An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets. With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de VoltaireH. Hughs, 1772 - 288 pages |
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Page 13
... our countryman has equalled the most admired passages in the Greek tragedians ; but we shall not do justice to his native talents , when they are the ob- * јест ject of confideration , if we do not remember the INTRODUCTION . 13.
... our countryman has equalled the most admired passages in the Greek tragedians ; but we shall not do justice to his native talents , when they are the ob- * јест ject of confideration , if we do not remember the INTRODUCTION . 13.
Page 33
... shall cause , to a certain degree , the fame paffions and affections , as if what was ex- hibited was real . We have obferved narra- tive imitation to be too faint and feeble a means to excite paffion : declamation , still worse , plays ...
... shall cause , to a certain degree , the fame paffions and affections , as if what was ex- hibited was real . We have obferved narra- tive imitation to be too faint and feeble a means to excite paffion : declamation , still worse , plays ...
Page 38
... heroic labours , as to the sweat and toil of the Poet in his closet , in afforting male and female rhymes . We have already remarked , that the more we revert from the Stage Stage to the Poet , the less we shall be 38 On DRAMATIC POETRY .
... heroic labours , as to the sweat and toil of the Poet in his closet , in afforting male and female rhymes . We have already remarked , that the more we revert from the Stage Stage to the Poet , the less we shall be 38 On DRAMATIC POETRY .
Page 39
... shall be affected by what is acted ; and therefore if the diffi- culty of rhyme , and its apparent difference from the common language of dialogue , be fuch , as continually to fet the Art and the Artist before our eyes , the fpecific ...
... shall be affected by what is acted ; and therefore if the diffi- culty of rhyme , and its apparent difference from the common language of dialogue , be fuch , as continually to fet the Art and the Artist before our eyes , the fpecific ...
Page 45
... shall be perfectly convinced , if we compare the conduct and fentiment's of Thefeus , and of the unfortu- nate daughter of Jocafta , in Antigone , and Edipus Coloneus , with the Thefeus and Dirce of Corneille ; where the enamoured pair ...
... shall be perfectly convinced , if we compare the conduct and fentiment's of Thefeus , and of the unfortu- nate daughter of Jocafta , in Antigone , and Edipus Coloneus , with the Thefeus and Dirce of Corneille ; where the enamoured pair ...
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Common terms and phrases
abfurd addreſs admired Affaffin affift affume againſt allegory anſwer ANTONY appears Auguftus baſe beſt blood Brutus Cæfar Caffius cauſe character Cinna circumſtances confpiracy confpirators Corneille criticiſm critics dæmons defire diſtinguiſhed drama ELPINICE Emilia Engliſh eſtabliſhed Euripides fable fame faſhion fays fecret feems fentiments fhall fhew firſt fituation folemn foliloquy fome foul fpecies French fubjects fuch fuperiority furely genius ghoft greateſt greatneſs hath heart heav'n hero himſelf hiſtory honour human imitation intereſt itſelf juſt king lefs leſs Macbeth manners mind moft moſt muſt nature neceffary obferved occafion paffion perfons philofophic piece play pleaſe pleaſure Poet Poetry prefent purpoſes racter raiſed reaſon refpect repreſentation repreſented reſemblance Roman ſay ſcene ſeems Shakeſpear ſhall ſhe ſhould ſome Sophocles ſpeak ſpectator ſpeech ſpirit ſtage ſtate ſtill ſtory ſuch Tacitus taſte thee thefe theſe thofe thoſe thou tion tragedy tranflation underſtand uſed verfe Voltaire vulgar whofe whoſe Witches
Popular passages
Page 268 - O, what a fall was there, my countrymen ! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us. O, now you weep ; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity : these are gracious drops. Kind souls, what weep you, when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded ? Look you here, Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
Page 194 - I have lived long enough : my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf ; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have ; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.
Page 258 - tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend: so Caesar may; Then, lest he may, prevent.
Page 269 - And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts : I am no orator, as Brutus is ; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That love my friend...
Page 265 - Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Page 266 - tis his will : Let but the commons hear this testament, (Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read) And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds, And dip their napkins in his sacred blood ; Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it, as a rich legacy, Unto their issue.
Page 181 - Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell; And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be, And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee; Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of...
Page 211 - Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!— Fiery? the fiery duke?— Tell the hot duke, that— No, but not yet: — may be, he is not well: Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind To suffer with the body: I'll forbear; And am fallen out with my more headier...
Page 270 - I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths, And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue In every wound of Caesar that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Page 262 - He only, in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man!