Public Domain

The Works Of Samuel Johnson Ll D In Nine Volumes Volume 05 Misc

In order to make a true estimate of the abilities and merit of a writer, it is always necessary to examine the genius of his age, and the opinions of his contemporaries. A poet, who should now make the whole action of his tragedy depend upon enchantment, and produce the chief...

Chapters

25. Chapter 25

It is the common fate of erroneous positions, that they are betrayed by defence, and obscured by explanation; that their authors deviate from the main question into incidental d...

21. Chapter 21

It is no pleasure to me, in revising my volumes, to observe how much paper is wasted in confutation. Whoever considers the revolutions of learning, and the various questions of...

20. Chapter 20

When Siward, the martial Earl of Northumberland, understood that his son, whom he had sent in service against the Scotchmen, was slain, he demanded whether his wound were in the...

22. Chapter 22

Annuit ipsa Dolo, malumque (heu! longa dolendi Materies! et triste nefas!) vesana momordit, Tanti ignara mali. Mora nulla: solutus avernus Exspuit infandas acies; fractumque rem...

1. Chapter 1

In order to make a true estimate of the abilities and merit of a writer, it is always necessary to examine the genius of his age, and the opinions of his contemporaries. A poet,...

13. Chapter 13

As this tragedy, like the rest of Shakespeare's, is, perhaps, overstocked with personages, it is not easy to assign a reason, why a nameless character should be introduced here,...

10. Chapter 10

_Macbeth_.--Our fears in Banquo Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that, which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares, And to that dauntless temper of his mind, He hat...

23. Chapter 23

The plans which have been offered by different architects, of different reputation and abilities, for the construction of the bridge intended to be built at Blackfriars, are, by...

8. Chapter 8

--Now o'er one half the world (a)_Nature seems dead_, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecat's offerings: and wither'd murther, Alarum...

12. Chapter 12

_Lady Macbeth_. O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear: [_Aside to Macbeth_. This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you said, Led you to Duncan. Oh, these flaws an...

4. Chapter 4

The incongruity of all the passages, in which the Thane of Cawdor is mentioned, is very remarkable; in the second scene the Thanes of Rosse and Angus bring the king an account o...

24. Chapter 24

In questions of general concern, there is no law of government, or rule of decency, that forbids open examination and publick discussion. I shall, therefore, not betray, by a me...

7. Chapter 7

_Ban_. This guest of summer, The temple-haunting martlet, does approve, By his lov'd mansionry, that heaven's breath Smells wooingly here. No jutty frieze, Buttrice, nor coigne...

19. Chapter 19

_Macbeth_.--Wherefore was that cry? _Seyton_. The queen, my lord, is dead. _Macbeth_. She should (a)have, died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a _word_. To-morr...

9. Chapter 9

_Len_. The night has been unruly; where we lay Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say, Lamentings heard i'th'air, strange screams of death, And prophesying with accents...

3. Chapter 3

_1 Witch_. A sailor's wife had chesnuts in her lap, And mouncht, and mouncht, and mouncht. Give me, quoth I. (a) Aroint thee, witch!--the rump-fed ronyon cries. Her husband's to...

2. Chapter 2

_Quarrel_ was formerly used for _cause_, or for _the occasion of a quarrel_, and is to be found in that sense in Hollingshed's account of the story of Macbeth, who, upon the cre...

5. Chapter 5

_Malcolm._--Nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it. He dy'd, As one that had been studied in his death, To throw away the dearest thing he _ow'd_, As 'twere a carele...

16. Chapter 16

_Malcolm_. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty. _Macduff_. Let us rather Hold fast the mortal sword; and, like good men, Bestride our _downf...

6. Chapter 6

--Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical ai...

15. Chapter 15

_Rosse_. My dearest cousin, I pray you, school yourself: But for your husband, He's noble, wise, judicious, and best knows The fits o'th'time, I dare not speak much further, But...

14. Chapter 14

_Macbeth_. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo; down! Thy crown does (a)sear mine eye-balls:--and thy (b)_hair_, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:-- A third is l...

17. Chapter 17

_Macbeth_. Bring me no more reports, let them fly all, Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman?-- --fly...

11. Chapter 11

Mr. Theobald has endeavoured unsuccessfully to amend this passage, in which nothing is faulty but the punctuation. The meaning of this abrupt dialogue is this: The _perfect spy_...

18. Chapter 18

_Malcolm_. 'Tis his main hope: For where there is _advantage to be given_, Both more and less have given him the revolt; And none serve with him but constrained things, Whose he...