Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, to the Works of the English Poets, Volume 6

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J. Nichols, 1781

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Page 18 - that the perufal of his works will make no man better; and that their ultimate effect is to reprefent pleafure in alliance with vice, and to relax thofe obligations by which, life ought to be regulated. The ftage found other advocates, and the difpute was protracted through ten years; but at laft Comedy grew more
Page 11 - pen produced Love for Love; a comedy of nearer alliance to life, and exhibiting more real manners, than either of the former. The character of Forefight was then common. Dryden calculated nativities ; both Cromwell and king William had their lucky days ; and Shaftefbury himfelf, though he had no religion, was faid to regard predictions. The Sailor
Page 25 - at that time by the imprudence of his relation reduced to difficulties and diftrefs. Congreve has merit of the higheft kind ; he is an original writer, who borrowed neither the models of his plot,, nor the manner of his dialogue. Of his plays I cannot fpeak
Page 21 - fo judgement in the operations of intellect can hinder faults, but not produce excellence. Prior is never low, nor very often fublime. It is faid by Longinus. of Euripides, that he forces himfelf fometimes into grandeur by violence of effort, as the lion kindles his fury by the lafhes of his own tail. Whatever
Page 16 - that the perufal of his works will make no man better; and that their ultimate effect is to reprefent pleafure in alliance with vice, and to relax thofe obligations by which life ought to be regulated. The flage found other advocates, and the difpute was
Page 24 - the conteft of fmartnefs is never intermitted; his wit is a meteor playing to and fro with alternate corufcations. His comedies have therefore, in fome degree, the operation of tragedies; they furprife rather than divert, and raife admiration oftener than merriment. But they are the works of
Page 27 - he had always been civiL By tales like thefe is the envy raifed by fuperior abilities every day gratified: when they are attacked, every one hopes to fee them humbled; what is hoped is readily believed, and what is believed is confidently told. Dryden had been more accuftomed to hoftilities, than that fuch enemies
Page 20 - he refolved to commit his quiet and his fame no more to the caprices of an audience. From this time his life ceafed to be publick: he lived for himfelf, .and for his friends; and among his,friends was able to name every man of his time whom wit and elegance had
Page 4 - of oppofition impelled him to reparation from the church. By this perverfenefs of integrity he was driven out a commoner of Nature, excluded from the regular modes of profit and profperity, and reduced to pick up a livelihood uncertain and fortuitous; but it muft be remembered that he kept his name unfullied, and never fuffered
Page 30 - ode, which was prefented to the king, by whom it was not likely to be ever read. In two years he was fecretary to another embafly at the treaty of Ryfwick (in 1697) ; and next year had the fame office at the court of France, where he is faid to have been confidered with great

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