English Men of Letters: Chaucer, by Adolphus William Ward, 1896; Spenser, by R.W. Church, 1901; Dryden, by George Saintsbury, 1894Macmillan and Company, 1895 |
From inside the book
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Page 25
as well as in the literature of the later Plantagenet period ; and incontestably its conceptions of this relation still re- tained much of the pure sentiment belonging to the best and most fervent times of Christian chivalry . The ...
as well as in the literature of the later Plantagenet period ; and incontestably its conceptions of this relation still re- tained much of the pure sentiment belonging to the best and most fervent times of Christian chivalry . The ...
Page 28
... literature , and in the adoption by it of such fancies as the praise and worship of the daisy , with which we meet in the Prologue to Chaucer's Legend of Good Women , and in the Flower and the Leaf , a most pleasing poem ( suggested by ...
... literature , and in the adoption by it of such fancies as the praise and worship of the daisy , with which we meet in the Prologue to Chaucer's Legend of Good Women , and in the Flower and the Leaf , a most pleasing poem ( suggested by ...
Page 41
... literature . About our national life in this period , both in its virtues and in its vices , there is something - it matters little whether we call it - childlike or childish ; in its " apert " if not in its " privy " sides it lacks the ...
... literature . About our national life in this period , both in its virtues and in its vices , there is something - it matters little whether we call it - childlike or childish ; in its " apert " if not in its " privy " sides it lacks the ...
Page 46
... literature with blossoms still adorn- ing them in vernal freshness , -which makes Chaucer's figure so unique a one in the gallery of our great English writers , and gives to his works an interest so inexhaustible for the historical as ...
... literature with blossoms still adorn- ing them in vernal freshness , -which makes Chaucer's figure so unique a one in the gallery of our great English writers , and gives to his works an interest so inexhaustible for the historical as ...
Page 58
... literature , and " the source whence every rhymer drew for his needs " down to the period of the classical revival led by Ronsard ( when it was edited by Clement Marot , Spenser's early model ) . In England , it exercised an influence ...
... literature , and " the source whence every rhymer drew for his needs " down to the period of the classical revival led by Ronsard ( when it was edited by Clement Marot , Spenser's early model ) . In England , it exercised an influence ...
Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel Achitophel admirable afterwards allegory Almanzor already appears Aurengzebe beauty better called Canterbury Canterbury Tales century certainly character Chaucer Church comedy connexion couplet Court criticism death delight doubt dramatic Dryden Duke England English poetry Faery Queen famous fashion favour favourite French friends Gabriel Harvey genius Gower hand hath honour House of Fame humour Ireland Irish John John of Gaunt kind King knight Lady language least Legend less literary literature living Lord Grey matter mind moral Munster nature never noble once original Parson's Tale passage perhaps Petrarch Philip Sidney piece play poem poet poet's poetical political probably Prologue prose Ralegh rhyme satire seems Shadwell Shepherd's Calendar Sidney Spenser spirit stanzas story style sweet Tale things thou thought tion translation Troilus and Cressid truth unto verse writing written Wycliffite
Popular passages
Page 122 - The general! end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline...
Page 142 - Happy the man, and happy he alone, He, who can call to-day his own: He who secure within, can say, To-morrow do thy worst, for I have lived to-day.
Page 16 - I LONG to talk with some old lover's ghost, Who died before the god of love was born. I cannot think that he, who then loved most, Sunk so low as to love one which did scorn. But since this god produced a destiny, And that vice-nature, custom, lets it be, I must love her that loves not me.
Page 116 - I that was wont to behold her riding like Alexander, hunting like Diana, walking like Venus, the gentle wind blowing her fair hair about her pure cheeks, like a nymph; sometime sitting in the shade like a Goddess; sometime singing like an angel; sometime playing like Orpheus. Behold the sorrow of this world! Once amiss, hath bereaved me of all.
Page 147 - Gather therefore the Rose whilest yet is prime, For soone comes age that will her pride deflowre ; Gather the Rose of love whilest yet is time, Whilest loving thou mayst loved be with equall crime. He ceast ; and then gan all the quire of birdes Their diverse notes t' attune unto his lay, As in approvaunce of his pleasing wordes.
Page 136 - What judgment I had increases rather than diminishes ; and thoughts, such as they are, come crowding in so fast upon me, that my only difficulty is to choose or to reject ; to run them into verse or to give them the other harmony of prose.
Page 110 - Full little knowest thou that hast not tride, What hell it is, in suing long to bide : To loose good dayes, that might be better spent...
Page 87 - Through all the realms of Nonsense absolute. This aged prince, now flourishing in peace, And blest with issue of a large increase, Worn out with business, did at length debate To settle the succession of the state...
Page 68 - ... they spared not to scrape out of their graves ; and if they found a plot of watercresses or shamrocks, there they flocked as to a feast for the...
Page 132 - I cannot say he is everywhere alike ; were he so, I should do him injury to compare him with the greatest of mankind. He is many times flat, insipid ; his comic wit degenerating into clenches, his serious swelling into bombast. But he is always great, when some great occasion is presented to him : no man can say he ever had a fit subject for his wit, and did not then raise himself as high above the rest of poets " Quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupressi.