An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets; with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Mons. de VoltairePriestley, 1810 - 296 pages |
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Page 21
... murder , would not have been endured in any country , where taste had not been absolutely perverted . Mr. Voltaire has the candour to own , this is a bad Tragedy ; but Corneille tells us , it was his good fortune to find it the general ...
... murder , would not have been endured in any country , where taste had not been absolutely perverted . Mr. Voltaire has the candour to own , this is a bad Tragedy ; but Corneille tells us , it was his good fortune to find it the general ...
Page 97
... murders and treasons , learn for once , from rude and illiterate Shakspeare , how averse pride is coolly to confess , and prudence to betray , what the fever and deliriums of ambition have prompted us to do . Falstaffe appears with his ...
... murders and treasons , learn for once , from rude and illiterate Shakspeare , how averse pride is coolly to confess , and prudence to betray , what the fever and deliriums of ambition have prompted us to do . Falstaffe appears with his ...
Page 108
... murders she has committed , and those she still intends to commit , to her waiting - women , for whose parts she expresses at the same time a so- vereign contempt . Here Here I cannot help taking notice , that as the 108 THE SECOND PART ...
... murders she has committed , and those she still intends to commit , to her waiting - women , for whose parts she expresses at the same time a so- vereign contempt . Here Here I cannot help taking notice , that as the 108 THE SECOND PART ...
Page 109
... murder his mistress , the other the son to murder his mother . Here again an instance offers itself of our Shakspeare's su- perior knowledge of the heart of man . King John wishes to instigate Hubert to kill prince Arthur : but observe ...
... murder his mistress , the other the son to murder his mother . Here again an instance offers itself of our Shakspeare's su- perior knowledge of the heart of man . King John wishes to instigate Hubert to kill prince Arthur : but observe ...
Page 137
... murder ; then other circumstances of a special , and inferior kind , were not to have any weight . I am inclined to think this tragedy is a mixture of history and allegory . Eschylus affected the allegorical manner so much , as to form ...
... murder ; then other circumstances of a special , and inferior kind , were not to have any weight . I am inclined to think this tragedy is a mixture of history and allegory . Eschylus affected the allegorical manner so much , as to form ...
Other editions - View all
An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared with the Greek ... Elizabeth Robinson Montagu No preview available - 2018 |
An Essay On the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare: Compared With the Greek ... Elizabeth Robinson Montagu No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
absurd action admired affected allegory ambition ancient ANTONY appears Aristotle Atossa Augustus battle of Shrewsbury blank-verse blood Brutus Cassius character Cinna conspiracy conspirators Corneille critic crown dæmons danger danger death dialogue drama ELPINICE Emilia Euripides Eurystheus excite fable Falstaffe fear French friends genius ghost give glory grace Grecian Greek hath heart heav'n Henry Hercules heroes honour human imagination imitation judgment Julius Cæsar kind king lady learned lover Macbeth manners means ment mind moral murder muse nature Nervii never noble passions perfect person piece play PLEBEIAN PLUTARCH poet poetry Prince racters reader representation ridicule Roman Rome says scene secret sentiments Shak Shakspeare Shakspeare's shew sion soliloquy Sophocles soul speak spectator speech spirit stage sublime superstition Tacitus taste tell temper terror thee Theseus thing thou tion tragedians tragedy tragedy of Macbeth translation virtue Voltaire vulgar witches words writers
Popular passages
Page 243 - 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 162 - Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear In all my miseries; but thou hast forced me, Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman. 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...
Page 242 - When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse.
Page 233 - So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ; He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men : he loves no plays. As thou dost, Antony ; he hears no music ; Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort, As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Page 245 - This was the most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors...
Page 240 - O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers; Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times.
Page 235 - 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 124 - Weak masters though ye be, I have bedimm'd The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault Set roaring war...
Page 150 - I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young blood ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part ; And each particular hair to stand an end. Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood.
Page 239 - 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!