An Essay on the Genius of Shakespeare: With Critical Remarks on the Characters of Romeo, Hamlet, Juliet, and Ophelia ; Together with Some Observations on the Writings of Sir Walter Scott. To which is Annexed, A Letter to Lord -----, Containing a Critique on Taste, Judgment, and Rhetorical Expression, and Remarks on the Leading Actors of the Day ...J. Bigg, 1826 - 206 pages |
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Page 1
... present , will necessarily agree in thinking , that my admiration is some- what too warm , and my eulogy too high . To such readers , I own I should feel but little plea- sure in addressing myself . I blame them not , however . Business ...
... present , will necessarily agree in thinking , that my admiration is some- what too warm , and my eulogy too high . To such readers , I own I should feel but little plea- sure in addressing myself . I blame them not , however . Business ...
Page 2
... present . If any should find fault with it , who do not exactly belong to this class , their censure , I should imagine , would be unfair . Like the laws of my country , I claim a right to be tried by my peers , 2 ESSAY ON SHAKESPEARE .
... present . If any should find fault with it , who do not exactly belong to this class , their censure , I should imagine , would be unfair . Like the laws of my country , I claim a right to be tried by my peers , 2 ESSAY ON SHAKESPEARE .
Page 74
... presents itself to his creative mind , and of giving the living and actual form to every human emotion and passion . Every page is graced with rich and various excel- lencies with the beauties of fancy , of genius , of morality , of ...
... presents itself to his creative mind , and of giving the living and actual form to every human emotion and passion . Every page is graced with rich and various excel- lencies with the beauties of fancy , of genius , of morality , of ...
Page 99
... present popularity , he was obliged in some mea- sure to conform to that lowness , obscenity , and impure witticism , which were the prevalent taste of the times . I am conscious he was not indecent through choice ; for a great mind ...
... present popularity , he was obliged in some mea- sure to conform to that lowness , obscenity , and impure witticism , which were the prevalent taste of the times . I am conscious he was not indecent through choice ; for a great mind ...
Page 100
... present my imperfect lines , and to such would I ask of them to excuse whatever faults may be found in it . My intention has been to try and amuse the leisure hour of the critic , and to add a mite of praise to the immortal honours of ...
... present my imperfect lines , and to such would I ask of them to excuse whatever faults may be found in it . My intention has been to try and amuse the leisure hour of the critic , and to add a mite of praise to the immortal honours of ...
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Common terms and phrases
acting actor appear beautiful biped bright eye brilliant Byron character charm colouring comedy countenance Covent Garden critic delightful divine Doricourt drama drawing-room eloquent eminently English language evince exquisite favourite feel fond Garrick genius gentleman give graceful groundlings Hamlet hand harp heard heart Highflyer humour infinitely inimitable insi insinuating instantly Juliet Kean Kemble Lady lips look Lord Lordship manner Mark melody Michael Cassio mighty mind Mirabel nature never night once Ophelia orator Othello painting passion perceive perform perhaps person play poet poetry Polonius possess powerful present day racter Ranting reader remark reply rhetorical expression Romeo Romeo and Juliet scene School for Scandal seen Shakespeare speak speech stage style suasive sweet talent taste and judgment tell Thalia theatre thee thing thou tion tones touch uncon voice wish woman words would-be would-be's write
Popular passages
Page 14 - Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke: but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,' And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false: at lovers' perjuries, They say, Jove laughs.
Page 60 - The observed of all observers, quite, quite down! And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, That sucked the honey of his music vows, Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh ; That unmatched form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy.
Page 140 - ... twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others.
Page 140 - ... accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of Nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
Page 12 - What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself.
Page 15 - I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, My true love's passion: therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Page 15 - My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.
Page 21 - Wilt thou be gone ? it is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear; Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
Page 39 - With this regard, their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action. — Soft you, now ! The fair Ophelia : — Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered.
Page 15 - O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.