Selections from the Works of Samuel JohnsonH. Holt, 1909 - 479 pages |
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Page xii
... imagination soothed by incidental excellencies ; yet that toil with which performance struggles after the idea is so irksome and disgusting , and so frequent is the necessity of rest- ing below the perfection we imagined within our ...
... imagination soothed by incidental excellencies ; yet that toil with which performance struggles after the idea is so irksome and disgusting , and so frequent is the necessity of rest- ing below the perfection we imagined within our ...
Page xvi
... imagination , as once it did . The modern reader makes nothing of it but a monotonous sing - song . We do injustice to the rimed couplet , and the chief reason is that the art of reading aloud , and the art of listening , have declined ...
... imagination , as once it did . The modern reader makes nothing of it but a monotonous sing - song . We do injustice to the rimed couplet , and the chief reason is that the art of reading aloud , and the art of listening , have declined ...
Page xxi
... imagination ; and , seeing thus soberly , he could but repeat his protest against all sham and pretense , and utter his pity for human triviality and disillusionment . Mainly by this trait of his genius he has drawn to himself his many ...
... imagination ; and , seeing thus soberly , he could but repeat his protest against all sham and pretense , and utter his pity for human triviality and disillusionment . Mainly by this trait of his genius he has drawn to himself his many ...
Page xxix
... imagination would have been compressed and restrained by con- finement to rime . ' The course of Thomson's Seasons would have been obstructed and embarrassed by the frequent intersection of the sense , which are the nec- essary effects ...
... imagination would have been compressed and restrained by con- finement to rime . ' The course of Thomson's Seasons would have been obstructed and embarrassed by the frequent intersection of the sense , which are the nec- essary effects ...
Page xxxix
... imagination to outstrip his actual knowledge , and saved him at once from the pride and the foolishness of a pedant . It energized all his inquiries ; it sent him on all his travels , whether among the stormy Hebrides , or , in imagination ...
... imagination to outstrip his actual knowledge , and saved him at once from the pride and the foolishness of a pedant . It energized all his inquiries ; it sent him on all his travels , whether among the stormy Hebrides , or , in imagination ...
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SELECTIONS FROM THE WORKS OF S Samuel 1709-1784 Johnson,Charles Grosvenor 1871-1964 Osgood No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Addison afterwards appeared Ashbourne blank verse Boswell Cato censure character Chesterfield considered contempt criticism danger dear death declared desire Dictionary distress Dryden effect elegance endeavored English essays expected favor fortune friends friendship genius Gentleman's Magazine Georgic guineas happiness honor hope imagination JAMES BOSWELL Johnson kind knowledge labor language learning letter Lichfield literary live London Lord Tyrconnel mankind ment merit mind misery mother nature neglect ness never obliged observed once opinion panegyric passions pension performance perhaps pleased pleasure poem poet poetical justice poetry Pope praise present queen Rambler Rasselas reason received regard retired Richard Savage Savage Savage's says seldom sentiments Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Robert Walpole solicited sometimes Spectator Steele suffered Tatler tenderness things thought Thrale tion tragedy vanity verses virtue Whig Whiggism words write written wrote
Popular passages
Page 26 - Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since 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 favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.
Page 17 - 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 27 - The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it ; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it ; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.
Page 396 - ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men ; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Page 27 - Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and when he has reached ground encumbers him with help ? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind ; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary and cannot impart it; till I am known and do not want it.
Page 16 - On what foundation stands the warrior's pride? How just his hopes, let Swedish Charles decide; A frame of adamant, a soul of fire, No dangers fright him, and no labours tire...
Page 434 - I have laboured to refine our language to grammatical purity, and to clear it from colloquial barbarisms, licentious idioms, and irregular combinations. Something, perhaps, I have added to the elegance of its construction, and something to the harmony of its cadence.
Page 471 - Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. So when an angel by divine command With rising tempests shakes a guilty land, Such as of late o'er pale Britannia past, Calm and serene he drives the furious blast ; And, pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm.
Page 26 - I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all that I could, and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.