An Abridgment of Lectures on Rhetorick |
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Page 13
... unity of action in dra- matic and epic composition were not first discovered by logical reasoning , and then applied to poetry ; but they were deduced from the practice of Homer and Sophocles . They were founded upon observing the ...
... unity of action in dra- matic and epic composition were not first discovered by logical reasoning , and then applied to poetry ; but they were deduced from the practice of Homer and Sophocles . They were founded upon observing the ...
Page 58
... Unity . 3. Strength . 4. Harmony . Ambiguity is opposed to clearness , and arises from two causes ; either from a wrong choice of words , or a wrong collocation of them . Of the choice of words as far as regards perspicuity , we have ...
... Unity . 3. Strength . 4. Harmony . Ambiguity is opposed to clearness , and arises from two causes ; either from a wrong choice of words , or a wrong collocation of them . Of the choice of words as far as regards perspicuity , we have ...
Page 60
... Unity . This is a capital property . The very nature of a sentence implies one proposition to be expressed . It may con- sist of parts ; but these parts must be so closely bound together as to make an impression of one ob- ject only ...
... Unity . This is a capital property . The very nature of a sentence implies one proposition to be expressed . It may con- sist of parts ; but these parts must be so closely bound together as to make an impression of one ob- ject only ...
Page 61
... unity of a sen- tence is , keep clear of parentheses in the middle of it . These may on some occasions have a spirited ap- pearance , as prompted by a certain vivacity of thought , which can glance happily aside , as it is going along ...
... unity of a sen- tence is , keep clear of parentheses in the middle of it . These may on some occasions have a spirited ap- pearance , as prompted by a certain vivacity of thought , which can glance happily aside , as it is going along ...
Page 62
... unity are absolutely necessary ; but more is re- quisite . For a sentence may be clear ; it may also be compact , or have the requisite unity ; and yet , by some unfavorable circumstance in the structure , it may fail in that strength ...
... unity are absolutely necessary ; but more is re- quisite . For a sentence may be clear ; it may also be compact , or have the requisite unity ; and yet , by some unfavorable circumstance in the structure , it may fail in that strength ...
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Common terms and phrases
action admit Æneid ancient appear arguments attention beauty blank verse characters Cicero circumstances comedy composition concise critics degree Demosthenes dignity discourse distinction distinguished effect elegant eloquence emotion employed English epic poem epic poetry excel excite exhibit expression figure founded frequently genius give grace grandeur Greek guage hearers Hence Henriade Homer ideas Iliad imagination imitation instance ject kind language Livy Lusiad lyric poetry manner ment merit metaphor mind mode modern moral motion narration nature never objects observed orator ornament painting Paradise Lost passion pastoral pastoral poetry pathetic pause peculiar perspicuity Pharsalia philosophical pleasing pleasure poet poetical principal proper propriety public speaking render requisite resemblance Roman rule scene sense sentence sentiments simplicity sion sound speaker species speech spirit strength strong style sublime syllable Tacitus Taste theatre of France thing thought tion tragedy tropes unity variety verbs verse Virgil words writing
Popular passages
Page 180 - And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water : in the habitation of dragons where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Page 21 - That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, And shall perform all my pleasure ; Even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built ; And to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Page 68 - I shall detain you now no longer in the demonstration of what we should not do, but straight conduct you to a hill-side, where I will point you out the right path of a virtuous and noble education ; laborious indeed at the first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect, and melodious sounds on every side, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming-.
Page 107 - He can converse with a picture, and find an agreeable companion in a statue. He meets with a secret refreshment in a description, and often feels a greater satisfaction in the prospect of fields and meadows than another does in the possession. It gives him, indeed, a kind of property in every thing he sees, and makes the most rude uncultivated parts of nature administer to his pleasures: so that he looks upon the world, as it were, in another light, and discovers in it a multitude of charms that...
Page 66 - Homer was the greater genius; Virgil, the better artist; in the one, we most admire the man; in. the other, the work. Homer hurries us with a commanding impetuosity; Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty. Homer scatters with a generous profusion; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence. Homer, like the Nile, pours out his riches with a sudden overflow; Virgil, like a river in its banks, with a constant stream.
Page 21 - He made darkness his secret place; His pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Page 69 - OUR sight is the most perfect and most delightful of all our senses. It fills the mind with the largest variety of ideas, converses with its objects at the greatest distance, and continues the longest in action without being tired or satiated with its proper enjoyments.
Page 19 - Wheeling unshaken through the void immense ; And speak, O man ! does this capacious scene With half that kindling majesty dilate Thy strong conception, as when Brutus rose Refulgent from the stroke of Caesar's fate, Amid the crowd of patriots ; and his arm Aloft extending, like eternal Jove When guilt brings down the thunder, call'd aloud On Tully's name, and shook his crimson steel, And bade the father of his country hail ? For lo ! the tyrant prostrate on the dust, And Rome again is free...
Page 23 - He spoke, and awful bends his sable brows, Shakes his ambrosial curls, and gives the nod, The stamp of fate, and sanction of the god : High Heaven with trembling the dread signal took, And all Olympus to the centre shook.
Page 109 - Entertain hopes, mirth rather than joy, variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them ; wonder and admiration, and therefore novelties ; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature.