Macaulay's Essays on Addison and MiltonGinn, 1898 - 212 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
Addi Addison admire Æneid Æschylus appeared army became Boileau called Cato Catullus character Charles critics Dante death distinguished England English essay excellent favor feelings France French friends genius Godolphin Greek Halifax heroic couplets honor House of Bourbon House of Commons House of Hanover Iliad Ireland Isaac Bickerstaff James Johnson King Lancelot Addison Latin verses learning letter liberty literary literature London Lord Macaulay Macaulay's Magdalen College manner Marlborough means Milton mind minister Montagu narrative never noble opinion Oxford paper Paradise Lost Parliament party person poem poet poetry political Pope Pope's popular praise published pupil Queen readers remarkable Revolution ridicule scarcely scholar seems Somers Spectator spirit Steele Steele's strange style Sunderland Swift talents taste Tatler thought Tickell tion Tories Vincent Bourne Voltaire Whig Whig party William words write written
Popular passages
Page 127 - Peace to all such! But were there one whose fires True genius kindles, and fair fame inspires; Blest with each talent and each art to please. And born to write, converse, and live with ease: Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne; View him with scornful, yev with jealous eyes.
Page 43 - Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story, who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait forever.
Page 113 - Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. So when an angel, by divine command, With rising tempests shakes a guilty land (Such as of late o'er pale Britannia passed), Calm and serene he drives the furious blast; And, pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.
Page 42 - Such a spirit is Liberty. At times she takes the form of a hateful reptile. She grovels, she hisses, she stings. But woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her ! And happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her beauty and her glory ! There is only one cure for the evils which newly-acquired freedom produces ; and that cure is freedom.
Page 17 - But now my task is smoothly done: I can fly, or I can run Quickly to the green earth's end, Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend, And from thence can soar as soon To the corners of the moon. Mortals, that would follow me, Love Virtue; she alone is free. She can teach...
Page 50 - The ostentatious simplicity of their dress, their sour aspect, their nasal twang, their stiff posture, their long graces, their Hebrew names, the Scriptural phrases which they introduced on every occasion, their contempt of human learning, their detestation of polite amusements, were indeed fair game for the laughers.
Page 17 - I should much commend," says the excellent Sir Henry Wotton in a letter to Milton, " the tragical part if the lyrical did not ravish me with a certain Dorique delicacy in your songs and odes, whereunto, I must plainly confess to you, I have seen yet nothing parallel in our language.
Page 34 - As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist. If then his providence Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, Our labour must be to pervert that end, And out of good still to find means of evil...
Page 68 - Nor skilled nor studious, higher argument Remains, sufficient of itself to raise That name, unless an age too late, or cold Climate, or years, damp my intended wing Depressed ; and much they may if all be mine, Not hers who brings it nightly to my ear.
Page 60 - It is to be regretted that the prose writings of Milton should, in our time, be so little read. As compositions, they deserve the attention of every man who wishes to become acquainted with the full power of the English language. They abound with passages compared with which the finest declamations \ of Burke sink into insignificance.