illusion on the imagination, the art of doing by means of words what the painter does by means of colors.
Page 22 - If their names were not found in the registers of heralds, they were recorded in the Book of Life. If their steps were not accompanied by a splendid train of menials, legions of ministering angels had charge over them.