The History of English Literature: With an Outline of the Origin and Growth of the English Language |
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Page 5
... thought and invention that are most widely in- teresting , there is bestowed an amount of attention which may by some readers be thought excessive , but which to myself seemed likely to make the book both the more readable and the more ...
... thought and invention that are most widely in- teresting , there is bestowed an amount of attention which may by some readers be thought excessive , but which to myself seemed likely to make the book both the more readable and the more ...
Page 20
... thought . They learned much from the subdued Britons , not a little from the continent , and yet more from their own practical good sense , guided wisely by several kings and churchmen . The pagans ac- cepted the Christian faith : the ...
... thought . They learned much from the subdued Britons , not a little from the continent , and yet more from their own practical good sense , guided wisely by several kings and churchmen . The pagans ac- cepted the Christian faith : the ...
Page 22
... thought . We may , however , understand the facts in part ; and our first step in the study of them should be to learn a few of the circum- stances , in which we and our countrymen for many generations have had decisively the advantage ...
... thought . We may , however , understand the facts in part ; and our first step in the study of them should be to learn a few of the circum- stances , in which we and our countrymen for many generations have had decisively the advantage ...
Page 24
... thought , and asserting , most strongly of all , his right to think on things sacred , with no responsibility but to the Omniscient Searcher of consciences ; when we see them gaining , undismayed by many a defeat , victory after victory ...
... thought , and asserting , most strongly of all , his right to think on things sacred , with no responsibility but to the Omniscient Searcher of consciences ; when we see them gaining , undismayed by many a defeat , victory after victory ...
Page 25
... thought will fall on the magnificent scene , when , scanning the aspect of society more . closely , and detecting features of social and moral evil , and symp- toms as well as causes of discontent and resistance , we perceive , already ...
... thought will fall on the magnificent scene , when , scanning the aspect of society more . closely , and detecting features of social and moral evil , and symp- toms as well as causes of discontent and resistance , we perceive , already ...
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Common terms and phrases
Æneid allegory ancient Anglo-Saxon beautiful belong Ben Jonson Bishop blank verse called celebrated Celts century character Chaucer chiefly chivalrous Chronicle church classical close Comedy composition critical declension dialect diction didactic drama earliest early ecclesiastical Edinburgh Review eloquence England English Language Essays Faerie Queene fancy feeling French genius Geoffrey of Monmouth Henry honour imagination imitated kind king Knight's Tale knowledge language later Latin Layamon learned less likewise literary literature living lyrical merit metrical middle ages Milton mind modern moral narrative native nature never Norman Conquest novel Old English opinions original passages perhaps period philosophy pieces poems poet poetical poetry possessed prose reign religious romances satire Saxon scenes Scotland Scottish sentiment Shakspeare specimens Spenser spirit story style taste theological things thou thought tion tone tongue translation treatise truth verb verse vigorous words writers written
Popular passages
Page 344 - In all my wanderings round this world of care, In all my griefs — and God has given my share — I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown, Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down; To husband out life's taper at the close, And keep the flame from wasting by repose...
Page 70 - Or call up him that left half told The story of Cambuscan bold, Of Camball, and of Algarsife, And who had Canace to wife, That owned the virtuous Ring and Glass, And of the wondrous Horse of Brass, On which the Tartar King did ride; And if aught else great Bards beside, In sage and solemn tunes have sung, Of Tourneys and of Trophies hung; Of Forests, and enchantments drear, Wh'ere more is meant than meets the ear.
Page 270 - In me thou see'st the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west; Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire, That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
Page 269 - That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou see'st the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west; Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
Page 330 - Ambition this shall tempt to rise, Then whirl the wretch from high, To bitter Scorn a sacrifice, And grinning Infamy. The stings of Falsehood those shall try And hard Unkindness...
Page 230 - ... nay they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. I know they are as lively, and as vigorously productive, as those fabulous dragon's teeth; and being sown up and down, may chance to spring up armed men.
Page 235 - I HAD rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.
Page 346 - Oh, how canst thou renounce the boundless store Of charms which Nature to her votary yields ! The warbling woodland, the resounding shore, The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields ; All that the genial ray of morning gilds, And all that echoes to the song of even, All that the mountain's sheltering bosom shields, And all the dread magnificence of Heaven, Oh, how canst thou renounce, and hope to be forgiven ! X.
Page 344 - ... bowers to lay me down ; To husband out life's taper at the close. And keep the flame from wasting by repose. I still had hopes, for pride attends us still, Amidst the swains to show my...
Page 208 - ... faintness begin to stand and to rest himself; if the moon should wander from her beaten way, the times and seasons of the year blend themselves by disordered and confused mixture, the winds breathe out their last gasp, the clouds yield no rain, the earth be defeated of heavenly influence, the fruits of the earth pine away as children at the withered breasts of their mother no longer able to yield them relief; what would become of man himself, whom these things now do all serve ? See we not plainly...