The Modern British Essayists: Talfourd, T.N. Critical and miscellaneous writings. Stephen, James. Critical and miscellaneous essays

Front Cover
A. Hart, 1852 - English essays

From inside the book

Selected pages

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 155 - Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice, To reign is worth ambition, though in hell: Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.
Page 54 - What then I was. The sounding cataract Haunted me like a passion : the tall rock, The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood, Their colours and their forms, were then to me An appetite; a feeling and a love, 80 That had no need of a remoter charm, By thought supplied, nor any interest Unborrowed from the eye.
Page 56 - Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.
Page 55 - Hence in a season of calm weather Though inland far we be, Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us hither, Can in a moment travel thither, And see the Children sport upon the shore, And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.
Page 154 - A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields, in thick array, Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders; such as raised To height of noblest temper heroes old, Arming to battle; and, instead of rage, Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved With dread of death, to flight or foul retreat...
Page 154 - He scarce had ceased, when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore: his ponderous shield, Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views, At evening, from the top of Fesole, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
Page 57 - Ah why,' said Ellen, sighing to herself, ' Why do not words, and kiss, and solemn pledge ; ' And nature that is kind in woman's breast, ' And reason that in man is wise and good, ' And fear of him who is a righteous judge ; ' Why do not these prevail for human life, ' To keep two hearts together, that began ' Their spring-time with one love, and that have need ' Of mutual pity and forgiveness, sweet ' To grant, or be received; while that poor bird...
Page 54 - An appetite ; a feeling and a love, That had no need of a remoter charm, By thought supplied, nor any interest Unborrowed from the eye. That time is past, And all its aching joys are now no more, And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this Faint I, nor mourn, nor murmur ; other gifts Have followed ; for such loss, I would believe, Abundant recompense.
Page 55 - But for those first affections, Those shadowy recollections, Which be they what they may, Are yet the fountain light of all our day, Are yet a master light of all our seeing...
Page 51 - Maimed, mangled by inhuman men; Or thou upon a desert thrown Inheritest the lion's den; Or hast been summoned to the deep, Thou, thou and all thy mates, to keep An incommunicable sleep.

Bibliographic information