An Essay on the Nature of the English Verse: With Directions for Reading Poetry |
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Page 10
... paffages from the Paradife Loft , there is a pleaf- ing variety in the pauses , a freedom from that general uniformity in the movement of the verse , which attends the precifion of the cou- plet . In this respect , blank verse appears ...
... paffages from the Paradife Loft , there is a pleaf- ing variety in the pauses , a freedom from that general uniformity in the movement of the verse , which attends the precifion of the cou- plet . In this respect , blank verse appears ...
Page 32
... paffage : A fep'rate grove , thro ' which a gentle breeze Plays with a paffing breath , and whispers thro ' the trees . Æn . vi . 954 . Where'er you find the cooling western " breeze , " In the next line , " it whifpers thro ' the ...
... paffage : A fep'rate grove , thro ' which a gentle breeze Plays with a paffing breath , and whispers thro ' the trees . Æn . vi . 954 . Where'er you find the cooling western " breeze , " In the next line , " it whifpers thro ' the ...
Page 41
... paffage : With easy course , The veffels glide , unless their speed be stopp'd By dead calms , that oft lie on those ... paffages , which I have here produced . Let him enjoy his opinion . I will not pretend to affert , that even ...
... paffage : With easy course , The veffels glide , unless their speed be stopp'd By dead calms , that oft lie on those ... paffages , which I have here produced . Let him enjoy his opinion . I will not pretend to affert , that even ...
Page 46
... paffages , by the au- thor of this effay , in the Gent . Mag . for Jan. 1792 , and in the Crit . Rev. for May 1766 , where Mr. Pope's imitation of the Latin poet was , I believe , firft pointed out . tation tation of its force as it ...
... paffages , by the au- thor of this effay , in the Gent . Mag . for Jan. 1792 , and in the Crit . Rev. for May 1766 , where Mr. Pope's imitation of the Latin poet was , I believe , firft pointed out . tation tation of its force as it ...
Page 50
... paffage . " From these lines ( he fays ) laboured with great attention , may be judged , what can be expected from the most diligent endeavours after the imagery of found . The verse , intended to represent the whifper of the vernal ...
... paffage . " From these lines ( he fays ) laboured with great attention , may be judged , what can be expected from the most diligent endeavours after the imagery of found . The verse , intended to represent the whifper of the vernal ...
Other editions - View all
An Essay on the Nature of the English Verse: With Directions for Reading ... Joseph Robertson No preview available - 2009 |
An Essay on the Nature of the English Verse: With Directions for Reading Poetry Joseph Robertson No preview available - 2019 |
An Essay on the Nature of the English Verse: With Directions for Reading ... Joseph Robertson No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
Æneid Alexandrine almoſt ancient Anticlea becauſe Cleomenes compoſed confift defcription deſcribes Dryd Dryden eafy eaſe Effay Engliſh ev'ry EXAMPLES expreffion fam'd fame fatire fays fecond fyllable fenfe feven fhall fhort fyllables fhould fignifies firft firſt firſt fyllable flain flow fome fometimes fong French ftill fubject fuch fuppofed Geryon glide Greek Greek and Roman harmony heav'n Hecat himſelf Homer Imaus juft laft laſt lays the accent long fyllable meaſure Milton monofyllables moſt muſt Nature numbers o'er obferved Odyf Odyſ Oïleus Omphale Ovid paffage pauſe penultima perfon Pindar Pitt poetic licence poetry poets Pope preferved profe pronounced pronunciation reader reaſon reft repreſents rhyme ſhall ſhort ſmooth ſome ſtage Stat ſtop ſtream taſte thefe theſe thofe Thom thoſe thou thro tion tranflated trochee twelve fyllables unaccented uſe uſually verfe verfification verſe viii Virg Virgil voice whofe winds word writers
Popular passages
Page 49 - Though oft the ear the open vowels tire; While expletives their feeble aid do join; And ten low words oft creep in one dull line: While they ring round the same unvaried chimes With sure returns of still expected rhymes: Where'er you find "the cooling western breeze...
Page 124 - They looking back, all th' eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces throng'd and fiery arms: Some natural tears they...
Page 38 - With many a weary step, and many a groan, Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone ; The huge round stone, resulting with a bound, Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground.
Page 9 - When God hath shower'd the earth ; so lovely seem'd That landscape ; and of pure, now purer air Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive All sadness but despair : now gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils.
Page 50 - The verfe intended to reprefent the whifper of the vernal breeze, muft be confeffed not much to excel in foftnefs or volubility : and the fmooth ftream runs with a perpetual clafh of jarring confonants. The noife and turbulence of the...
Page 49 - The hoarfe, rough verfe fhould like the torrent roar : When Ajax ftrives fome rock's vaft weight to throw, The line too labours, and the words move flow ; Not fo, when fwift Camilla fcours the plain, Flies o'er th' unbending corn, and fkirns along the main.
Page 17 - Thus when Philomela drooping Softly seeks her silent mate, See the bird of Juno stooping ; Melody resigns to fate.
Page 16 - FLUTTERING fpread thy purple pinions, Gentle Cupid, o'er my heart ; I a flave in thy dominions ; Nature muft give way to art.
Page 19 - ... tis his fancy to run, At night he declines on his Thetis's breast. So, when I am wearied with wandering all day, To thee, my delight, in the evening I come : No matter what beauties I saw in my way ; They were but my visits, but thou art my home ! Then finish, dear Chloe, this pastoral war, And let us like Horace and Lydia agree ; For thou art a girl as much brighter than her, As he was a poet sublimer than me.
Page 54 - Till the roofs all around The fhrill echoes rebound. While in more lengthen'd notes and flow The deep, majeftic, folemn organs blow. Hark the numbers foft and clear Gently fteal upon the ear; Now louder, and yet louder rife, And fill with fpreading founds the fkies.