A History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne, Volume 2 |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acted action admirable allowed already appears attempt Beaumont brought called character Charles close comedy comic contemporary course Court criticism death described direction doubt drama dramatists Dryden Duke earlier edition effective efforts English equally especially excellent fashion Fletcher French genius give hand hero honour humour influence interest introduced Jonson kind King known Lady latter least less literary literature London Lord lover manners Massinger means mentioned merits moral nature never noticed observed original passage passed passion perhaps period play plot poet political popular present printed probably produced Prologue Queen reference regarded remains remarkable respect Restoration says scene seems shows situation Spanish spirit stage story success supposed taken theatre Thomas thought tion tragedy true whole wife writers written
Popular passages
Page 300 - CALANTHA'S DIRGE. [ From the Broken Heart. ] Glories, pleasures, pomps, delights and ease. Can but please Outward senses, when the mind Is untroubled, or by peace refined. Crowns may flourish and decay, Beauties shine, but fade away. Youth may revel, yet it must Lie down in a bed of dust.
Page 77 - Shakspeare have neither child of their own, nor seem to be descended from any parent. They are foul Anomalies, of whom we know not whence they are sprung, nor whether they have beginning or ending. As they are without human passions, so they seem to be without human relations. They come with thunder and lightning, and vanish to airy musiC. This is all we know of them. Except Hecate, they have no names ; which heightens their mysteriousness.
Page 229 - Hence, all you vain delights, As short as are the nights, Wherein you spend your folly : There's nought in this life sweet If man were wise to see't, But only melancholy, O sweetest Melancholy...
Page 590 - To mind the inside of a book is to entertain one's self with the forced product of another man's brain. Now I think a man of quality and breeding may be much amused with the natural sprouts of his own.
Page 203 - All, all of a piece throughout ; Thy chase had a beast in view : Thy wars brought nothing about ; Thy lovers were all untrue. 'Tis well an old age is out, And time to begin a new.
Page 161 - Beaumont and Fletcher, of whom I am next to speak, had, with the advantage of Shakespeare's wit, which was their precedent, great natural gifts improved by study; Beaumont especially being so accurate a judge of plays that Ben Jonson, while he lived, submitted all his writings to his censure, and, 'tis thought, used his judgment in correcting, if not contriving all his plots.
Page 182 - ... scene, before he went off the stage : and then after to come forth a squire, and be made a knight : and that knight to travel between the acts, and do wonders...
Page 588 - This reflection moved me to design some characters which should appear ridiculous not so much through a natural folly (which is incorrigible, and therefore not proper for the stage) as through an affected wit : a wit which, at the same time that it is affected, is also false.
Page 76 - Those originate deeds of blood, and begin bad impulses to men. From the moment that their eyes first meet with Macbeth's, he is spell-bound. That meeting sways his destiny. He can never break the fascination. These witches can hurt the body, those have power over the soul. Hecate in Middleton has a son, a low buffoon : the hags of Shakspeare have neither child of their own, nor seem to be descended from any parent. They are foul anomalies, of whom we know not whence they are sprung, nor whether they...
Page 172 - Understand, therefore, a pastoral to be a representation of shepherds and shepherdesses with their actions and passions, which must be such as may agree with their natures, at least not exceeding former fictions and vulgar traditions...
Bibliographic information
| Title | A History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne, Volume 2 A History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne, Sir Adolphus William Ward |
| Author | Sir Adolphus William Ward |
| Publisher | Macmillan and Company, 1875 |
| Original from | Harvard University |
| Digitized | 1 Feb 2008 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |