...the critic who can say of the most exquisite effusion of Doric minstrelsy that our language boasts, " Surely no man could have fancied that he read ' Lycidas' with pleasure, had he not known the author ;" and of " Paradise Lost" itself, that " its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure ?"...

...can say of the most exquisite effusion of Doric minstrelsy that our language boasts, " Surely no mau could have fancied that he read ' Lycidas' with pleasure, had he not known the author ;" and of " Paradise Lost" itself, that " its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure ?"...

...god can tell. He who thus grieves will excite no sympathy; he who thus praises will confer no honour. Such is the power of reputation justly acquired, that...he read "Lycidas" with pleasure, had he not known the author. Of the two pieces, "L'Allegro" and "DPenseroso," Ibelieve opinion is uniform; every man...

...can say of the most exquisite effusion of Doric minstrelsy that onr language boasts, " Surely no mau could have fancied that he read ' Lycidas' with pleasure, had he not known the author;" and of " Paradise Lost" itself, that " its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure ?"...

...ecclesiastical pastor, a superintendent of a Christian flock. Such equivocations are always unskilful ; but here they are indecent, and at least approach to impiety,...however, I believe the writer not to have been conscious. H Such is the power of reputation justly acquired,• that its blaze drives away the eye from nice...

...the critic who can say of the most exquisite effusion of Doric minstrelsy that our language boasts, " Surely no man could have fancied that he read ' Lycidas' with pleasure, had he not known the author ;" and of " Paradise Lost" itself, that " its perusal is a duty rather than a pleasure ?"...

...ecclesiastical pastor, a superintendent of a Christian flock. Such equivocations are always unskilful ; but here they are indecent, and at least approach to impiety,...he read ' Lycidas ' with pleasure, had he not known the author." So ends this celebrated criticism ; but, before saying a word respecting it, let me refresh...

...so uncertain and remote that it is never sought, " because it cannot be known when it is found. . . Surely no " man could have fancied that he read Lycidas with pleasure had " he not known its author." Were readers horses, one is tempted to ask, when this criticism was written ? That there should have...

...Spenser and the Italian classics. This poem was fiercely condemned by Samuel Johnson. He declared that "no man could have fancied that he read Lycidas with pleasure had he not known its author." But few who read the poem will accept such criticism. For force of imagination and exhaustless beauty...

...The shepherd is now a feeder of sheep, and afterwards a superintendent of a Christian flock — an approach to impiety of which, however, I believe the writer not to have been conscious No man could have fancied that he read Lycidas with pleasure had he not known the author.' It should...