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Addison adopted American appears Ben Jonson Caxton Chaucer Cheke Cicero cited classical colloquial courtly critical cultivated dialect Dictionary distinction Dryden earlier edition eighteenth century Elizabethan eloquence England English Grammar English language English Tongue English words fashion fifteenth Fitzedward Hall Folio form of language forms of speech French Gabriel Harvey grammarian Greek guage H. C. Wyld hath haue Ibid idiom influence instance Johnson later Latin learning letter Lindley Murray lish literary literature London Lowth manner meaning medieval method Middle English Milton modes of pronunciation mother tongue native natural Noah Webster nouns nunciation opinion period phrase plural poet popular printer pronounced pronunciation published Quintilian refinement regarding remarks Renaissance rhetoric rule Samuel Johnson says seventeenth century Shakespeare Sheridan Sir Thomas sixteenth century sound speak spelling standard style syllable thou tion translation usage verb verse vowel vulgar Walker William Lily writing written
Popular passages
Page 224 - Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school : and whereas, before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.
Page 471 - I thank God there are no free schools, nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years ; for learning has brought disobedience and heresy and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best government. God keep us from both...
Page 270 - I saw Hamlet Prince of Denmark played, but now the old plays began to disgust this refined age, since his Majesties being so long abroad.
Page 473 - And it is further ordered, that where any town shall increase to the number of one hundred families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for the university...
Page 244 - Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth That I to manhood am arrived so near ; And inward ripeness doth much less appear, That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.
Page 165 - Dost thou come here to whine ? To outface me with leaping in her grave ? Be buried quick with her, and so will I : And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw Millions of acres on us, till our ground, Singeing his pate against the burning zone, Make Ossa like a wart ! Nay, an thou'lt mouth, I'll rant as well as thou.
Page 119 - ... us to fascion a woord of our own, or if the old denisoned wordes could content and ease this neede we wold not boldly venture of vnknowen wordes This I say not for reproof of you.
Page 320 - In order to reform our language, I conceive, my lord, that a free judicious choice should be made of such persons as are generally allowed to be best qualified for such a work, without any regard to quality, party, or profession.
Page 244 - Yet, be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even * To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven. All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Task-Master's eye.
Page 164 - Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers ; I had rather hear a brazen canstick 10 turn'd, Or a dry wheel grate on the axletree ; And that would set my teeth nothing on edge, Nothing so much as mincing poetry : Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.