Observations on the Writings and on the Character of Mr. Gray: Originally Subjoined to the Second Volume of the Complete Edition in 1814 of All His Works in Two Volumes in QuartoT. Cadell and W. Davies, 1815 - 180 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accomplished admiration allusion amused ancient ancor Arno attention Bard Blundeston called CARISIO cetra chimæras choir compositions considered Countess of Westmoreland criticks Dante death dignity dolce Dryden Duchess Duchess of Exeter Duke edition elegance eloquence eminently Eton expressed favourite felt fixed genius Gray Gray's Greece Greek guage harmony honourable ibid illustrious Ilyssus inferiour Isle of Thanet Italian language Italy ject judgment knew labour language Latin Latium learned letters Lirici literature Lycophron lyre lyrical Macrobius manner manuscripts Mason master ments Milton mind modern Italy nature nave never NORTON NICHOLLS observed once original peculiar Pembroke Hall perhaps persons Petrarch philosophy Plato pleasing poems poet poetical poetry present editor publick Queen reader recollect scholar Shakspeare Spenser spirit stanza Stonhewer style sublime taste THOMAS JAMES MATHIAS thought tion transept Tuscan University of Cambridge verse villa at Blundeston Voltaire volumes Westminster words writings
Popular passages
Page 105 - Nor second he that rode sublime Upon the seraph-wings of Ecstasy, The secrets of th' abyss to spy. He passed the flaming bounds of Place and Time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze, Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw; but, blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.
Page 48 - Him have we seen the greenwood side along, While o'er the heath we hied, our labour done, Oft as the woodlark piped her farewell song, With wistful eyes pursue the setting sun.
Page 53 - No more the Grecian muse unrivall'd reigns, To Britain let the nations homage pay : She felt a Homer's fire in Milton's strains, A Pindar's rapture in the lyre of Gray.
Page 72 - There is not an ode in the English language which is constructed like these two compositions ; with such power, such majesty, and such sweetness, with such proportioned pauses and just cadences, with such regulated measures of the verse, with such master principles of lyrical art displayed and exemplified, and, at the same time, with such a concealment of the difficulty, which is lost in the softness and uninterrupted flowing of the lines in each stanza, with such a musical magic, that every verse...
Page 133 - But it must be at least confessed, that to embellish the form of nature is an innocent amusement ; and some praise must be allowed by the most supercilious observer to him, who does best what such multitudes are contending to do well.
Page 93 - To smuggle a few years, and strive to mend A broken character and constitution.
Page 43 - Thoughts, he said, was redundancy of thought. Pope's translation of the Iliad stood very high in his estimation ; and when he heard it criticised as wanting the simplicity of the original, or being rather a paraphrase than a translation, and not giving a just idea of the poet's style and manner, he always said, " There would never be another translation of the same poem equal to it.
Page 132 - Of all that might delight a dainty ear, Such as at once might not on living ground, Save In this paradise, be heard elsewhere: Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, To...
Page 131 - Mr. Nicholls at Blundeston in the gay season, when his lake was illuminated by summer suns and rippled by the breeze ; when every tree and shrub, in its chosen position, seemed to wave in homage to its possessor and cultivator; when a happy and youthful company of either sex, distinguished by their talents and accomplishments, was enlivened by the good humour and spirit which presided over the whole ; with the charm of music, and with every well-tempered recreation which the season could present,...
Page 36 - As an instance of the strictness of his principles, he once made it his particular request to a friend who was going to the continent, that he would not pay a visit to Voltaire; and when his friend replied, " What can a visit from a person like me to him signify ?" he rejoined, with peculiar earnestness, " Sir, every tribute to such a man signifies.