The Masters of English LiteratureMacmillan, 1904 - 423 pages |
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Page vii
... least to be concealed ; and secondly , that the ordinary reader has neither the time nor inclination to study all these authors at first hand . An attempt has therefore been made to put together a survey of the literature which should ...
... least to be concealed ; and secondly , that the ordinary reader has neither the time nor inclination to study all these authors at first hand . An attempt has therefore been made to put together a survey of the literature which should ...
Page ix
... least conscientiously made , with a true desire to quicken that love for the literature of the English tongue which is to them who feel it so deep a source of pleasure and advantage . Since in a brief historical summary of this kind ...
... least conscientiously made , with a true desire to quicken that love for the literature of the English tongue which is to them who feel it so deep a source of pleasure and advantage . Since in a brief historical summary of this kind ...
Page 9
... least lyrical of all English poets ; and he writes always as the observer rather than as the man impelled to utter his inmost feelings . Even the thoughts which he expresses are the common thoughts of men who know the world , and in ...
... least lyrical of all English poets ; and he writes always as the observer rather than as the man impelled to utter his inmost feelings . Even the thoughts which he expresses are the common thoughts of men who know the world , and in ...
Page 13
... least behold the lady ; and at last Arcite determines to return disguised and seek employment as a valet in the house of Theseus . But it chances that Palamon breaks prison , and , hiding in a wood , sees on a May morning Arcite , now ...
... least behold the lady ; and at last Arcite determines to return disguised and seek employment as a valet in the house of Theseus . But it chances that Palamon breaks prison , and , hiding in a wood , sees on a May morning Arcite , now ...
Page 18
... least , was one of the most popular authors of that age , and that the dame's fifth husband was a great reader . More- over , in the last lines she deduces from the tale a highly characteristic lesson . It is , however , only when she ...
... least , was one of the most popular authors of that age , and that the dame's fifth husband was a great reader . More- over , in the last lines she deduces from the tale a highly characteristic lesson . It is , however , only when she ...
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admirable ballad beauty Ben Jonson blank verse Bonny Dundee born Burns Byron Canterbury Tales century character charm Chaucer chronicle plays colour comedy contemporary couplet criticism death describes Dickens drama Dryden England English literature essays expression eyes Faerie Queene Falstaff fame famous genius heart heaven honour Hudibras human humour Johnson Keats King lady later less lines literary living London Lord lyric Lyrical Ballads master metre Milton mind narrative nature never night novel o'er Paradise Lost Paradise Regained passage passion perhaps persons play poem poet poetry Pope prose published reader rhyme satire Scott sense Shakespeare Shelley song sonnets Spenser spirit stanzas story style sweet Swift tale Tamburlaine tell thee Theseus things thou thought tragedy Troilus and Cressida truth uncle Toby verse whole woman words Wordsworth writing written wrote young
Popular passages
Page 181 - 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 145 - Bacchus' blessings are a treasure; Drinking is the soldier's pleasure: Rich the treasure; Sweet the pleasure; Sweet is pleasure after pain! Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o'er again : And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain!
Page 272 - Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: "Pipe a song about a Lamb!' So I piped with merry cheer. 'Piper, pipe that song again;
Page 332 - Of towns and cities, I have owed to them, In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart; And passing even into my purer mind, With tranquil restoration ; — feelings too...
Page 181 - Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike...
Page 332 - But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din Of towns and cities, I have owed to them In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart; And passing even into my purer mind. With tranquil restoration...
Page 369 - That Light whose smile kindles the Universe, That Beauty in which all things work and move, That Benediction which the eclipsing Curse Of birth can quench not, that sustaining Love Which through the web of being blindly wove By man and beast and earth and air and sea, Burns bright or dim, as each are mirrors of The fire for which all thirst, now beams on me, Consuming the last clouds of cold mortality...
Page 243 - Here Reynolds is laid, and to tell you my mind, He has not left a wiser or better behind : His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand : His manners were gentle, complying, and bland ; Still born to improve us in every part, His pencil our faces, his manners our heart...
Page 135 - For his religion, it was fit To match his learning and his wit : 'Twas Presbyterian true blue, For he was of that stubborn crew Of errant saints, whom all men grant To be the true church militant ; Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun ; Decide all controversies by Infallible artillery ; And prove their doctrine orthodox By apostolic blows and knocks...
Page 349 - It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.