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Lives of the Poets, Volume 1

Samuel Johnson

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Lives of the Poets, Volume 1 | Samuel Johnson

Lives of the Poets, Volume 1

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and exulting in what he had done to the destruction of man. Man next, and Eve, having by this time been seduced by the serpent, appears confusedly covered with leaves. Conscience, in a shape, accuses him; justice cites him to the place whither Jehovah called for him. In the mean while, the chorus entertains the stage, and is informed by some angel the manner of the fall. Here the chorus bewails Adam's fall; Adam then and Eve return; accuse one another; but especially Adam lays the blame to his wife; is stubborn in his offence. Justice appears, reasons with him, convinces him. The chorus admonisheth Adam, and bids him beware Lucifer's example of impenitence. The angel is sent to banish them out of Paradise; but before, causes to pass before his eyes, in shapes, a mask of all the evils of this life and world. He is humbled, relents, despairs; at last appears Mercy, comforts him, promises the Messiah; then calls in Faith, Hope, and Charity; instructs him; he repents, gives God the glory, submits to his penalty. The chorus briefly concludes. Compare this with the former draught.

These are very imperfect rudiments of Paradise Lost; but it is pleasant to see great works in their seminal state, pregnant with latent possibilities of excellence; nor could there be any more delightful entertainment than to trace their gradual growth and expansion, and to observe how they are sometimes suddenly advanced by accidental hints, and sometimes slowly improved by steady meditation.

Invention is almost the only literary labour which blindness cannot obstruct, and, therefore, he naturally solaced his solitude by the indulgence of his fancy, and the melody of his numbers. He had done what he knew to be necessary previous to poetical excellence; he had made himself acquainted with "seemly arts and affairs;" his comprehension was extended by various knowledge, and his memory stored with intellectual treasures. He was skilful in many languages, an

1.1 02/27/2017
I have the 2 volume 1826 Dove's English Classics edition, easily the oldest books I own and I did want to make a point of that. The text is tiny and many of the pages are set charmingly askew but compared to many used books in my library the binding is still flawless and the pages are in excellent c
Lucy 01/12/2016
I think the main interest in this work is in the polished and pompous writing of Dr Johnson. How did he keep it up? And since so much of this is precis (or probably the reverse), why did he bother? I'm still struggling to find out what is so great about The Great Doctor.
Jeff 01/01/2016
9/15/14: Well, I seem to have begun a Project, for better or worse. I recently reread 84, Charing Cross Road, and was struck by Helen Hanff's love for not only the contents of the books she received from Marks & Co., but for the volumes themselves as beautiful objects. So I went to my shelves and pu
J. Alfred 04/14/2013
Though the book is interesting mainly on Donne (under the section on Cowley), Milton, Dryden and Addison, Johnson is a great critic and a pleasure to read in his own right. He is, to use an inexact word, weighty. For instance: "It appears, in all his [Milton's] writings, that he had the usual concom
Erica 04/10/2008
Though I'm no fan of Johnson, his account of Pope, and his "amus[ing] himself at the table with biscuits", may actually be the source of my love of the snide sniping of the eighteenth century (the potted lampreys just kill me):

His legs were so slender that he enlarged their bulk with three pair of
Dave 12/17/2007
Just began reading it after Frank McCourt name dropped it in his memoir 'Tis. More than a collection of biographies, it is a collection of his ideas on what makes good and bad poetry. Surprisingly relevant even if published in 1779.

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